The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) aims to provide high-precision data extending the duty cycle as much as possible. To reach this goal, it is necessary to continuously and precisely monitor the atmosphere by means of remote-sensing devices, which are able to provide altitude-resolved and wavelength-dependent extinction factors, sensitive up to the tropopause and higher. Raman LIDARs are currently the best suited technology to achieve this goal with one single instrument.
In this talk, I will focus on the technical aspects of the Barcelona Raman LIDAR development: its electronics, optics, mechanics and software. The first light results will also be presented.