LIDAR
Doppler LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) systems |
| The installation in June 2002 of a LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) system at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) was the first of its kind for airport windshear alerting in the world. HKO installed the second LIDAR at the Northern Fire Station (now renamed as the Centre Fire Station) in HKIA in November 2006. The LIDAR complements the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) in windshear detection in the vicinity of the HKIA. The TDWR is capable of detecting windshear in rainy conditions by using microwave to measure the movement of rain drops in the atmosphere. The LIDAR, on the other hand, employs infrared radiation to detect the movement of dust particles or aerosols in the atmosphere. As such, LIDAR operates best in rain-free conditions, unveiling weather phenomena hitherto invisible to the human eye. Starting in 2022 and during transition period to the future Three-Runway System at HKIA, the two LIDARs are located at the rooftop of a metal platform next to the Midfield Concourse and a site near the middle of the new North runway respectively. This facilitates continuous scanning of the airport departure/approach corridors and detection of airstream that may affect the aircraft within 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of the respective runway touchdown zones. |
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 Dual LIDAR Windshear Alerting System  North runway LIDAR  Centre runway LIDAR  Principle of the operation of LIDAR and TDWR |