Operational Application of Helicopter-Mounted Lidar for Larval Habitat Mapping and Treatment Refinement in Lee County, Florida

Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) implemented helicopter-mounted Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to create high-resolution elevation models for refining larval mosquito habitat treatment boundaries in coastal and inland environments. Using a Ranger ULTRA laser scanning system equipped with an IMU-30 inertial measurement unit mounted on an Airbus H125 helicopter, the district mapped approximately 184,567 ha across Lee County during the 2026 dry season (January 13 to May 1), achieving vertical accuracy of 2.0 cm and horizontal point densities exceeding 30 points per square m. The LiDAR-derived elevation data enabled precise delineation of tidal and rainfall-driven flooding zones that may reduce treatment areas and associated larvicide costs while maintaining operational effectiveness. This operational note describes the equipment specifications, flight parameters, data processing methodology, cost-benefit outcomes, and lessons learned from large-scale implementation of LiDAR for integrated mosquito management and represents the first large-scale operational implementation of LiDAR within a mosquito control program.