Above the Terrain: How Aerial Surveys Are Transforming Infrastructure Planning (NAIA)

Surveying airports and their surrounding landscapes is never straightforward. Runways, taxiways, terminals, and support facilities demand absolute precision because even the slightest inaccuracy in elevation or alignment can compromise both safety and efficiency. In the Philippines, these challenges are magnified by geography like the dense urban development. With that, traditional ground-based surveying, with its heavy equipment and lengthy fieldwork, often cannot keep pace with these demands.

Globally, the world’s busiest and most forward-looking airports are already relying on LiDAR as their standard. Singapore’s Changi Airport, consistently ranked among the best airports worldwide, has used high-resolution LiDAR data to plan its massive Terminal 5 expansion, built on reclaimed land. LiDAR’s ability to map shifting coastal and reclaimed terrains with sub-centimeter accuracy helped engineers design drainage, road networks, and building foundations with confidence. Similarly, Hong Kong International Airport’s third runway system relied on LiDAR surveys to evaluate reclamation zones and marine habitats, ensuring that expansion could proceed without compromising safety or environmental integrity.

Singapore is building something the world has never seen before. With a $7.5 billion investment, Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 is set to redefine global air travel combining modern design, sustainability, and smart technology. While other countries struggle with outdated infrastructure, Singapore is building an airport so advanced, it’s making the rest of the world look behind the times. Visit link to see the full report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83FrwXGiHE

Similarly, here in the Philippines, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s primary gateway and one of Southeast Asia’s busiest airports, the ABSD has taken over and allowed LiDAR to perform its job as NAIA plans to enhance its infrastructure.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Aerial View [Source: Wikipedia]

The NAIA project covered a total of 571 hectares, making it one of the most strategically important surveys ABSD has undertaken. Because it was conducted in the country’s busiest airport, the project demanded extraordinary levels of planning and coordination. Unlike typical aerial LiDAR surveys, where hundreds of hectares can be covered in just a few hours operations at NAIA were dictated by a packed schedule of departures and landings, along with strict safety and security regulations.

ABSD Data Acquisition Team in NAIA T1

This meant our team had to work within very tight timeframes. Each flight was carefully slotted into narrow windows cleared by airport authorities, requiring meticulous synchronization of flight lines and equipment readiness. Despite these constraints, ABSD successfully completed the entire aerial data collection in just two days, maximizing every available minute in the air.

Actual Data Processing After Each Flight in NAIA T1

To ensure both broad coverage and ground-level precision, we deployed a dual-system approach: the Riegl VQ-580-IIs for the aerial topographic LiDAR survey and the Riegl VMZ-2000 for the terrestrial LiDAR survey. This combination allowed us to produce not only wide-area elevation models and contour maps but also highly detailed ground-level datasets critical for engineering applications where even the smallest inaccuracies could impact infrastructure planning. Post-processing and validation required additional care to comply with the sensitivities of operating in such a high-security environment.

How the NAIA LiDAR Survey Improves Efficiency, Safety, and Planning

RIEGL VQ-580 II-S Actual Installation in NAIA T1

The LiDAR dataset generated for the 571-hectare NAIA project offers a foundation for improving both day-to-day airport operations and long-term development. High-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs), digital surface models (DSMs), and contour maps derived from the Riegl VQ-580-IIs aerial system and Riegl VMZ-2000 terrestrial system provide the precision needed to assess taxiways, runways, and aprons. Similar applications have been demonstrated at other international airports, where LiDAR data has been used to optimize taxiway geometry and high-speed exits, helping to reduce taxi-out times and runway occupancy (Sivaraman & Balakrishnan, 2013). By applying these methods, NAIA can expect more efficient ground movements without necessarily constructing new infrastructure. With similar practices, NAIA can proactively address hazards, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce risks from encroachments that might otherwise disrupt operations.

The survey also enhances pavement and drainage management. LiDAR’s dense point clouds detect depressions and subtle grade variations that can lead to ponding. Research shows that LiDAR-based hydrological modeling is more reliable than conventional surveying for drainage planning in airports and roadways (Liu et al., 2017). For a flood-prone country like the Philippines, this is especially critical. Better drainage design informed by LiDAR will improve operational resilience during heavy rainfall, minimizing weather-related closures.

For construction and expansion planning, the combined aerial and terrestrial LiDAR data serve as a current and highly accurate baseline. Global case studies highlight that accurate “as-is” 3D surveys significantly reduce design errors, change orders, and delays during construction phases (Zhu et al., 2018). At NAIA, this means future runway extensions, apron expansions, or terminal modifications can be staged with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

Repeat LiDAR acquisitions allow airports to monitor settlement, structural shifts, and vegetation growth over time. Studies show that such digital twins have been used successfully in airport asset management and resilience planning, enabling stakeholders to detect changes and address them quickly (Batty, 2018). This approach would help NAIA reduce downtime after typhoons or earthquakes and extend the life of its infrastructure.

Why This Project Matters

Actual Fly-through of ABSD in NAIA T1

Being chosen to survey Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) the busiest and most critical airport in the Philippines is not just another milestone for ABSD, it is a testament to how we consistently go Above and Beyond. In a location where even the smallest inaccuracy could disrupt flight safety, terminal design, or future construction, NAIA’s trust in ABSD highlights the confidence that only our precision and reliability can bring.

 

The project scope itself demanded more than just technical skill. With airspace packed with constant departures and arrivals, our team was given only tight flight windows to collect data. Yet, through careful planning and execution, we completed the aerial LiDAR survey in just two days. We paired our Riegl VQ-580-IIs aerial system with terrestrial LiDAR using the Riegl VMZ-2000 to ensure every contour, elevation, and structure was captured with ~98% accuracy. This dual approach was not simply about delivering a dataset it was about setting a new standard for how critical infrastructure surveys can be done under the most constrained conditions.

What makes this project truly impactful is how the outputs will help NAIA move forward with confidence. The elevation models, contour maps, and 3D datasets we delivered form the foundation for smarter terminal expansions, improved runway and taxiway design, enhanced drainage and safety planning, and overall operational efficiency. These are the kinds of decisions that shape not just the airport itself but the experience of millions of travelers each year.

For ABSD, this project reinforced one of our deepest commitments: what we do today must serve the builders of tomorrow. Going Above and Beyond here meant providing data that safeguards lives, accelerates development, and ensures that the Philippines’ gateway to the world continues to evolve with clarity and purpose.

Get in touch with us at info@absurveyingph.net or visit www.absurveyingph.net to connect with #TheLidarGuys and explore tailored geospatial solutions that go above and beyond.

#ABSD #AboveAndBeyond #LiDARMapping #OffshoreWind #RenewablesPH

References:

Batty, M. (2018). Digital twins. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 45(5), 817–820.

Kang, K., & Kim, J. (2012). 3D airport modeling using airborne LiDAR data. ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 1, 191–196.

Liu, X., Zhang, Z., Peterson, J., & Chandra, S. (2017). The effect of LiDAR data density on flood inundation mapping. Remote Sensing, 9(5), 382.

Sivaraman, V., & Balakrishnan, H. (2013). Taxibot route optimization at busy airports. Journal of Air Transportation, 21(1), 1–10.

Yao, W., Krzystek, P., & Heurich, M. (2019). Object-based classification of airborne LiDAR point clouds in complex airport environments. ISPRS Journal of

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 159, 278–291.

Zhu, Z., Hammad, A., & Mostafa, K. (2018). Integrating 3D laser scanning and BIM for construction progress tracking. Automation in Construction, 96, 228–239.