Parameter design of a biaxial lidar ceilometer

Abstract

This paper presents parameter design methodology and related optomechanical engineering of a 905-nm diode-laser biaxial, eye-safe lidar ceilometer prototype for cloud-height monitoring. Starting with a brief review of the state-of-the-art ceilometer technology, acceptable parameter ranges are identified for the key system parts. Parameter tuning is achieved by imposing goal criteria on the simulated signal-to-noise ratio and laser-telescope overlap factor. The system is based on a low-cost pulsed semiconductor laser, low-cost Fresnel-lens telescope, a low-noise-equivalent power avalanche-photodiode optoelectronic receiver, and collimating/focusing adjustable parts. Finally, preliminary test measurements are presented.

The lidar ceilometer prototype has been developed with the financial support of DENA Desarrollos, S.L. The activities on semiconductor lidar technology have been sponsored by MICINN (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and FEDER (European Regional Development Funds) funds under the R&D projects, TEC2009-09106, TEC2006-07850/TCM, and AGL2010-22304-C04-03. The Catalan Meteorological Service (SMC) provided the meteorological data in support of the case example presented.