Using lidar to estimate the capacity for storm water recycling and solar energy collection

In this paper two lidar applications are addressed so that the data from large-scale airborne laser scanning of three New South Wales towns and the University of New South Wales can be used to estimate the capacity for storm water recycling and solar energy collection. The building outlines in each of these surveyed areas are extracted using the lidar point cloud to provide an accurate measurement of the total area of roofing within each region. The accurate area measurements are used with simple modelling equations to calculate the amount of rainfall runoff that could be collected and solar energy that could be produced, during an average year. The final results show the potential savings that could be produced each year if these towns and the university campus became more water and energy conscious.