Lidar CANEX 2025: Keeping it CLASS(y) and Having a BLAST with NV5

At Lidar CANEX 2025, NV5 made waves with their newest Lidar developments, introducing two innovative solutions aimed at solving real-world mapping challenges. The premier B2B online forum held on January 29, 2025, brought together experts in Lidar and reality capture with practicing 3D professionals from Canada and beyond.

LidarCANEX is Canada’s premier annual event focused on the latest advancements in Lidar technology. Hosted virtually, the event brings together experts, professionals, and innovators in the geospatial industry to explore new techniques, tools, and trends that are shaping the future of Lidar and geospatial data. From AI-driven mapping to its applications in various industries, LidarCANEX serves as an essential platform for learning, networking, and discovering the cutting-edge of Lidar technology.

For those who missed the event, recordings and additional resources are available here.

NV5: A Leader in Geospatial Solutions

NV5 provides geospatial solutions that support industries like infrastructure, environmental management, and urban planning. With a strong presence in Canada and offices worldwide, the company specializes in acquiring, processing, and analyzing mapping data to improve decision-making for various projects. Their expertise helps solve practical challenges in land and water resource management, ensuring more accurate and efficient data collection.

With a focus on improving data collection in both land and water environments, NV5 introduced CLASS and BLAST, two systems built for precision, efficiency, and adaptability in complex terrain and infrastructure projects.

CLASS: The Comprehensive Low-Altitude Sensor Solution

One of the key focuses of NV5’s presentation was CLASS, an advanced topographic Lidar and imagery solution tailored for corridor and pipeline surveys. CLASS, short for Comprehensive Low-Altitude Sensor Solution, is specifically designed for high-density data collection in challenging environments such as steep terrains, narrow corridors, and multi-source projects requiring simultaneous data acquisition.

Unlike traditional wide-area Lidar systems, CLASS integrates multiple sensors, including two Regal VUX240 Lidar systems, a Phase I four-band ortho camera, oblique cameras, and an HD video camera. This multi-sensor configuration enables single-pass acquisition of high-density Lidar and high-resolution imagery, reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Deployed via helicopters, CLASS is FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and Transport Canada approved for Bell 206 series aircraft, ensuring accessibility across various regions. Its ability to capture over 100 points per square meter at 500 feet altitude makes it an ideal choice for engineering-grade data collection in power transmission, pipeline monitoring, and transportation corridor analysis.

BLAST: Bathymetric Lidar and Airborne Sensing Technology

For hydrographic and bathymetric applications, NV5 introduced BLAST (Bathymetric Lidar and Airborne Sensing Technology), a specialized LiDAR platform designed for surveying water bodies, shorelines, and rivers, particularly in complex topographic environments.

Equipped with a Riegel 840G bathymetric Lidar sensor, a VUX topographic sensor, and a four-band nadir imagery camera, BLAST provides precise depth penetration and topobathymetric data collection. The system’s ability to integrate thermal cameras further enhances its applicability for habitat analysis, seepage detection, and environmental assessments.

Mounted on helicopters, BLAST’s flexible nose-mount design allows for use across various aircraft types, ensuring adaptability in rugged and cloud-restricted environments. With bathymetric Lidar acquiring over 14 points per square meter and topographic Lidar exceeding 30 points per square meter at 500 feet altitude, BLAST sets a new benchmark for high-resolution bathymetric mapping.

Pioneering the Future of Lidar Technology

NV5’s innovations in Lidar technology showcased at LidarCANEX 2025, reaffirm their leadership in geospatial solutions. By addressing critical challenges in topographic and bathymetric surveying through CLASS and BLAST, NV5 continues to expand the practical applications of Lidar across engineering, environmental management, and infrastructure planning.

With increasing demands for high-accuracy data acquisition in complex environments, these advancements set the stage for future developments in geospatial technology. As the industry evolves, NV5’s commitment to innovation ensures that professionals across various sectors can leverage Lidar solutions to enhance decision-making and project outcomes.

Until next time, stay CLASS(y), keep having a BLAST, and let Lidar light the way!

LidarCANEX 2026

If you are a Lidar enthusiast or want to learn more, join us for LidarCANEX 2026 and keep an eye on the website: https://lidarcanex.com/.