Innovative telescope for 3-D lidar measurements

Lidar has been used since the sixties to measure atmospheric parameters and air pollution. In order to allow its routine employment in field campaigns, we have developed a system based on an innovative telescope: with respect to other instruments, the one presented here is inexpensive, compact, easy to adjust, provided with a remarkable depth of field and can be aimed to any direction avoiding transmitter-receiver misalignment. Its development has required a remarkable effort in the design and realization of state-of-the-art mechanical parts. The first data acquisitions demonstrate its good optical performances in spite of the relatively small diameter of the primary mirror. (Received November 17, 1999; accepted after revision February 2, 2000).