Leica Chiroptera 4X Bathymetric LiDAR Enhances Coastal and Underwater Mapping

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Leica Geosystems – Coastal & Shallow Water Mapping via Bathymetric LiDAR

Leica Chiroptera 4X

The Chiroptera 4X combines bathymetric (green laser) and topographic (near-infrared laser) LiDAR in one seamless system, capturing data both above and below water. It processes full-waveform returns and delivers outstanding point density.
It boasts a bathymetric point capture rate of 140,000 points per second, penetrating shallow waters down to 25 m, even in turbid conditions.
Compared to its predecessor (Chiroptera II), the 4X offers a 4× increase in resolution, improving both depth penetration (up to ~10%) and overall accuracy—without sacrificing data quality.
Operational efficiency increases dramatically: a single flight line now suffices (instead of double coverage), enabling cost savings of over 50% in flight operations.

Traditional methods like aerial photography or boat-based echo sounding were costly, weather-dependent, and hindered by water clarity issues.

Dr. Tim Webster and his team from the Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) deployed the Chiroptera 4X to:

Map benthic habitats, aquaculture infrastructure (e.g., shellfish farms, buoys), and estimate biomass.
Develop a hydrodynamic model to guide the placement of new oyster farm leases—ensuring eelgrass (Zostera marina) habitats remained protected.

A comparative experiment assessed sensor performance at different depths using:

They surveyed submerged targets—four one‑cubic‑metre cubes—and analyzed results based on:

The Chiroptera 4X delivered significantly higher point density, refined detail, and improved detection limits even revealing seabed features missed by prior surveys.
The combined laser approach enabled precise 3D mapping of underwater structures and habitats.
Generated models and elevation maps supported actionable insights on habitat preservation and sustainable aquaculture site planning.
Dr. Webster noted the system’s value across hydrography, marine ecology, and archaeology applications.

This region presents significant charting challenges due to its cultural and navigational complexity—many areas remain under-mapped, complicating safe navigation, infrastructure development, and coastal planning.
Leica partnered with iXBlue, Geomatics Data Solutions (now Woolpert, Inc.), and EOMAP Australia to conduct a large-area LiDAR survey of the archipelago, generating precise 3D water depth (bathymetry) data to update nautical charts and support marine infrastructure efforts.
The system’s ability to capture high-density, accurate seabed data helped fill critical data gaps in the Pacific’s navigational datasets.

Aspect	Highlight
Technological Leap	4× point density, deeper penetration, seamless topography-to-bathymetry capture
Operational Efficiency	>50% reduced flight costs and streamlined data collection
Environmental Stewardship	Eelgrass habitat protection, ecosystem health mapping, sustainable aquaculture planning
Navigation & Infrastructure	Enhanced charting for Pacific regions supports safer and more informed marine development