TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING - CIVIL ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Three dimensional terrestrial laser scanning has already proved its potential in several application fields, such as topography, archaeology, mining and cultural heritage protection. Beside these areas a new demand emerged: accurate point cloud acquisition and post-processed results in engineering survey. This technology could broaden the field of engineering survey, although the limited accuracy has to be carefully considered. In order to confirm the accuracy claimed by the manufacturer, the Department of Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics carried out two complex laboratory measurements, where not only the main accuracy values were examined but the effect of different materials, colours and the incident angle. 1. LABORATORY TESTS 1.1 Accuracy of distance measurement The first laboratory test focused on the investigation of distance measurement accuracy. In theory, this can be described by simple mathematical equations, but particular circumstances and objects could have various influences on the result. The examination took place in the laboratory of the Department of Structural Engineering in 2006. A steel plate was bended to simulate different distances (with as small increment steps as 1