Introduction to Laser Scanning - High Definition Surveying (HDS)
  
Laser Scanning is the process of shining a reflectorless laser line over a surface in order to collect 3-dimensional data. The surface data is captured by a camera sensor mounted in the laser scanner which records accurate dense 3D points in space. The 3D survey points collected combine together to form a point cloud that represent the surface surveyed.

Point clouds can be viewed in multi hue colours (based on signal intensity return) or true colour from a digital camera. This technique provides a solution for the rapid surveying of inaccessible surfaces or complex geometrical details. The data can be linked in 3D to your site grid and matched seamlessly with topographical survey plans, elevations and & sections.

Follow this link for a brief animation on ‘how a scanner works ???’
Follow this link for project examples, images and animations

Laser scanning or LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) covers a number of techniques:
Close range: Sub ‘mm’ small objects or highly detailed surfaces observed from less than 0.5m away
Terrestrial: Ranges from 20m to 2km depending on the equipment, accuracy from 3mm to 100mm
Airborne: Usually helicopter based covering large areas to a lesser accuracy.

Examples of relevant surveys using laser scanning technology include:
  • Kings Cross Station buildings
  • Newcastle, Crewe, Stafford, Stoke, Birmingham New Street Railway Stations
  • Irregular bare rock tunnel for clearance surveys at Blaenau Ffestiniog
  • Conwy Rail bridge portals
  • Rock cuttings on the West Coast main line
  • Road cuttings through Wenlock Edge
  • Elevations of office blocks in Manchester
  • Viaducts in Birkenhead and Newport for bridge deck survey
  • Harper Adams University College
  • Tunnels in Birmingham