Abstract
Abstract. Capturing the fine details on the surface of small objects is a real challenge to many conventional surveying methods. Our paper discusses the investigation of several data acquisition technologies, such as arm scanner, structured light scanner, terrestrial laser scanner, object line-scanner, DSLR camera, and mobile phone camera. A palm-sized embossed sculpture reproduction was used as a test object; it has been surveyed by all the instruments. The result point clouds and meshes were then analyzed, using the arm scanner’s dataset as reference. In addition to general statistics, the results have been evaluated based both on 3D deviation maps and 2D deviation graphs; the latter allows even more accurate analysis of the characteristics of the different data acquisition approaches. Additionally, own-developed local minimum maps were created that nicely visualize the potential level of detail provided by the applied technologies. Besides the usual geometric assessment, the paper discusses the different resource needs (cost, time, expertise) of the discussed techniques. Our results proved that even amateur sensors operated by amateur users can provide high quality datasets that enable engineering analysis. Based on the results, the paper contains an outlook to potential future investigations in this field.
Highlights
Nowadays many surveying technologies are available to produce the point cloud of an object; short range object scanners, medium and long range laser scanners, methods based on photogrammetry and other techniques
The resolution largely depends on the point density that is significantly different at the investigated models; Terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) and Sense are much less dense than the others
Our goal was to find the best technology to survey a small, detailed object by thorough investigation of selected parameters. From the results it seems that TLS is not suitable for measuring such smallsize objects accurately and in high resolution
Summary
Nowadays many surveying technologies are available to produce the point cloud of an object; short range object scanners, medium and long range laser scanners, methods based on photogrammetry and other techniques. There are significant differences regarding the performance of the particular devices: resolution, accuracy, measurement speed and, the price. The different technologies are usually used for different purposes but it does not mean necessarily that a technology is suitable for measuring only a particular type of object. That means that besides the expected resolution, point density, accuracy, the time, expertise, costs and other resource needs are to be considered. What are the software requirements of the particular devices and how long does the data processing take and what level of expertise does it require? Further sections of the paper aim at providing the answers for such questions by investigating how different point cloud producing technologies are suitable for surveying fine details of small objects. The 3D model of the test object is produced by different technologies deviations from reference model are analyzed
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