Being part of a small company we are in position to buy some new equipment. My boss is wanting to get into the sector of mobile scanning and in particular wants to buy a Kaarta Stencil. Nobody in our company has experience with any type of scanning. And while I am interested in this venture, I do still have some reservations of it's capabilities.
My boss is wanting to use the scanning for all our topographic work since it will reduce field time greatly. Topographic work would include: small residential lot surveys, ALTA's, Road improvement projects, and even creek bank stabilization projects with dense brush.
My question for those of you who have experience with scanning equipment is would you use it for all your topographic needs?
What are its limits in regards to topographic mapping?
Would any of you use it for a job such as a creek bank stabilization project with dense brush?
Again, I am a novice when it comes to scanning so any feedback would be beneficial and greatly appreciated!
May be good for terrain/ground survey but when you need to get man made structures then using those specs may for example, give you uneven surface on a cement road or wall.
We own a Trimble MX-2 and have used it on tons of projects and mapped about a 1000 miles to date. For what you are describing for your needs a mobile scanner is not to right tool, not even close. I have no experience with a Kaarta Stencil, but I have to the GeoSlam which is similar - It is not a good tool for civil applications. The Geoslam works great for indoor architecture mapping but it is a pain in the ass to georeference anything. Also the software is pretty weak as a stand alone. If you have another software that can classify and work with point cloud data you can make it work - but lots of work to get to that point.
I suggest you buy a SX-10 or a dedicated scanner like a TX-8 or a Leica P-40.?ÿ
Thanks for the feedback. I told my boss a few days back that I didn't believe it was the right tool for the jobs described above. Just wanted to hear some feedback for those of you who are experienced in this field.?ÿ
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We have an SX-10 and it's the ideal tool for someone looking to get into laser scanning because it's also a fully functional reflectorless/robotic total station. And for something like creek bank stabilization with dense brush, a laser scanner isn't the right tool for the job.
If you are in dense brush it seems the two man crew is cheaper and faster. And while they are out there they can pick up utilities like culverts and manholes. The scanner takes out the repetitive sidewalk topo in the field but creates more office modeling. If only scanners could shoot through the blackberries ?????ÿ
Scanning is good for some topo but you will still need to pick up things like valves, inverts, etc, anything obscured.?ÿ
As someone mentioned it is more work in the office and less in the field, but my view is that it is cheaper in the office than in the field, plus the office is heated/air conditioned/dry.?ÿ
If only scanners could shoot through the blackberries
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They do. The 2nd or last signal bounce would be for the bare earth. If it's not pitch black in the bushes then lidar can penetrate it.
I'm not aware of any terrestrial LiDAR units that support multiple returns. The beam is too narrow at the typical working distance.
I did not know that there were any differences between aerial & terrestrial. I thought it was the same laser system and the only difference is where it was attached. For example the Velodyne Puck (maybe the cheapest survey grade Lidar system?) could be mounted on a truck or on a UAV.
Multiple return LiDAR (Green) is not typically sold or available to civilian services. Plus you probably couldn’t afford it.
It’s out there...
https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/corbin/class_description/Nayegandhi_green_lidar.pdf
You are referring to a paper that was published way back in 2010 or so based on referenced material?
Yup it's old, but still out there and still being used. Just Google up Green LiDAR and read up on it.
No need to go back 9 years. Any survey grade Lidar manufacturer's spec sheet would tell you that they have multiple returns.
The Riegl VUX and Mini VUX have multiple returns but I can tell you from personal experience that is no guarantee that you'll penetrate to the ground. Far from it, I've flown them over tree canopy so dense that we didn't get any ground whatsoever.
Had an old party chief whose logic might apply....If you can't see me I can't see you.?ÿ?ÿ
