Which of the following systems is known for its ability to create detailed terrain maps using laser scanning?

LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is renowned for its capability to create highly detailed and accurate terrain maps through the process of laser scanning. It operates by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time it takes for the light to return after reflecting off surfaces. This allows for the generation of precise three-dimensional representations of the terrain, capturing details such as vegetation, buildings, and topographic features.

The technology's effectiveness is largely due to the high resolution and accuracy it offers compared to other systems. LIDAR systems can penetrate through various materials such as foliage, providing insights into ground surfaces that may be obscured to other scanning methods. This makes it particularly valuable in fields such as forestry management, environmental monitoring, and urban planning, where understanding terrain and surface features in detail is crucial.

In contrast, RADAR utilizes radio waves instead of light, which can lead to lower resolution in terrain applications. Sonar is primarily used for underwater mapping and detection, making it unsuitable for terrestrial terrain analysis. GPS, on the other hand, is mainly focused on location and navigation rather than detailed mapping and does not create terrain models on its own. Therefore, LIDAR stands out as the system specifically designed for and effective in generating detailed terrain maps.