The Creation Of The Digital Models For The Protection Of Cultural Heritage: The Baptistery Of Cremona In the Spring of 2003, it was realised a survey of the baptistery of Cremona (Italy) combining photogrammetric and laser scanner techniques. All the survey is composed by 22 photogrammetric images taken with a Nikon D100 18/2.8 digital camera and 14 scans collected by Optech's ILRIS-3D Laser Scanner. The geo-referencing was carried out with some natural and artificial targets displaced in the structure of the baptistery. The solid modelling of all the monument was made using a commercial software called PolyWorks; this software allows to align different scans with different reference systems and mapping some topographic information recording that on the 3D model. This method permits to get a good architectural representation (accuracy about a centimetre, calculated with some control points) and map the images onto the numerical model; thus the metrical quality of the survey remains unchanged without loosing the semantic settlement. Click here Terrestrial Scanning Lidar Technology Applied To Study The Evolution Of The Ice-Contact Miage Lake (Mont Blanc, Italy) Terrestrial scanning lidar (light detection and ranging) surveys represent the most powerful tool to accurately map inaccessible surfaces like outcrops and glacier toes. A laser scanner enables researchers to acquire thousands of X,Y,Z points per second, complete with intensity that can then be constructed into accurate 3D models. Since June 2003, three terrestrial scanning lidar surveys were done using Optech’s ILRIS-3D to monitor the evolution of the subaerial ice cliff which bounds to the north of the ice-marginal Miage Lake (Mont Blanc Massif, Italy). The comparison between the repeated surveys clearly illustrates an important retreat of the ice cliff, with values in the range of several tens of meters in more than a year. A drainage of the lake occurred in early September 2004. A laser scanner survey, carried out on September 8th, 2004 provided data for constructing a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the exposed lake bed. The overall volume of the lake was computed and a contour map of the lake bottom was obtained. Click here Viable Viaducts The Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) conducted a bridge clearance height survey to verify the clearance data of all 400 structural assets in the state before implementing the online automated permitting system for Nebraska's truck companies. The agency had one request: to have the project completed without closing a single lane of traffic. Lamp Rynearson, a multi-disciplined civil engineering consultants was hired by NDOR to conduct the survey. Along with the InnovMetric support team, they exploited PolyWorks' ability to create reliable and automated software macros to automate the bridge height extraction process. Their combined work helped technicians to reduced the time to process each bridge site from 40 minutes to 10 minutes. This one process alone saved technicians more than 200 hours of processing time... Click here Sensor Fusion Optech demonstrates how fusing data from complementary lidar sensors can produce a complete, accurate solid model. Data was collected on the city hall grounds of Toronto, Canada using Optech's ILRIS-3D tripodmounted laser scanner and Optech's Airborne Laser Terrain Mapper (ALTM). The project consisted of collecting the lidar data, processing the data, aligning the data, fusing the data from each lidar system and, finally, creating the solid model... Click here Bridge Deflection Analysis The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) regularly tests the structural capacity of bridges in the state. To accomplish this, a predetermined amount of weight is loaded onto the bridge and increased incrementally. The bridge deflection is measured at each loading interval. The maximum load of the bridge is observed when the relationship between the load and the measured deflection becomes non-linear. This method of measurement was labour- intensive, costly and inconvenient. See how the FDOT has cut time by more than 95% using the Optech’ ILRIS-3D scanner and InnovMetric’s PolyWorks software… Click here Open-Pit Mine Surveyed with Laser Scanning Alberta Transportation retained Stewart, Weir & Co. Ltd. in the summer of 2002 to provide engineering and surveying services for the realignment of a portion of Highway 627. The highway runs through the site of the Highvale Coal Mine, an open-pit mine owned and operated by TransAlta Energy Corporation. According to Garry Bondarevich, manager of 3D laser scanning with Stewart, Weir, “The problem that was facing our firm was how to safely and accurately survey a large ditch that was over 1.3 kilometers in length, is close to 150 meters in width, and contains severe terrain restrictions.” Discover how Stewart, Weir & Co. used the Optech’ ILRIS-3D scanner and InnovMetric’s PolyWorks software to obtain survey information quickly, accurately, and above all, safely… Click here Crossing into the Digital World Scanning Technology offers Mississippi DOT a safer way to do risky railroad crossing surveys When the task before you and your group is to record the best possible data on more than 2,700 railroad crossings, you immediately begin to consider the most efficient means of technology possible. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Rails Division was presented with such a project a few months ago. MDOT staff members know that obtaining documentation of the states railroad crossings can be quite challenging, a task that warrants better technology than what the Division had in its arsenal. Find out how the innovative use of Riegl’s “stop-and-go” 3D technology bundled with the PolyWorks software suite enhanced the productivity of MDOT’ surveys, while improving the safety of the traveling public… Click here 3D Survey of the Metropolitan Railway of Seville, Spain The recent advance in long-range 3D scanner technologies has opened the door to various applications in the field of topographical surveys. Nowadays, specialists do not have to step on the field and get dirty to obtain terrain information. From the comfort of their office, decision-makers can now quickly extract measurements from a digitized scene using advanced point cloud processing software tools. This article describes how easily the engineering firm responsible for the construction of a new line for the subway of Seville, Spain, conducted a complete topographical survey of a 4-km tunnel using a 3D scanner and PolyWorks™... Click here