About LiDAR Management
LiDAR (light imaging, detection and ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure terrain and objects. This data together with other information recorded by the sensor system is used to generate a densely spaced point cloud of highly accurate geo-referenced points.
LiDAR data can be loaded into a PhotoMesh project and integrated with project photos to refine and enhance the 3D model, producing cleaner results and preventing artifacts, while increasing the level of accuracy of the complete PhotoMesh process. The benefits of incorporating LiDAR data include:
§ Enhanced mesh precision: LiDAR data has a lower noise-to-signal ratio compared to image-based methods, resulting in smoother and more defined geometries such as roads and building facades.
§ Improved homogeneous area modeling: In texture-sparse areas, like unmarked roads or uniform vegetation, LiDAR enhances model fidelity.
§ Access to challenging angles: LiDAR's capability to measure with a single laser pulse allows for accurate data collection in tight urban spaces, where it is challenging to capture two images with enough angular disparity for image correlation.
§ Enhanced street level data: By capturing data beneath vegetation and where trees get close to buildings, LiDAR ensures a more comprehensive street-level view.
§ Improved detail of complex structures: LiDAR improves the fine details of complex objects, including scaffolding, tower tops, drawbridges, and cranes.
§ Geographic accuracy: LiDAR offers reliable geographic control, to achieve a high level of absolute accuracy in the final 3D mesh and additional geospatial outputs.
The LiDAR data's proper alignment with the project's photos can be verified and corrected using ground control points and through projection of the photos on the LiDARs. See "Projecting a Photo on the Terrain" in the "Preparing the Project" chapter and "Creating Ground Control Points from Identifiable Locations on the Terrain" in the "Control Points" chapter for more information.
This chapter deals with basic LiDAR management tasks:
§ Associating a LiDAR point cloud with its trajectory data
§ Showing a LiDAR point cloud on the terrain
§ Excluding/deleting LiDAR files from the project