Lidar Simulation Model: Overview

The Lidar Simulation Model (LSM) (Emmitt and Wood, 1996; Wood et al., 1995), is an evolution of existing coherent Doppler lidar simulation models (Wood et al., 1993; Emmitt et al., 1990) that are currently used for spaced-based Doppler lidar wind simulations (Baker et al., 1995) and airborne Doppler lidar wind simulations ( Wood et. al., 1997). The LSM is a fully integrated Doppler lidar simulation model that produces simulated lidar winds and corresponding errors using either global or mesoscale atmospheric model wind fields. The LSM can address various types of questions on the feasibility and optimal functionality of a space-based or airborne coherent Doppler lidar system. The LSM is also designed to address engineering trades, measurement accuracies (line of sight and horizontal wind vector), measurement representativeness, resolution and areal coverage.

Execution of the LSM invokes the LSM Welcome Screen: the model's main control screen. The LSM Welcome Screen has five options: Configure Model Inputs, Run the Lidar Simulation Model, Toolbox, Model Input Limits Editor and Exit LSM.

In the Configure Inputs window, the user can enter LSM inputs, review his inventory of LSM input files, load existing files, and edit existing files. From Configure Inputs Screen, the user can run the Platform Shot Coverage Model (SCV) and the Atmospheric Generator Model (AGM). Run LSM executes the Lidar Simulation Model to produce simulated wind information. From the LSM Toolbox Screen, the user can graph platform coverage, laser shot coverage, global and mesoscale atmospheric variables, laser line-of-sight products and laser horizontal wind products.