LIKE · Project

Laser-Based Wind Measurement Tech for Smarter Wind Farms and Safer Airports

energyTestedTRL 5

Imagine pointing a laser beam into the sky and getting a detailed picture of how wind moves — speed, direction, turbulence — from hundreds of meters away. That's what Doppler lidar does, and this project made the technology cheaper and more reliable. The team built an open platform with ready-to-use software and hardware designs so companies can measure wind for everything from placing wind turbines to keeping planes safe during landing. They trained 15 early-stage researchers across 10 European partners to bridge the gap between lab science and real-world wind measurement products.

By the numbers

Early-stage researchers trained in lidar technology

Consortium partners across Europe

Countries in the consortium (DE, DK, IT, NO, PT)

Project deliverables produced

Open lidar platform with software and hardware recipes

The business problem

What needed solving

Wind energy companies lose revenue from poor turbine placement and suboptimal farm control because accurate wind measurement over large areas is expensive and limited by physical mast installations. Airports face safety risks from undetected wind shear during landings, and bridge engineers lack detailed wind data at remote construction sites. Current solutions are either too expensive, too localized, or too slow for real-time decision-making.

The solution

What was built

The project built an open lidar platform consisting of software algorithms and hardware recipes for remote wind measurement. Across 12 deliverables, the team developed scanning lidar applications for wind resource mapping, wind turbine and farm control, real-time airport atmospheric monitoring, and extreme-condition wind measurement at bridge sites.

Audience

Who needs this

Wind farm developers needing accurate wind resource assessment before investing in new sitesWind farm operators wanting to increase energy output through lidar-assisted turbine controlAirport authorities seeking real-time wind shear and turbulence detection for safer landingsBridge and infrastructure engineering firms requiring detailed wind data for structural designLidar hardware manufacturers looking for validated software algorithms to integrate into products

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Wind Energy

enterprise

Target: Wind farm developers and operators

If you are a wind farm developer struggling with inaccurate wind resource assessments that lead to underperforming turbines — this project developed an open lidar platform with scanning algorithms that maps wind resources remotely. The platform enables better turbine placement and wind farm control to increase energy production and reduce mechanical loads. The technology was refined across a consortium of 10 partners in 5 countries with direct industry involvement.

Aviation & Airport Operations

enterprise

Target: Airport authorities and aviation safety companies

If you are an airport operator dealing with unexpected wind shear and turbulence that cause flight delays or unsafe landing conditions — this project developed real-time atmospheric flow mapping over airports using scanning lidars. The system detects unusual wind patterns in real-time, giving pilots and air traffic controllers advance warning. The open platform includes software algorithms tested by 8 leading European universities.

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure

mid-size

Target: Bridge engineering and structural design firms

If you are a structural engineering firm designing long-span bridges in exposed locations and need precise wind and turbulence data for optimal design — this project explored wind measurement under extreme conditions at future European bridge sites. The lidar-based approach replaces or supplements expensive meteorological masts, providing richer spatial data for bridge load calculations. The open hardware recipes let you build or adapt measurement setups for specific sites.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does the open lidar platform actually cost to implement?

The project does not publish specific pricing for the platform. However, the objective states that Doppler lidars have 'reduced in price and increased reliability over the last decade,' and the open platform with software algorithms and hardware recipes is designed to lower adoption barriers further. Contact the coordinator at Danmarks Tekniske Universitet for licensing or implementation costs.

Can this work at the scale of a commercial wind farm or busy airport?

The project explicitly targeted wind resource mapping using scanning lidars for both individual wind turbines and entire wind farms. For aviation, the system was designed for real-time mapping of atmospheric flow over airports. Based on available project data, the platform was developed for operational-scale deployment in these settings.

What is the IP situation — can we use the platform freely?

The project produced an 'open lidar platform' with software algorithms and hardware recipes, suggesting open-access or open-source licensing. However, specific IP terms should be confirmed with the coordinator. The MSCA-ITN funding scheme typically encourages knowledge sharing, but commercial use conditions may apply.

How mature is this technology — is it ready for deployment?

The project ran from 2019 to 2023 and produced 12 deliverables including the open lidar platform. The technology builds on Doppler lidars that are already commercially available in the wind energy sector. The platform advances specific applications like airport wind mapping and bridge-site measurement, which are at an earlier adoption stage.

Does this integrate with existing wind measurement or SCADA systems?

Based on available project data, the platform includes software algorithms designed for wind turbine and wind farm control applications, which suggests integration with existing control systems. The open hardware recipes also imply adaptability. Specific integration protocols should be discussed with the consortium partners.

Are there regulatory requirements this technology addresses?

Airport wind shear detection directly addresses aviation safety regulations. For wind energy, accurate wind resource mapping supports compliance with environmental impact assessments and grid connection requirements. The project's real-time atmospheric monitoring capabilities align with evolving safety standards in both sectors.

Who in the consortium has industry experience with this?

The consortium includes 1 dedicated industry partner alongside 8 universities and 1 research organization across 5 countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal). The training program included inter-sectoral secondments where all 15 researchers spent time at industry sites, building practical application knowledge.

Consortium

Who built it

The LIKE consortium is led by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU), one of Europe's top wind energy research institutions, headquartered in Denmark — the birthplace of modern wind power. The partnership spans 10 organizations across 5 countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal), covering Northern Europe's strongest wind energy markets. With 8 universities and 1 research institution, this is heavily academia-driven — only 1 industry partner (10% industry ratio) and zero SMEs. For a business buyer, this means the technology is scientifically robust but may need additional commercial packaging. The 15 trained researchers now dispersed across European institutions and companies represent a ready talent pool for companies looking to hire lidar specialists.

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITETCoordinator · DK
UNIVERSITETET I STAVANGERparticipant · NO
POLITECNICO DI MILANOparticipant · IT
UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTOparticipant · PT
UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGARTparticipant · DE
CARL VON OSSIETZKY UNIVERSITAET OLDENBURGparticipant · DE
HOCHSCHULE FLENSBURGparticipant · DE
UL INTERNATIONAL GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITETET I BERGENparticipant · NO

How to reach the team

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU), Denmark — reach the Wind Energy Department which houses Europe's leading lidar research group

Order a report on this consortium See DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how open lidar technology can improve your wind measurements or airport safety systems? SciTransfer can connect you with the LIKE research team and help evaluate fit for your specific use case.

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