ISO 28902-1:2012

Overview

ISO 28902-1:2012 - "Air quality - Environmental meteorology - Part 1: Ground‑based remote sensing of visual range by lidar" defines requirements and methods for measuring visual range (visibility) using ground‑based visual‑range lidar. The standard covers range‑integrated visual‑range measurements based on light extinction and limits quantitative determination to a meteorological optical range (MOR) between 30 m and 2 000 m. It extends traditional visibility concepts (human observer based) to continuous, direction‑dependent lidar measurements usable in daylight and night‑time conditions.

Keywords: ISO 28902-1:2012, visual-range lidar, meteorological optical range (MOR), visibility measurements, ground-based remote sensing, air quality.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Measurement principle: Elastic backscatter lidar to determine extinction and derive MOR (range‑integrated visual‑range based on light extinction).
• Range limits: Quantitative MOR determination specified for 30 m to 2 000 m.
• Target outputs:
  • Horizontal visual range (MOR)
  • Vertical optical range (VOR)
  • Slant visual/slant optical range (SVR / SOR)
• Performance & system requirements: Specifications and minimum performance characteristics for visual‑range lidar systems, including temporal and range resolution, conventional range, overlap functions and receiver geometry.
• Signal evaluation: Methods and algorithms for processing backscatter signals (e.g., Klett‑Fernald algorithm), evaluation ranges, uncertainty estimation.
• Operational guidance: Measurement planning, site requirements, routine maintenance, operational tests and calibration (including manufacturer calibration guidance).
• Interferences & limitations: Discussion of measurement interferences, physical approximations, and uncertainty sources.
• Safety & normative references: References include IEC 60825‑1 (laser product safety).

Practical applications

ISO 28902-1 is applicable where reliable, direction‑dependent visibility data and atmospheric optical profiling are needed:

• Meteorological stations and environmental monitoring
• Airports (visibility and runway approach support)
• Harbours and waterways (navigation safety)
• Roads and motorways (traffic safety and control centers)
• Automotive industry (vehicle sensing/visibility research)
• Offshore oil platforms (operational safety, fog monitoring)

The standard also enables retrieval of cloud base height, boundary‑layer depth, fog banks, and aerosol profiles because lidar signal attenuation is sensitive to water vapour and aerosols (see Annex C).

Who should use this standard

• Meteorologists and atmospheric scientists implementing lidar visibility systems
• Airport operations and aviation meteorology units
• Port and marine safety authorities
• Road traffic management and transportation agencies
• Instrument manufacturers, system integrators and calibration laboratories
• Environmental monitoring organizations and offshore operators

Related standards and references

• IEC 60825‑1:2007 (safety of laser products) - referenced normative document
• ISO 28902 (other parts): Part 2 (Doppler wind lidar) noted as under preparation
• WMO and ICAO visibility definitions are referenced for terminology and context

For procurement, system design or operational deployment of visual‑range lidar, ISO 28902‑1:2012 is a key standard to ensure consistent, comparable visibility measurements and reliable atmospheric optical data.