As LiDAR sensors continue to evolve, they are now finding themselves in spaces that were traditionally using only Imagery sensors due to the cost to collect. These LiDAR sensors are now small enough to be flown on a DJI PRO or compact enough to be quickly coupled to the front of a Locomotive and collecting as a train takes its normal route. This opens a new possibility of analyzing vegetation encroachment along a rail corridor from the rail center out at ground level, detailed visualizations with clearance in tunnels, and a new means of being able to manage assets and their elevations.

From the heatmap we create our Shape files which are displayed back in the original dataset where we can visually see the accuracy of the points:

Along with visualizing these assets back in the dataset, we colored our points by height, which provides a look into not only the asset height but features along the corridor like trees that me may be a cause for concern:

This end results can also be fused with imagery, giving you further confidence in the accuracy of the location determined of your assets, as well as providing a unique perspective of the corridor for planning: