Scanning & XR · Beginner

Lidar

Measuring distance with laser pulses to map shapes and spaces in 3D

Also called LiDAR, Light detection and ranging

What is lidar?

Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, measures distance by sending out laser pulses and timing how long they take to bounce back. Repeated millions of times in every direction, those measurements build a point cloud of the surroundings. It is used in surveying, self-driving cars and some phones for quick 3D scans.

Think of it like this

It is like a bat finding its way by echoes, using flashes of invisible light instead of sound.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How lidar works

  1. 01The sensor fires a short pulse of laser light, usually invisible to the eye.
  2. 02The pulse hits a surface and part of it bounces back.
  3. 03The sensor times the round trip and works out the distance.
  4. 04Millions of pulses in many directions add up to a point cloud.

Lidar vs photogrammetry

PropertyLidarPhotogrammetry
Measures withLaser pulsesPhotos
Works in the darkYesNo
ColorNone by itselfFull color from the photos
Fine surface detailCoarse on phonesSharp with good photos

Use lidar for fast, reliable measurements and dark or plain spaces; use photogrammetry when color and fine detail matter. Many scanners combine both.

Where lidar is used

  • Surveying land, forests and buildings
  • Helping self-driving cars and robots sense their surroundings
  • Quick room and object scans on phones and tablets

Beginner tip

Phone lidar reaches only a few meters and suits rooms and large objects. For small, detailed items, a photo-based scan usually gives better results.

Terms related to lidar

Lidar FAQ

What does lidar stand for?
Light detection and ranging. It works like radar, which uses radio waves, but with laser light, which allows much finer measurements. You will also see it written LiDAR or LIDAR.
How does lidar work on a phone?
A small sensor beside the camera fires invisible laser pulses and measures how quickly they return, giving a rough depth map of the scene. Apps use it for fast room scans, measuring and placing AR objects, often combined with the camera image.
Does lidar capture color?
No. A lidar sensor records only distance, and sometimes how strongly each pulse reflected. Color comes from a camera fitted alongside it, whose photos are mapped onto the points.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms