• Earth and environmental sciences --- topographic survey, LiDAR mapping, glacier monitoring, coastline changes, deforestation, etc.;
• Automobile --- collision avoidance, speed measurement, robotic vehicle guidance;

Most LiDAR system utilize pulse method, especially the LiDAR to measure the distance through determining the time taken by the light to fly back and forth to the object.

• Laser wavelength: in theory, any wavelength can be used on the basis of eye-safe operating wavelengths;
• Output power: the higher the better, while considering other performance parameters;
• Operating temperature range is critical, such as airborne LIDAR;
• Wavelength stability assists improving signal-to-noise ratio through noise filtering;