Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction

In light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications, correct intensities from echo data intuitively contribute to the characterization of target reflectivity. However, the power in raw echo waveforms may be clipped owing to the limited dynamic range of LiDAR sensors, which directly results in false...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xinyue Ma, Haitian Jiang, Xin Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4625
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846102956000149504
author Xinyue Ma
Haitian Jiang
Xin Jin
author_facet Xinyue Ma
Haitian Jiang
Xin Jin
author_sort Xinyue Ma
collection DOAJ
description In light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications, correct intensities from echo data intuitively contribute to the characterization of target reflectivity. However, the power in raw echo waveforms may be clipped owing to the limited dynamic range of LiDAR sensors, which directly results in false intensity values generated by existing LiDAR systems working in scenarios involving highly reflective objects or short distances. To tackle the problem, an asymmetric Gaussian echo model is proposed in this paper so as to recover echo power–time curves faithfully to its optical physics. Considering the imbalance in temporal length and steepness between rising and falling edges, the echo model features a shared mean and two distinct standard deviations on both sides. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed model are demonstrated by correcting the power–time curve from a real LiDAR loaded with avalanche photodiode (APD) sensors and estimating the reflectivities of real targets. As when tested by targets with reflectivities from low to high placed at distances from near to far, the model achieves a maximum of 41.8-fold improvement in relative error for the same target with known reflectivity and a maximum of 36.0-fold improvement in the coefficient of variation for the same target along the whole range of 100 m. Providing accurate and stable characterization of reflectivity in different ranges, the model greatly boosts applications consisting of semantic segmentation and object recognition, such as autonomous driving and environmental monitoring.
format Article
id doaj-art-bd14c7a132d14581b8dab2dceddac0c4
institution Kabale University
issn 2072-4292
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-bd14c7a132d14581b8dab2dceddac0c42024-12-27T14:50:43ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-12-011624462510.3390/rs16244625Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity CorrectionXinyue Ma0Haitian Jiang1Xin Jin2Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaIn light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications, correct intensities from echo data intuitively contribute to the characterization of target reflectivity. However, the power in raw echo waveforms may be clipped owing to the limited dynamic range of LiDAR sensors, which directly results in false intensity values generated by existing LiDAR systems working in scenarios involving highly reflective objects or short distances. To tackle the problem, an asymmetric Gaussian echo model is proposed in this paper so as to recover echo power–time curves faithfully to its optical physics. Considering the imbalance in temporal length and steepness between rising and falling edges, the echo model features a shared mean and two distinct standard deviations on both sides. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed model are demonstrated by correcting the power–time curve from a real LiDAR loaded with avalanche photodiode (APD) sensors and estimating the reflectivities of real targets. As when tested by targets with reflectivities from low to high placed at distances from near to far, the model achieves a maximum of 41.8-fold improvement in relative error for the same target with known reflectivity and a maximum of 36.0-fold improvement in the coefficient of variation for the same target along the whole range of 100 m. Providing accurate and stable characterization of reflectivity in different ranges, the model greatly boosts applications consisting of semantic segmentation and object recognition, such as autonomous driving and environmental monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4625LiDAR echoasymmetric Gaussianclipped waveformintensity correction
spellingShingle Xinyue Ma
Haitian Jiang
Xin Jin
Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction
Remote Sensing
LiDAR echo
asymmetric Gaussian
clipped waveform
intensity correction
title Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction
title_full Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction
title_fullStr Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction
title_full_unstemmed Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction
title_short Asymmetric Gaussian Echo Model for LiDAR Intensity Correction
title_sort asymmetric gaussian echo model for lidar intensity correction
topic LiDAR echo
asymmetric Gaussian
clipped waveform
intensity correction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4625
work_keys_str_mv AT xinyuema asymmetricgaussianechomodelforlidarintensitycorrection
AT haitianjiang asymmetricgaussianechomodelforlidarintensitycorrection
AT xinjin asymmetricgaussianechomodelforlidarintensitycorrection