e

id

ASTM E57

in

Healing disconnected workflows

ThE holy GrAil

Automated feature extraction

MobilE liDAr

South American Firm Adopts Mobile Scanning Solution

Vol. 1 Issue 1

12
FEATUrES
12

16
ColUMNS
8
GeNe roe, Pe, lS, PHD

18

A Picture Perfect Trifecta

laser Scanning, orthophotos and BIM

Welcome to the digital charter issue of liDAr Magazine!

From silent movies to vaudeville productions, the Saenger Theater has provided residents and visitors of New orleans many hours of incomparable entertainment for more than 80 years...
DIeTrIcH eVANS

16 can a new data exchange

Joe croSer

standard heal disconnected workflows?

23

Software Automation

The Bridge between Data collection and Information Product

17

Advertisers Directory

A bridge clearance diagram is a deceptively straightforward information product. It provides a set of clearance measurements...
AAroN MorrIS

18 Automated Feature extraction

JArlATH oNeIl-DuNNe

26 reflections on laser Scanning

at the coast

30

Dmapas launches Topcons IP-S2 in South America

MIcHAel J. olSeN

Stories and articles dealing with technology rarely convey a sense of adventure. This is story that describes a milestone event in the evolution of an established mapping company.
c. JASoN SMITH

LiDAR To Go!

Get the most from this magazine on your tablet or laptop.

Quick-Find:
2 2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

one of the many benefits this digital edition offers is searchability. Search for any term or phrase via the search-glass icon or find bar.

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rECENT FEATUrES
Scanner Helps recreate Wright Bros. 1st Flight
As our frequent readers know, Direct Dimensions utilizes laser scanning in many more interesting ways than just industrial buildings and facilities. In fact, our roots in scanning start with helping to develop the FaroArm, a close range metrology tool for reverse engineering and quality control applications in the aerospace industry, where I worked back in the late 80s.
MIcHAel rAPHAel

rECENT DEpArTMENTS
Awash in Data (Parts I & II)
FreD PerSI

complexities of an urban Survey

STePHeN clANcy

The cloud in your Future What It really Means to you

DAVID WArD AND JereMy HAle

Nottinghams architectural heritage is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to a university project to survey almost 450 caves located below the city. The survey project is being led by Trent and Peak Archaeology from the university of Nottingham and is the first part of the caves of Nottingham regeneration Project
Joe croSer

New life to old caves Hidden under Nottingham

Getting the Most from your liDAr Investment

Jason amadori

lIDAr for electric Transmission Modeling: Part IV

leWIS GrAHAM

GeoBIM Advocacy

one of Gene roes recent In the Scan blog comments really hit home. He proposed the concept of GeoBIMusing BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology to manage civil infrastructure projects. I totally agree, but would like to add one additional thought.
rIcHArD ryBkA

rECENT NEWSlETTErS
Volume 1, Number 10 Voiume 1, Number 9 Volume 1, Number 8

did-u-knOW: There are many more unique articles on liDArnews.com, just a few are listed above. We invite you to visit our archive and browse the rest of the site.
4 2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

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FROMTHEEDITOR
GENEROE

The 3D revolution: Join the community

warm welcome to the inaugural issue of the LiDAR News digital magazine, or what we internally call the flippy. As you read on and experience this high-impact format, you will see what we mean. The first item of business is to thank all of the people who have made this new and exciting platform possible. This includes you, the loyal readers/supporters of LiDAR News, the advertisers, the contributing authors, plus Marc and Allen Cheves, who had the vision and determination to make this happen. I want to also take this opportunity to thank my son and nephew who encouraged me to start the LiDAR News blog, when I didnt know what a blog was. Two years and 750+ posts later I have learned a lot about the power of digital media. I continue to be amazed at the compliments I receive from readers around the world who tell me that LiDAR News keeps them informed and helps them to feel like a part of the LiDAR/laser scanning community, no matter what country they live in. Now if you are reading this on your iPad, AndroidPad or smart phone then you already know that you are looking into the future. Tablets are the next mega-wave of technology that I believe will have the same kind of impact as the handheld calculator or the cell phone. Eventually most of us are going to own one. The reason I say that is in part because, as most of you would guess, I am an early adopter. I would assume that many of you are also in that category and therefore you know the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat that goes along with this approach to life. When I reflect back on my youth I dont remember being in the rocket club, or being any more interested in new products or ideas than any of my friends, but I do remember my first transistor radio like it was yesterdaymaybe that was the start of it. Or maybe it was all the pain of using my slide rule for 4 years to get a BS in civil engineering, or maybe using a 200 steel tape to run a traverse through the woods and swamps of New Hampshire for a 100-acre parcel, only to come back to the office and have to use log tables to comp it up.

www.lidarmagazine.com
2011 Vol. 1 No. 1 Spatial Media LLC Publisher Allen E. Cheves publisher@spatialmedia.us Managing editor Gene Roe editor@lidarnews.com grouP editor Marc S. Cheves, LS marc.cheves@spatialmedia.us Contributing Writers Stephen Clancy Joe Croser Lewis Graham Rob Mellis Ed Oliveras Michael Olsen Jarlath ONeil-Dunne Fred Persi Doug Pritchard Michael Raphael John Russo Richard Rybka David Ward The staff and contributing writers may be reached via the online message center at our website. graPhiC design LTD Creative, LLC WebMaster Joel Cheves audienCe develoPMent Edward Duff Media relations Richard Bremer LiDAR Magazine is published 4x annually by Spatial Media LLC. Editorial mailing address: 905 West Seventh Street, #331, Frederick, MD 21701. Tel: (301) 620-0784; Fax: (301) 6951538. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. Opinions and statements made by the writers and contributors do not necessarily express the views of Spatial Media LLC. Subscribe @ www.lidarnews.com Made in the United States of America

2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

FROMTHEEDITOR

Whatever it was, throughout my professional career it seems as though I have always wanted to get involved with the hot, new, in most cases digital technology. From the first HP desktop computer that used magnetic cards to load the programs, to the little TI 55, the HP EDM, the combined Kern theodolite and distance meter, the Topcon total stations, GPS (I hold two patents) and now laser scanning, the one common thread has been the application: surveying and mapping. Actually, although all of these disruptive devices that I have named represent hardware breakthroughs, it is the software industryCAD, GIS and remote sensingwhere I have spent the last 20 years working with organizations to help them adopt these game-changing technologies. The fact is LiDAR News is not my first publication. In the 1980s I used to mail out about 1500 GIS Review newsletters throughout New England and in the 1990s I was the founding editor of Softdesks Tech Talk which grew to a circulation of 60,000+, helping to build that company into the leading AEC software for AutoCAD. I guess its in my blood. But that was then, so whats next? There is no question that we are in the 3D Decade, both professionally and on the consumer side. Although the early adopters would argue that 3D has been around for 20+ years, I think it is fair to say that it is only now becoming mainstream, and in fact I think it is going to take the rest of the decade for 3D to be fully embraced. I wouldnt mind be wrong about that, but I am afraid there is just too much inertia built into the 2D way of thinking and doing business, both technically, and more important, on the human resource front. I guess that can be an advantage for those who can extract the value out of

making the early shift to 3D workflows. Of course this is where 3D laser scanning and LiDAR come in. 3D laser scanning, I believe, should be thought of as an enabling technology, not as a business itself. The key is to use laser scanning to creatively solve 3D problems for paying customers. Ask the veterans. So what other major trends should we be tracking? I already mentioned the tablet. The other BIG trend I see is the cloud. Now imagine if you get all threelaser scanning, the tablet and the cloudconnected. There is no doubt that this is going to happen and I am sure some very early adopters are already making it happen. To wrap things up, the goal with LiDAR News is simple: we want to keep you informed and feeling like you are a part of the laser scanning/LiDAR community. But the beauty of these digital media platforms is that it can be a two-way street. That is, you can keep me informed, and many of you do. In a recent meeting with Ken Smerz from Precision 3D Scanning Ken said, You are like the cow with the bell. Since I never really liked cows (too smelly) I had to think about that for a minute but then realized it was quite a compliment. So I will be working to keep you informed and if I miss something, please let me know. There is a lot of runway here. Thanks for your ongoing support and please let us know what you think of the flippy. Regards,

We Welcome your submissions and Comments

For Editorial SubmiSSionS
editor@lidarnews.com

For advErtiSing inquiriES

allen Cheves publisher@spatialmedia.us

SubScribe free @ lIDArNeWS.coM

Gene Roe, LS, PE, PhD Managing Editor & Co-Founder LiDAR Magazine

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

3 3 3 3

using orthographic images created from scanned mesh data, 3D laser Imaging was able to add detail to the 3-D model.

A Picture Perfect trifectA

laser Scanning, orthophotos and BIM
rom silent movies to vaudeville productions, the Saenger Theater has provided residents and visitors of New Orleans many hours of incomparable entertainment for over 80 years. First opened in 1927 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the theater has gone through a number of renovations and reformations in the last 80 plus years. In 2004, the Saenger Theater re Partnership, Ltd.* sought to restore the theater to its

original state. Their vision was to return the theater back to the original 4,000seat capacity, revert to the original color scheme, repair nostalgic architectural details and incorporate 1920s doors, lights and windows. Then Hurricane Katrina struck and the three-story, 70,000-sq.-ft. structure suffered severe damage as flood waters rose above stage level, filling the basement and orchestra seating area, damaging administrative offices and the box office.

by DiETriCh. evans
12 2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

Because of additional damage from Katrina and the limited availability of original architectural drawings, the theater owners contracted 3D Laser Imaging to prepare an as-is digital model of the existing structure that could be used to plan and facilitate renovations. This seemingly straightforward request soon morphed into the need for a 3D model with interior and exterior decorative detailall on a limited budget. A combination of laser scanning and orthographic images created from the laser-meshed data provided the perfect solution.

Triangles indicate a few of the 240 scan positions used to capture the inside and outside of the Saenger Theater.

TruView images created from raw scanned data look much like photographs, except that they are accurate and measurable.

Developing a deliverable
To develop a comprehensive renovation plan, the Saenger Theater owner requested an accurate Autodesk Revit 3D model as well as scanned images for use in the free Leica TruView software. The measurable, scanned TruView images would provide the owner and project team with additional detail that may not be in the 3-D model. Over the course of three days, 3D Laser Imagings two-person crew set up in 240 different scan positions inside and

outside the theater. There were 6070 scan positions on each floor and 30 scan positions in the basement. The scan team chose to use cloud-to-cloud registration techniques, as opposed to georeferencing the scans to a survey control network, since there was plenty of overlapping detail. Each scan position produced one or more gigabytes of data in raw form. Overall, the team produced over 500-gigabytes of raw scanned data. With that much data, the challenge is to extract the correct amount of

detail from the point cloud without blowing the budget. Initially, we were just supposed to shoot the inside/ outside shell of the structure, but then the owner asked if we could also detail the decorative dcor and detail on the interior wall faces. In response, the 3D Laser Imaging laser scan team used the point cloud data to create a shell model of the interior and exterior of the theater. We further used the scanned data to create orthographic .tif files

2011 Vol. 1 No. 1 13

Saenger Theater revit model created using laser scanned data.

For the interior wall surfaces, 3D Laser Imaging imported the orthophotos as background to the laser scanned data within Revit and traced the details requested by the client as needed.

Lessons in lasers
In the case of the Saenger Theater, the client initially asked for a measurable 3D model of the structural shell, interior and exterior. As the model data began to emerge, the owner and architect found they needed greater detail. Scope creep is a common occurrence on a project. Its imperative that survey professionals ask the right questions so that clients can clearly define what level of detail they want from a laser scan. Create a checklist during the planning phases. Also, define the registration technique up-front. Scans of structures such as the Saenger Theater showed enough detail to use the cloud-to-cloud registration and kept the cost of registration down. Other projects will require survey control, design coordinate control or both. In some cases, the client might not need a 3D model. The level of detail required is tied to the purpose of the data. In some cases, a 2D footprint will do. Identify the level of the data, so that the scan team can gather the proper detail in the appropriate format. It is a learning process on both sides to provide the necessary detail within the budget. The difference between a 2D

Saenger Theatre after the flooding.

Orthographic images are a common deliverable in the architectural community, commonly used by architects within the CAD environment to trace or re-design. For a rehabilitation project, its not always apparent what the owner, architect or project team will need. In some cases, they

might only need to illustrate the structural details, not necessarily reconstruct. Thats where the orthographic images proved invaluable. The scaled .tiff orthophotos can be used in the same wayas a backdrop for laser scanned point clouds or to help define decorative detail within the 3D model.

laser scanned image of Saenger Theater

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Saenger Theatre after the flooding. Below: Saenger Theater revit model created using laser scanned data.

footprint versus an intelligent 3D model can be the difference between a couple hours or days and a few months.

Laser advances
For the Saenger Theater, 3D Laser Imaging used the Leica HDS 6000 from Leica Geosystems. The firm has since upgraded to the more advanced Leica ScanStation C10 from Leica Geosystems for its range and functionality. Laser scanning tools continue to get more affordable, flexible and powerful. I would have cut my workload by 35% on the Saenger Theater if I had the C10 range and functionality by cutting setups from 250 to about 150150 scans versus 250 scans makes a big difference in managing data. For instance, 3DI Laser Imaging developed an as-built 3D model using orthophotos and laser scanning of a 15,000 sq ft Victorian-style city hall in Yuma, Arizona. Originally built in 1921, the structure has a significant amount of detail that the owner wanted to repair or replicate. This time, the laser scan team used the Leica C-10. We completed the entire scanning effort, interior and exterior, in six hours with just 75 setupsabout one-half as many scans as we would have needed using older phase-based scanning systems.

The newer scanners such as the C-10 are also able to capture greater detail at longer distances and a more streamlined interface with the post-processing software. Therefore, the data thats gathered is more manageable with fewer setups and much faster scan-to-model capabilities. The firm used Leica Cyclone 3-D point cloud processing software to manage most of the point cloud data and Leica CloudWorx to translate data into Autodesk Revit. Using 3-D laser scanners to capture a structures surface with engineering accuracy ultimately produces a highly accurate and measurable as-built model. With the increased demand for renovations and reuse, laser scanning provides owners and project teams with

accurate, comprehensive as-is conditions. I believe were in the midst of a huge paradigm shift in the way we use laser scanning. Its valid currency in the data exchange market. In the BIM environment, laser scanning is one of the few speedy, accurate ways to gather as-built conditions on existing structures. In some cases, such as the historic Saenger Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana, its the only option. *The Saenger Theatre is now owned by the Canal Street Development Corp. who leases the building to the Saenger Theatre Partnership, Ltd.
Dietrich evans is the ceo and Founder of 3D laser Imaging

2011 Vol. 1 No. 1 15

JoE crOser

can a new data exchange standard heal disconnected workflows?

he new ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) E57 3D imaging data exchange standard sets out to heal the disconnected workflows surrounding 3D laser scanning and point cloud data exchange. Its a big ask, and many folks have high hopes for itincluding me. But why is it needed? Cant all the software and hardware companies just agree to share their own file formats to achieve the same goal? Apparently not if a new file format is required to move data between scanners and different software products.

You see, very often a file format is all that ties a hardware user to the hardware vendors software offering. In some cases the hardware vendor fears that by sharing its file format, it will no longer be able to force its own software upon its own captive userbase. By sharing its file format it fears exposure to increased competitive pressures surrounding performance, feature set, and price. A scary prospect for many who got fat and happy selling the only solution available for a problem they in essence created. But not all vendors want to see their data translated during exchange, some

have a much more user-first philosophy to healing disconnected workflows. I remember a distinguished Bentley colleague of mine once saying that data translation is a poor relation to interoperability, claiming that translation was a last resort for enabling data exchange workflows. Of course he was right; translation is rarely completed without some loss of data, whereas interoperability (by definition) enables loss-less exchange of data rich information for the purposes of reuse. According to Wikipedia there are essentially two types of interoperability:

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

ADVErTiSEr iNDEX
AIRBORNE 1 21 lidar & obliques: Sales, rentals, training www.lidardata.com

syntactic interoperabilitywhere two or more systems are capable of communicating for the purpose of exchanging dataand semantic interoperabilitywhere any number of systems can automatically interpret the information exchanged in a meaningful and accurate way in order to produce useful results as defined by the end users of both systems. In simple English, syntactical interoperability is enabled when hardware and software vendors configure their products to read and write semantically rich and unambiguously defined data using a common file format to guarantee that the data sent is the same data that is

common file formats guarantee that the data sent is the same as that received and understood.

received and understood. So how does ASTM E57 set out to streamline and connect the data exchange workflows surrounding 3D laser scanning? Pretty much the only way it can; by creating a superset of all 3D scan data types using an agreed exchange file format and by defining the syntax required of hardware and software vendors so they may configure their products to import and export data.

Already a number of hardware and software vendors have thrown their names into the hat to support this new ASTM E57 standard. The last time I checked they included FARO, InteliSum, Inovx, Kubit, Leica Geosystems, Optech, Pointools, Quantapoint, Riegl, Trimble, and Zoller+Frhlich. By supporting ASTM E57 each vendor promises to import and export 3D laser scan data from their own applications into this new ASTM E57 file format so that data can be exchanged with other appropriately configured software products. Here at Pointools we are no strangers to interoperability as we already license our Pointools POD file format to a number of 3rd party vendors through our Pointools Vortex platform. This commitment is born out of the knowledge that the average user has a number of apps loaded on their desktop each one offering slightly different capabilities for different stages in their workflow. Without reusable file formats the poor user has to endure repeated data translation headaches as models are moved between software platforms throughout the workflow which leads to huge and unacceptable operational inefficiency. Still while there remain some vendors who wont share, we all have to look to new avenues to enable our users to keep their data flowing in their preferred software directions. Hence, at Pointools we are actively working to fold the ASTM E57 standard into our software for commercial release this year; extending our users ability to import 3D laser scan data from even more sources and natively reuse it as a Pointools POD file across the broadest portfolio of software applications.

CARLSON SOFTWARE Field Scan to Finished Plat www.carlsonsw.com

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CERTAINTY 3D laser Scan data to Cad deliverables www.certainty3d.com

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GEODIGITAL Eliminate your nErC compliance risk. www.geodigital.com

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LEICA GEOSYSTEMS 4-5 Scalable, Entry-level ScanStation C5 hds.leica-geosystems.com/en/index.htm

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OPTECH 27, 36 lynx m1: Highest Scan density available www.optech.ca

RIEGL USA 5 airborne, mobile & terrestrial Scanning www.rieglusa.com

TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS iP-S2: 3d mobile mapping System www.topconpositioning.com/ips2/

2011 Vol. 1 No. 1 17

JArlATh Oneil-dunne

Automated Feature extraction

The Quest for the Holy Grail

ts clear that we are in the midst of a geospatial revolution. Commercial high-resolution satellites, such as WorldView-2, can image nearly 1 million square kilometers per day. Airborne LiDAR collections over major cities yield data sets consisting of billions of points. Mobile LiDAR sensors are now capable of collecting millions of points in a single second. Whats less clear is how much of the data driving this revolution is turned into meaningful information. Automated feature extraction has long been considered the Holy Grail of remote sensing, but for decades there has been relatively little to show for the untold millions, perhaps even billions, of dollars that were invested in this technology. Some of the failings can be attributed to the limitations of the sensors at the time, but equal responsibility lies with the methods employed. LiDAR, particularly when combined with multispectral imagery, has the greatest potential to advance automated feature extraction. Unfortunately, the pixel-based digital image processing techniques most of us learnt in our college remote sensing courses are not effective for extracting

Figure 1A

Grid statistical approaches can be used to help distinguish between features that have differing arrangements of points, such as buildings and trees. Figure 1a shows a liDAr point cloud color by height. In Figure 1b the point cloud is colored based on the deviation in height to surrounding points. Tree points, with higher deviation, stand out from building points.

Figure 1B

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 2C

example of the results from an object-based classification of liDAr and imagery for a major uS city. liDAr surfaces models (A) and derivatives, such as slope (B), were combined with imagery to extract land cover (C).

information from a combination of imagery and LiDAR. Humans are extraordinarily adept at identifying features in remotely sensed data sets thanks to our cognitive abilities. Dr. Charles Olson first identified what are now commonly known as the elements of image interpretation in 1960. Olson proved to be far ahead of his time; numerous studies in the cognitive sciences now support his conclusions that humans rely on a combination of spectral, geometric, and contextual properties to derive information from remotely sensed data. For much of the past four decades, approaches to the automated classification of images have focused almost solely on the spectral properties of individual pixels. Initially, this approach made sense; processing capabilities were limited and pixels in the early satellite images were relatively large and contained a considerable amount of spectral information. Yet

pixel-based approaches were only marginally successful, and over time 80% became an accepted accuracy standard in the peer reviewed literature. Of course, this dismayed decision makers who were left with land cover maps that were 20% wrong. A good many of us in the remote sensing community, myself included, continually said that more accurate classification techniques were just around the corner in the form of future sensors with more spectral bands. We thought that using hyperspectral imagery, in conjunction with comprehensive spectral libraries, would enable us to classify any material with an extraordinarily high degree of accuracy. The hyperspectral revolution never took off and the technology, while valuable for certain applications, is costly, challenging to work with, and thus largely remains a niche tool. I believe the critical mistake that we made was thinking that advances in

sensor technology would solve all of our problems instead of questioning our approach to automated classification. Although Olsons elements of image interpretation were taught in every introductory remote sensing course somehow we never thought to ask, Why are humans so successful at this? One of the great strengths of the human vision system is that we can perceive depth in 2D imagery. Fusing LiDAR with imagery effectively exposes depth, and over the past few years a considerable amount of attention has been paid to point and pixel fusion, in which the spectral information from the image pixel is combined with the structural information from the LiDAR point. However, using height as nothing more than an additional digital number to apply the same old image classification routines is short sighted. Such an approach is completely counter to human cognition, which relies more

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

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on the spatial of arrangement of pixels/ points to extract features extraction than the individual point/pixel values. In a very short time the LiDAR community has succeeded in harnessing the spatial information in the point cloud. Algorithms, such as those used in the Terrasolid and TIFFS software packages, are extraordinarily effective separating ground from above ground returns. Grid statistical approaches, such as those available within Quick Terrain Modeler, can serve as a proxy for the type of complex contextual relationships the human vision system is capable of discerning (Figure 1). Years of research into LiDAR point segmentation are finally bearing fruit in the form

of Autodesk Labs shape extraction technology. Perhaps the greatest breakthrough from a data fusion perspective is the ability to incorporate LiDAR into object-based image analysis (OBIA) workflows. OBIA techniques are widely considered to be vastly superior to pixel-based approaches. By grouping pixels and points together into a connected network of objects, spectral, geometric, and contextual information can be harnessed during classification process. eCognition, the first commercial OBIA software package in 1999, added support for LiDAR point clouds in 2009 and results from object-based data fusion approaches to feature extraction yield accuracies are

almost on par with manual methods, even in complex urban environments (Figure 2). While LiDAR adds tremendous value from a feature extraction standpoint, the methods are just as important as the data. There is not single software package that does it all, but the experienced analyst now has the tools to automate the extraction of features using a combination of LiDAR and imagery with accuracies that far surpass those that were achieved using pixel-based approaches on imagery alone. These techniques, which offer substantial cost savings when compared to manual methods, will help to bridge the gap between data and information.

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

AAron Morris

Software Automation
The Bridge between Data Collection and Information Product

he bridge clearance diagram shown at right is a deceptively straightforward information product. This diagram provides a set of clearance measurements (i.e. the distance between the road surface and the underside of a bridge) on each lane marker with the minimum clearance designated in red. Geometric properties of the diagram convey bridge shape while the measurement arrangement designates the lane layout. What is not conveyed is the host of operations and millions of range measurements assessed to create an image so easily consumed by the observer. The diagram shown at right is one of many information products derived from mobile scanning technologies. The advent of mobile scanning, in combination with affordable mass data storage, has made possible the means to document our world at unprecedented scale and speed. The applications fueling these technologies are also defined in terms of volume: hundreds of roadway kilometers, thousands of bridges and tens of thousands of measurements. Production and management of information derived from this raw data has therefore become a major challenge affecting the growth and adoption of mobile scanning. Production of information from point cloud data as it occurs today is largely a manual, time-consuming process. Processing requires the storing and organization of many large disparate files, simultaneous visualization of data

What is not conveyed in the above easy-to-understand bridge clearance diagram is all the operations and millions of measurements needed to produce it.

from multiple software tools, hand manipulation of data and customized generation of deliverables into a variety of formats. In small quantities, manual workflows are manageable; however, when volume is applied these methods become intractable. Large projects either require significant staff or long periods of time to complete, thus limiting the utility of mobile LiDAR. To realize the full benefit of mobile scanning, companies must learn to leverage automated methods of processing to achieve scale, reduce complexity and maintain the accuracy of information deliverables. For example, to process the data for a single bridge clearance analysis, the

bridge is first identified and separated from a point cloud. Environmental noise is removed and paint lines indicating lane markings are identified. Cross sections about each lane are extracted and the minimum distance between the road surface and bridge is determined for each lane. On average, five or more operations are necessary to generate each of the 6 to 18 clearance measurements per bridge. Now consider the implications of project consisting of 600 bridges with the workflow previously described. The anticipated deliverable will have approximately 8,000 measurements where those measurements must be formatted, stored, and visualized into

2011 Vol. 1 No. 1 23

on average, five or more operations are necessary to generate each of the 6 to 18 clearance measurements per bridge.

reports; GIS information must be correlated to the bridge; extra data (such as camera images) are added to the report; each deliverable must undergo QA/QC; and the entire result set must be properly organized and archived. Consequently, the time budgeted to manually generate reports of 600 bridge analyses span three to four man-months of effort. Considering the time required to scan 600 bridges takes approximately two weeks, processing can absorb 80-85 percent of the total project time. With some states conducting surveys on a scale of 10,000 or more bridges, alternative processing methods are required. Software automation can provide a viable solution to manage workflow. Everything from data filtering, measurement selection, GIS correlation and result formatting can be handled with minimal user interaction. Automated methods have shown to reduce processing time to 40-45 percent of the total project time.

Automation offers capability beyond bridges; however, for automation to show benefit, input 3D and geospatial data must be reliable and consistent and output quality must be accurate and repeatable. Allpoints team has a decade of experience building automated 3D software tools and has derived the following principles for successful automation. 1. Incoming data has standardized formats, logging procedures, file naming conventions and file organizations. 2. The method for data collection is repeatable and predicable. 3. Objects of interest in the data should have distinguishable properties in the context of the final result (e.g. road surfaces). 4. Final deliverables are well defined to eliminate ambiguity or uncertainly. 5. There exists a quick and efficient process to verify deliverable integrity. 6. Automated failure points are identifiable and exceptions can

be handled in a controlled and predictable manner. In Allpoints experience as software developers and data processors, these principles have been demonstrated across a host of applications such as tunnel mapping, robotic wastewater pipe inspection and outdoor mobile LiDAR. Common to all these applications are large amounts of data logged, consistent acquisition processes, and target environments that lend themselves to modeling. The key to bridging data to a deliverable then becomes clearly defining the information products and ensuring the results can be efficiently verified.
Aaron Morris is the ceo and founder of Allpoint Systems, llc, a software development and data processing company with roots in robotics and automation. Allpoints software solution, the Perception engine, was developed to make possible data deliverables that would be difficult to do through manual processing. Their experience is in creating a hybrid software toolsets that mixes automation (for extremely tedious tasks) with streamlined user interaction (for efficient high-level decision making).

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

MiChAEl J. Olsen

reflections on laser Scanning at the coast

nyone involved with laser scanning will probably relate to much of what we are going to discuss in this article. Our graduate work involved studying seacliff erosion using LIDAR in San Diego (see http:// lidarweb.ucsd.edu/coastalstudy). Essentially, our office was the beaches of Southern California. Certainly, not a bad place to spend our hours during graduate school! As we performed scans, we would invariably get lots of questions from people on the beach curious as to what we were doing, particularly given the fact that we were hauling this robot-like machine up and down the beach. Most people had very intelligent questions about the technology and about the coastal processes, in general. We even had some people who had technological expertise and probably could have built their own scanner with their expertise in lasers and optics. However, once in a while we came across a few gems, which always brought smiles to our tanned faces. We will share some of my favorites with you: Is that the Mars Rover? When will the aliens arrive? Are you communicating with the mothership? Hey Ma, Im on TV! Do you have a concession stand in there? Ill take a taco! Hi Wall-E!

The self-contained rig developed to determine seacliff erosion near San Diego.

How much did that cost? [we would then be reluctant to tell them how expensive the equipment was and then they would rephrase the question.] No, not that, I mean the wagon! Can you beam me up Scotty? That looks suspiciously like a robot, is it? I was wondering if you were going to travel around the world in that thing, are you? Is that a submarine? I dont need a computa, I can use my hand as a laser!

We could go on and on with the list of entertaining questions we received, but those are some of the favorites! However, we had some other interesting experiences while out on the beach. There was one regular beach goer, Gary, who walked the beach daily and would let us know if he saw any new collapses occur, so we could scan immediately after the collapse. Every time he saw a collapse, he would take a guess on the failure volume of liberated material and it became a bit of a game. After analyzing the data, we would tell him what we calculated using the LIDAR technology and software and

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

Lynx Mobile Mapper M1 Highest Scan Density Available

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The final product from all the hard work!

watch him smile, as his estimates were often fairly close. We gave him the title of the Human LIDAR. Several undergraduate and graduate students also helped on the project, mainly to get out of the office for one day to hang out (we mean scan) on the beach. They inevitably learned a thing or two about the local geology and LIDAR technology while working with our team. A mix of exciting technology with a day on the beach! How could that not be fun. However, most of them, after the first day of helping to pull the 150lb wagon loaded with heavy equipment through the soft sand, claimed they were worn out the next day and not as excited to return to the field with us. They were frustrated after having their shoes full of water from dragging the wagon through the unexpected waves of the incoming tide. There were others who were still tired after being in the field hauling the wagon, but were so excited about the work, data, and results, that the exhaustion did not matter much. Some students came compared with food and water, while others thought they would be okay with a bag of Doritos and Mountain Dew picked up at a convenience store on the way to the

site. You will notice the most important piece of equipment on the wagon is the snack lunch in the brown paper bag! So what is my point in this article? Other than the fun stories, I think it

As we performed scans, we would invariably get lots of questions from people on the beach...

shows a lot of the state of laser scanning and the difficulties people have adopting the technology. I guess if it was easy then everyone would be doing it! A lot of people find it cool, interesting, and fun. But for many people, that appreciation is at a superficial level right now. Many people do not get involved with laser scanning because of the initial costs and steep learning curve involved with using laser scanning and processing data. It can

be very exhausting to learn how to use the data and software, deal with computer hardware limitations for large datasets, and turn it into a finished product. However, the good news is once you get past those initial hurdles, your possibilities with laser scanning are endless! So where does the answer lie to get people past the initial hurdles? Is it in hardware or software developments? Of course. Is it in having more training resources available? Definitely. We also think a lot has to do with preparation before getting involved with laser scanning. If someone knows that it will require dedication and effort on their part, they will be more prepared and patient with the bugs in working with this state-of-the-art technology. Right now, several people see that fast, quality results can be generated using LIDAR by an expert and then tend to get frustrated when they do not achieve those same results on their initial attempts. Amateurs need to move past the easy junk food and into a more satisfying, nourishing lunch that is gained through years of field effort and data processing. Although, at this point, I probably should not admit that my lunch generally consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

kubit PointSense Plant for AutoCAD

PointSense Plant utilizes the latest Autodesk PCG engine, capable of handling more than two billion points in a DWG. Now users involved in industrial facility design can use enormous data sets efficiently in CAD, utilize kubit tools for pattern recognizing assets from the cloud and move directly into their familiar AutoCAD based piping design programs (Plant 3D, MEP, CADWorx, AutoPlant, etc.). This is in addition to kubit PointClouds classic tools for modeling, managing and manipulating data sets in AutoCAD The new Smart Section feature allows users to create a more visually appealing cloud from the native AutoCAD PCG file. This not only makes work easier on the eyes but improves point filtering and selection so that the correct points are clicked instead of a point behind a point situation.In addition, users have the option to Draw to CAD from kubits free PlanarView product. This allows the user to control and model in AutoCAD from the photo-like viewer. Click the image below for a video example. Automation and pattern recognition is essential for efficient use of point cloud data but too much automation can lead to costly errors. kubits new Walk the Run tool guides a user through a run, pattern recognizing and suggesting insertion points for pipes, elbows, tees and inline fittings based on what is in the users custom catalog. This semi-automatic approach keeps the user in control of the modeling process to ensure accuracy the first time through a run. After routing a pipe run the user is left with native AutoCAD solids and/or the option to export an intelligent centerline. A native AutoCAD 3D polyline is derived with correct starting and endpoints for each pipe, elbow and fitting along a run. These items are also tagged with text for reference. The user can now use this routing line in combination with their intelligent piping packages. Lookout for even closer integration with your favorite piping design products in the future.

Intelligent Plant design from laser scan data in AutoCAD

A More Attractive Cloud:

Walk through a Pipe Run:

Intelligent Centerlines:

Flexible Piping Catalogs:

The kubit team will provide the majority of standard catalogs needed for piping jobs in multiple industries. In case a fitting doesnt exist, the user can create custom patterns for their library. The software then learns to read this pattern within a run. This is excellent for custom built fittings.

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Dmapas rAV4 with newly installed IP-S2 at Agua Magallanes control center.

Dmapas Launches topcons iP-S2 in South America

tories and articles dealing with technology rarely convey a sense of adventure. This is story that describes a milestone event in the evolution of an established mapping company. The setting is one of the most commanding geographic areas of the world. The challenges and operations

that unfold can be classified as once in a lifetime experiences.

technology and adventure meet on a global scale....

Mapas Digitales, S.A. (also known as Dmapas), is based in Santiago, Chile. With more than 15 years of experience

by C. JASoN sMith
30 2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

and operations, the company has become the leading provider of business solutions based on digital map data, GIS solutions, and exact street address databases for Chile, Argentina, and Peru; providing to their clients the most complete and dynamic data, spatially organized to help them on their business management. Dmapas databases cover over 93 percent of the population areas in Chile. In 2009, Dmapas created the second

Above: Particio escobar (right) explains IP-S2 data products to Aguas Magallanes representatives. left: Jorge Gajardo connects IP-S2 cables for a test run.

country-specific mapping product in South America. Dmapas collected its vast pool of street map data with mobile digital camera / GNSS receiver systems. The company operates six vehicles outfitted with Point Grey Researchs Ladybug digital camera systems linked to GNSS receivers. Ladybug camera systems contain six individual sensor/lens units in a single enclosure. After collecting street data, software can stitch the six individual camera frames into single 360 panoramic or spherical images. Dmapas found that these systems met the needs of their customers for many years, but wanted to gain a competitive edge by adding mobile LiDAR to their services. This change in Dmapass operational strategy is a significant point of growth

for the company. As mapping technology moves into the future, customers are demanding a higher level of information. Adding LiDAR to Dmapass customeroriented solution equation would provide a more accurate level of geopositioning for measurements and feature mapping. In addition, LiDAR point clouds can be exported for use in CAD-based engineering software to create profiles and cross sections of roadways. In May 2010, Alfredo Escobar, Dmapass director general, expressed interest in the IP-S2 and traveled to Duluth, Georgia for a demonstration. Topcons mobile mapping system uses a GNSS receiver and Ladybug camera, but also includes LiDAR laser scanners. At the time of his visit, he had the opportunity to collect data with

Topcons IP-S2 and go through the steps of data processing and analysis. Escobar returned to Chile to seek projects for which LiDAR technology could be used. By December 2010, the opportunity for a pilot project became a reality. Dmapas was engaged to perform a detailed mapping project for Aguas Magallanes (http://www.aguasmagallanes.cl/), the company that supplies water to the Antarctic and Magellan provinces of Chile. Aguas Magallanes is headquartered in Punta Arenas, Chile, the southernmost city in the world. This city is located in Antartica Chilean Province and is a short 800-mile hop to the closest point of land on the continent of Antarctica. Punta Arenas borders on the Strait of Magellan, an important passageway

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Dmapas new name XyGo represents the start of an expanded business model enabled by liDAr technology

The geographic landscape south of Punta Arenas bordering the Strait of Magellan.

connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans navigated by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1520. The city is also the landing point for trekkers and tourists visiting the geographic region known as Patagonia. To manage and plan water distribution, Aguas Magallanes needs updated street maps and road cross-sections of three cities - Punta Arenas, Porvenir, and Puerto Natales. For the level of detail and degree of accuracy required, Dmapas determined that the IP-S2s combined LiDAR and 360 spherical imagery would be the perfect solution and subsequently placed an order for a system. Dmapass IP-S2 was shipped from Topcons facility in Livermore, California to Santiago, Chile at the end of January, 2011. As part of the IP-S2 deployment, Topcon provides on site installation and training. Richard Rybka, Topcons mobile mapping specialist, was selected to assist in the project. Patrico Escobar,

Dmapass operations manager for Latin America, decided to install the system onsite in Punta Arenas rather than at headquarters in Santiago to expedite work on the project. Dmapass goal is to

collect the data for all three cities by the end of February. Moving the Ip-S2 system and the vehicle on which it was to be installed a Toyota RAV4from Santiago to Punta

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

Laser Scan Data to CAD Deliverables

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Streets of downtown Punta Arenas reveal the functional simplicity of this historic seaport.

Arenas required a special transportation strategy. A glacier north of Punta Arenas blocks vehicular travel making the city accessible only by air or sea. The IP-S2 system was loaded in the RAV4 and driven to the port at Puerto Montt for transportation by ship. In late January, Escobar, Rybka, and Jorge Gajardo, project manager, flew from Santiago to Punta Arenas to start the installation and training. The car and system were due to arrive at the port in Puerto Natales at 9 a.m. the same day. A driver was waiting to bring the car overland two hours south to Punta Arenas. At sea, the ship lost one of the engines and had to travel at reduced speeds. Later that day, a storm blew the ship across a point of land. Fifty vehicles fell from an upper deck to the deck below, but the RAV4 escaped damage. The payload finally arrived late Monday night, was picked

up by the waiting driver, and appeared in Punta Arenas Tuesday morning ready for the installation to begin. Aguas Magallanes provided the team with space in one of their mechanical shops. Installation of the IP-S2 and mounting system on the RAV4 was completed in a day. The next two days were spent checking the mobile mapping system in the field and training Dmapass employees on operating the equipment and collection of data. At the end of the week, Rybka returned to the U.S. and Escobar to the companys headquarters in Santiago. Gajardo remained in Punta Arenas with the car and IP-S2 to begin data collection for the project. After the mapping project is completed, Dmapas will provide Aguas Magallanes with high-level deliverables: LiDAR point clouds of three project cities; cross sections of 250 different streets for each city;

measurements; and Excel reports. The services and products that Dmapas can now provide to customers using the IP-S2 would have been impossible to produce using GNSS and camera systems. The story of Dmapas and their venture into IP-S2 technology has one more interesting twist. To signify the change in Dmapass operational technology and business model, the company will be identified soon by a new name, XYGO, demonstrating a new brand to illustrate the personalized service they bring to their clients. (More information about Dmapas can be found on their website: http://www. dmapas.com/.)
Dr. C. Jason smith is co-founder of Disciple and Publish, a New york-based writing cooperative. He has written articles about global survey projects including chile, Argentina and egypt.

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2011 Vol. 1 No. 1

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