Accuracy of 3D Measurement Using a Helicopter Laser Scanner

Abstract

This study assessed the feasibility and accuracy of a laser scanner system on board a helicopter for three dimensional measurement of urban features. The spatial accuracies of the system for horizontal and vertical directions were approximately 100 cm and 10-25 cm (standard deviation), respectively. The large horizontal error was considered as the result of insufficient control over the system attitude during the flights. Due to the digital data acquisition by helicopter and the automated nature of data processing, the time required to acquire and process the data for an area of two square km was significantly shorter than conventional methods, and approximately 30 minutes and two hours, respectively, which may be considered adequate for disaster response operations.