Facing the Future: The Evolution of the North American PCB Industry
It’s Only Common Sense: Why Honesty is Your Best Sales Strategy
Dan's Biz Bookshelf: 'Serial Innovators'
NEC Technology Reliably Measures Sea Levels from a Greater Distance
July 16, 2024 | JCN NewswireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
NEC Corporation has developed a technology for measuring sea levels with high accuracy from greater distances using 3D Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR), a remote sensing technology. This technology makes it possible to reliably measure sea levels, even in the event of a tsunami or ground movement at the location where the measuring equipment is installed. In June 2024, NEC conducted a demonstration test of this technology in Tokyo Bay and confirmed that it can measure sea levels with high accuracy from a greater distance than conventional technologies.
Background
In the event of a tsunami caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or other phenomenon, immediate and accurate assessment of changes in sea levels is critical to saving lives. Current radio wave and float-type sea level measurement systems have a measurement range of about 20 meters from the surface of the sea. However, if ground movement occurs due to an earthquake or other phenomenon, it becomes difficult to measure sea levels. In fact, ground movement due to a major earthquake that occurred on the Noto Peninsula of Japan in January 2024 disabled measurement equipment along part of the coastline, resulting in a delay before reliable measurements could be resumed.
About the New Technology
This new technology delivers 3D-LiDAR infrared laser beams to buoys floating on the sea, and reflected light is used to measure the distance. This ultra-sensitive optical reception is accomplished using long-range 3D-LiDAR with advanced long-range, large-capacity optical transmission and reception technology (coherent reception technology), making it possible to obtain the 3D point cloud data of objects from greater distances. As a result, this is the first time that sea levels have been successfully measured from a distance of 60 meters from the sea with an error of about 2cm. In addition, a 3D water level measurement technology has been developed that clusters processing of the acquired 3D point cloud data, classifies the shape of buoys and surrounding topography with high precision, and then compares the information to correct the position and estimate the height of buoys. This makes it possible to measure from a variety of locations and angles, meaning that 3D-LiDAR equipment can be installed in a wider variety of locations.
3D point cloud data scanned by 3D-LiDAR
As a result, tide stations may be installed in locations along the coastline that are less susceptible to significant ground movement, making the system disaster-resistant and enabling continuous monitoring of sea levels. In addition, the equipment is portable and may be flexibly installed across a wide range of locations, helping to reduce installation costs and time.
Future Developments
Going forward, NEC plans to continue developing this technology, including extending the measurable distance to several hundred meters and improving measurement accuracy by comparing 3D-LiDAR data with map information of the surrounding area, aiming for practical application by the end of FY2025.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Keysight Joins Forces with the EU to Drive Innovation in 6G
02/12/2025 | BUSINESS WIREKeysight Technologies, Inc. is enhancing Europe’s 6G research and innovation landscape by participating in two projects that are a part of the 6G Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS-JU), a research and innovation program co-funded by the European Union (EU).
Robotics Research: How Asia, Europe and America Invest
02/11/2025 | IFREconomies around the world are investing in robotics to support industry and society. But government research and development (R&D) programs are following different strategies. World Robotics R&D Programs 2025, published by the International Federation of Robotics, analyses official funding strategies in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
IEEE Researchers Provide Mathematical Solutions to Study 2D Light Interaction in Photonic Crystal Lasers
02/07/2025 | PRNewswireLaser diodes are semiconductors that generate light and amplify it using repeated reflection or 'optical feedback'. Once the light has achieved desirable optical gain, laser diodes release it as powerful laser beams.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Bleeding-edge Entertainment Applications, Part 2
02/06/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsUltra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology is revolutionizing bleeding-edge entertainment applications by enabling compact, high-performance devices that push the boundaries of immersion, interactivity, and realism. Part 2 focuses on how UHDI is advancing the entertainment industry, particularly gaming.
Nolan's Notes: Find the Help You Need—Accessing Technical Resources
02/04/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesSome close friends of mine have a card catalog in their family room—with the cards still in it. It’s just a novelty now, but it wasn’t that long ago that the card catalog was the end-all, be-all of research resources. As a college student, I remember something like two dozen or more of the very large card catalog cabinets in the Oregon State University Library. It’s not lost on me that my friend’s card catalog “liberated” from the university is a snapshot of that particular knowledge base at that particular moment in time. Today’s access to a library’s contents have changed dramatically.