Abstract
Terrestrial laser scanner measurements suffer from systematic errors due to internal misalignments. The magnitude of the resulting errors in the point cloud in many cases exceeds the magnitude of random errors. Hence, the task of calibrating a laser scanner is important for applications with high accuracy demands. This paper primarily addresses the case of panoramic terrestrial laser scanners. Herein, it is proven that most of the calibration parameters can be estimated from a single scanner station without a need for any reference information. This hypothesis is confirmed through an empirical experiment, which was conducted in a large machine hall using a Leica Scan Station P20 panoramic laser scanner. The calibration approach is based on the widely used target-based self-calibration approach, with small modifications. A new angular parameterization is used in order to implicitly introduce measurements in two faces of the instrument and for the implementation of calibration parameters describing genuine mechanical misalignments. Additionally, a computationally preferable calibration algorithm based on the two-face measurements is introduced. In the end, the calibration results are discussed, highlighting all necessary prerequisites for the scanner calibration from a single scanner station.
Highlights
Nowadays, commercially available panoramic terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) can reach a point accuracy in the order of millimeters over their full measuring range under optimal conditions.That makes them an interesting option for highly demanding engineering tasks, such as structural deformation monitoring
We propose a simplified algorithm for the calibration of panoramic laser scanners, which can be achieved from a single scanner station
This study presents an approach for the system calibration of a panoramic terrestrial laser
Summary
Commercially available panoramic terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) can reach a point accuracy in the order of millimeters over their full measuring range under optimal conditions. Some manufacturers like Leica Geosystems and FARO Inc. provide user calibration approaches, which can reduce systematic errors in the measurements due to misalignments to some extent (e.g., Leica’s “Check and Adjust” and Faro’s “On-site compensation”). Those approaches do not provide detailed information about all estimated parameters, their precision and influence on the resulting point cloud. Several publications showed considerable effort to overcome these problems Their main aim was to provide a standardized, reproducible approach for the user calibration of laser scanners.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
