Holographic light detection and ranging

A method of light detection and ranging, (LIDAR), for surveying a scene, the method comprising:

• dividing a field of view into a plurality of sub-areas of the scene;
• displaying a diffractive pattern comprising a hologram of a light footprint on a spatial light modulator, wherein the light footprint comprises an array of light features;
• illuminating the diffractive pattern to form a holographic reconstruction of the light footprint and projecting the reconstructed light footprint onto the scene;
• controlling the spatial light modulator to change the diffractive pattern with time, such that each light feature of the array of light features scans a respective sub-area of the scene;
• detecting light by a plurality of light detecting elements, wherein each light detecting element is configured to receive light from a respective individual field of view within the scene, and
• configuring the plurality of light detecting elements so that each sub-area of the scene contains a plurality of individual fields of view of the light detecting elements.