For several years, all over the world, climate change has been making headlines. In 2021, the Swiss Re Group published an overall estimate of the cost of natural disasters from around the world. Globally, it assessed that last year alone, disasters cost $USD 250 billion (€221 billion), an increase of 24% compared to 2020. Of course, humans must change certain habits to avoid such significant increases. But with a little help from technology, including optical fiber technologies, we could prevent the damage caused by natural disasters, and thus be able to reduce costs. Some countries are already adopting a number of measures, the results of which will be interesting to see in a not-so-distant future!
As early as the 1930s, meteorologists were using LiDAR systems to study the atmosphere and cloud height. LiDAR (acronym for Light Detection and Ranging), also called laser remote sensing, is made of optical fibers, among others, and works with the light that travels in the optical fibers. It is an opto-electronic system, composed of a laser transmitter, a receiver with a light collector and photodetector, which transforms the light into an electrical signal. An algorithm analyzes the signal received against the signal sent and extracts the information sought.
Today, LiDAR is increasingly used for applications aimed at preventing natural disasters. Accurate to the centimeter, LiDAR is operational in most environments and weather conditions, making it the technology of choice. With time, this technology has not only become more and more accessible for cities and countries that want to reduce environmental risks, but it has also become more and more affordable.
Cities and Citizens, Supported by Technology
Last year, the costliest storm was Ida, which caused flooding in New York City with an estimated $65 billion in damage. With such a significant cost, it’s no surprise that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have developed technology to map floods before they occur, showing when and where water from an approaching storm will arrive, how deep the water could be, etc. This meteorological prevention innovation is possible thanks to several technologies, from artificial intelligence, spatial analysis software and … LiDAR! Before LiDAR, data was collected manually in the field and, because of its high cost, only cross sections were measured. Thanks to LiDAR, experts can now have a detailed map and can simulate where the water may go during a flood, and thus take several precautions.
Earlier this year, Singapore completed its first digital twin of an entire nation. A first! Thanks to LiDAR, among other things, this digital twin will allow specialists to know the impacts of climate change for the city, including the rising sea levels, which are a constant concern.
Other devices around the world also monitor coastlines and shorelines, keeping an eye on coastal erosion, the impact of environmental disasters, navigation data and more.
