Depth and intensity profiling of targets at a range of up to 10 km is demonstrated using time-of-flight time-correlated single-photon counting technique. The system comprised a pulsed laser source at 1550 nm wavelength, a monostatic scanning transceiver and a single-element InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector. High-resolution three-dimensional images of various targets acquired over ranges between 800 metres and 10.5 km demonstrate long-range depth and intensity profiling, feature extraction and the potential for target recognition. Using a total variation restoration optimization algorithm, the acquisition time necessary for each pixel could be reduced by at least a factor of ten compared to a pixel-wise image processing approach. Kilometer range depth profiles are reconstructed with average signal returns of less than one photon per pixel.

We describe a re-configurable scanning lidar system which can accommodate either a single element detector operating in a scanning mode or a 32 x 32 array detector operating in a non-scanning mode. The system uses a time-of-flight approach in conjunction with the single-photon counting technique to produce 3D images of non-cooperative targets at ranges of greater than one kilometre. Results of data acquired with a single-element detector in a scanning mode at 2.9 km and 4.6 km are reported. The field of view (FoV) was illuminated through a transmitter in a bi-static mode using 125 kHz repetition rate laser pulses at a wavelength of 1550 nm with an average optical power of 0.5W.

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