Topography - Terrestrial Laser Scanner Trimble GX
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Parameter to be measured:
- surface topography
Method:
- terrestrial laser scan
Equipment:
- Laser Scanner
- battery kit
- Laptop or handheld operation unit
- reflector targets
optional: Wireless kit
Advantages:
- nominal currently one of the most precise TLS on the market (angular and distance resolution, laser footprint)
- green laser works better on snow and moist surfaces than IR lasers
- both operation software options PointScape (Windows) and PocketScape (Windows Mobile) are intuitive and well designed
- PointScape enables scanning selected polygons (opposed to rectangular selections)
- support of target spheres (beside flat targets)
- carrying backpack enables cross-country transport (not tested)
Disadvantages:
- bulky and heavy: transport in the original box as ordinary flight baggage not possible; carrying in the field is painful
- limited scan distance: typical distance in the field is less than 250 m
- limited scan speed: typical speed < 500 points/s
- poor camera with heavy distortion in live view
- painful selection of scan polygon when spanning more than the current angle of view
- polygon scan area selection not available in PocketScape
- high power consumption: standard battery pack usually lasts 2 - 3 hours, occasional shutdown on low battery without warning observed
- start-up time of ~ 3 min
- runs on 24 Volts - car battery adapter is included, but needs to batteries
- no tilt-mount available; for looking up-/downward, set up scanner inclinated
What to watch out for:
- Laser is not eye safe, take care
- fit of target spheres can be very poor (without warning); verify or repeat in alternative software
- reflective targets seem to be "overexposed" (at least at shorter distances) and cannot be used
- laser beam can partially penetrate PE target spheres
Problems/Questions:
Price:
with Wifi-kit ~ 120000 € (2009, Germany)
Links
Projects that used the above equipment:
Other related web sites: