Laser 3D scanning technology
General information about the technology
Laser 3D scanning is a modern technology for collecting spatial data. As a result of scanning, a three-dimensional model of an object is formed — a point cloud consisting of a set of vertices whose position in space is determined by the X, Y and Z coordinates.
3D scanning can be performed in two ways: terrestrial (individual buildings and structures, interiors) and mobile (large areas and linear objects).
Technology advantages
Reduction (by a factor of 2 or more) of labor costs for topographic, geodetic and cartographic works;
High speed (up to 1 million pts/s) and mobility (the laser scanner can be mounted on various platforms — car, rail trolley, boat, UAV; platform speed from 40 km/h and above);
High accuracy (up to 15 mm) and detail (from 1 point/cm2);
Possibility of around-the-clock operations (up to 24 hours a day) and for most of the year;
Minimization of the human factor with the ability to survey hard-to-reach and hazardous objects from a safe distance (up to 300 m) without direct contact;
Generation of 2D data and 3D models compatible with modern GIS and CAD systems.
Benefits
Cost savings for municipal budgets (cheaper topo-geodetic and cartographic works; reduced costs due to eliminating consequences of using poor-quality spatial data; timely maintenance);
Increased municipal revenues (inventory of unregistered kiosks, pavilions, outdoor advertising);
Monitoring the condition of assets (buildings, bridges, pavement, tram lines, street lighting poles) as well as the quality of contractors' work (e.g., road repairs);
Simplified design and process modelling;
Integration of city-wide spatial data on a unified, high-quality cartographic base (e.g., within an urban cadastre or SmartCity);
Better, faster decisions enabled by high-quality spatial information, which can also be provided to stakeholders on a paid basis.
Use in geodesy and cartography
Geodetic surveying. 3D scanning makes it possible to simultaneously perform planimetric and elevation surveys. The point cloud produced by the laser scanner serves as the basis for orthophotos. Point clouds and orthophotos can be provided in various coordinate systems.
Creation (update) of cartographic materials. Point clouds, orthophotos and spatially referenced photos obtained from 3D scanning allow the creation of high-accuracy topographic plans in the office and improve existing cartography by updating it.
3D-scanning datasets and derived topographic plans can become a single, accurate and up-to-date mapping foundation for solving numerous tasks: maintaining an urban cadastre, developing a master plan and territorial planning schemes, land inventory, routing and repairing utilities.
3D cartography and 3D modelling. 3D-scanning results can underpin 3D cartographic products that unlock new possibilities for modelling, spatial analysis and visualization.
Integration with existing GIS. 3D-scanning materials are easily integrated with existing GIS datasets, enabling continuous updates and refinement of data with minimal field work. The synergistic effect of GIS-based spatial analysis yields fundamentally new insights.
Examples:
Kyiv — mapping and modelling the urban environment for SmartCity;
Boryspil district, Kyiv region — updating plan-cartographic materials for Voronkiv, Horodyshche and Hlyboke.
Use in architecture and urban cadastre
Asset monitoring. 3D-scanning results enable monitoring and measurement of actual deformations of buildings and structures, lean of streetlight poles and power line towers, and wire sag. They also support inventorying of kiosks, pavilions and outdoor ads with measured footprints.
Inventory and as-built documentation. 3D scanning allows on-the-fly measurements (length, width, height, distance, volume) of objects and their parts (inside and outside), including in hard-to-reach or hazardous locations. The outputs enable creation (or restoration) of drawings (facades and utilities), sections, floor plans, as well as exterior and interior 3D models capturing all elements. For cultural heritage sites, projecting color panoramic images onto surfaces (e.g., church murals) is useful.
Design, construction and reconstruction. 3D models help plan site layouts, interior fit-outs, earthwork volumes, sizes of complex assets (subway stations, tanks, bridges), and forecast adverse processes (e.g., flooding).
Examples:
Kyiv — scanning and 3D modelling of 1,850 km of streets with inventory and measurement of temporary structures (kiosks, pavilions);
Kyiv — as-built survey of the interior of St. Pokrovsky Church of the St. Pokrovsky Holosiivsky Monastery.
Use for highways — design, construction and operations
Highway design and reconstruction. 3D models enable visibility studies, quantity takeoffs, and generation of cross and long profiles at set intervals.
Highway condition monitoring. 3D scanning supports monitoring pavement condition; detecting horizontal and vertical deformations of the pavement and structures (bridges, overpasses, tunnels); accurately measuring length, width, depth of repair areas; computing repair volumes; and QA/QC of works.
Highway passports. 3D scanning speeds preparation of graphics and imagery for highway passports. The resulting models support modern, world-class road asset management.
Inventory of road infrastructure. 3D data accelerates inventory of signs and signals. Passporting and inventory materials from 3D scanning can underpin traffic control asset management systems.
Examples:
Kharkiv — graphics for the technical passport of Moskovskyi Avenue;
Kherson region — geodetic survey of the Odesa — Melitopol — Novoazovsk highway segment for reconstruction;
Kirovohrad region — locating national highways and roadside services;
Kyiv — city database of traffic control devices.