INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ACCURACY BEHAVIOUR OF THE TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING SYSTEM MENSI GS100

Abstract

Although terrestrial 3D laser scanning is being used increasingly for a wide range of applications, no laser scanning system on the market is suitable for all applications. Conse- quently, it is essential to test the accuracy and behaviour of new laser scanning systems for optimised use in each application. In this paper investigations at Hamburg University of Ap- plied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) into the accuracy behaviour of the terrestrial laser scanning system Mensi GS100 from Trimble will be presented. Tests into the accuracy of point cloud registration and geo-referencing using reference distance measurements showed that there were significant discrepancies in the distances to spheres and to targets. In further investiga- tions it could be indicated that the quality of the scanned point cloud is influenced by instru- mental errors (trunnion axis error) and by the surface characteristics (colour, material and sur- face roughness) of scanned objects.