Laser helps put firm on the map

A Bingham company has helped to map six north American cities using a laser mapping system it helped create.

3D Laser Mapping helped to develop StreetMapper, said to be the world’s most accurate laser mobile-mapping system.

The device, which uses vehicle-mounted laser scanners to capture highly-detailed and accurate measurements at speed, was developed and supplied to Terrametrix —- a precision surveying company in Omaha, Nebraska.

StreetMapper then completed a 3,690-mile, six-city tour in just eight days, capturing accurate 3D models of urban highways, interstate, tram routes and an international sporting venue. It even took part in a national competition to collect highway asset information.

In Kansas, StreetMapper was used to map a stretch of urban interstate highway and exits in just two hours, with the collected data used to produce a computer model of the road surfaces.

In Cincinnati, StreetMapper was used to scan a three-mile tram route, and in Canada, the system showed its versatility scanning an international sporting venue at night.

A major urban interchange was mapped in Newark, New Jersey, and 11 miles of urban, four-lane freeway and interstate were scanned in Washington.

This stretch had previously been surveyed using static laser scanning and StreetMapper data was used for comparison with these results.

Mr Michael Frecks, the LLC president of Terrametrix, said: “There is a time and a place to use a particular tool and StreetMapper is no different

“There are multiple benefits of using the system on the right project; safety to the survey crew and travelling public and the speed of data acquisition make the system a no brainer on typical traditional survey projects.”

In Raleigh, Terrametrix was one of only eight vendors to compete in a challenging 92-mile test track for highway asset and data collection.

Terrametrix, using StreetMapper, focused on the bridge heights portion of the rodeo, capturing measurements for comparison with ground truth data collected manually.

StreetMapper is a result of a joint venture between 3D Laser Mapping, German guidance and navigation specialist IGI mbH, and technology company Riegl.

The system employs the latest laser scanning technology for improved field performance and accuracy, precision navigation including a solution for reduced GPS coverage in urban areas, combined with a flexible, modular configuration and increased ease of use and deployment.

The company has also signed an agreement with Australia’s largest distributor of surveying equipment.

The distributor agreement with C. R. Kennedy and Company Pty Ltd is the latest in a bid to boost international sales and market penetration and covers the sale, support and marketing of 3D Laser Mapping’s SiteMonitor solution.

SiteMonitor is 3D Laser Mapping’s state-of-the-art laser measurement system that integrates best-of-breed laser scanning hardware with easy-to-use software to automatically capture and analyse complex slope measurements and profiles.

Dr Graham Hunter, managing director of 3D Laser Mapping, said: “C. R. Kennedy is an obvious partner for us as it is a market leader with an extensive, and complementary, product portfolios.”