Shreveport police use LiDAR on I-20 as consumer gadgets adopt the technology

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) works by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time they take to return, creating precise three‑dimensional maps of surroundings. The Shreveport Police Department recently deployed LiDAR to target speeders on Interstate 20, preferring it over radar for its detailed distance measurements.

Beyond law‑enforcement, LiDAR has become common in consumer devices. Robot vacuums and robotic lawn mowers use it to navigate around furniture and obstacles, while smartphones employ it for augmented‑reality features and interior scanning. Other applications include archaeology, surveying, forestry, automotive safety, drones and spacecraft landing guidance.