Abstract-We present an approach to laser range scanning in which quality metrics are used to automatically reduce the number of measurements acquired from a scanner viewpoint in order to guide a minimally trained operator through the scanning process. As part of this approach we present improved versions of the orientation and reflectivity quality metrics, and introduce six new within-scan quality metrics: outlier, enclosed, resolvability, planarity, integration, and aliasing. These metrics are combined to generate a total within-scan quality metric for each measurement in the scan. The orientation, resolvability, reflectivity and planarity quality metrics are used to divide the total field of view into regions based on their likelihood to produce useful measurements. A series of small high-density raster scans is then automatically generated to cover regions automatically identified as having a significant likelihood to produce useful measurements. All scans are then merged to generate a composite range image. The total number of measurements in the composite range image is minimized by merging statistically close measurements using a minimum variance estimator weighted by the total within-scan quality of each measurement.

In this study, laser range scanner lateral resolution is investigated for laser range scanners. A standardized method is proposed and demonstrated for quantifying the lateral surface resolvability of a laser range scanner through the use of an appropriately-designed artefact. A new metric for lateral surface resolution, the limit of surface resolvability, is presented and is obtained using what is referred to as the wedge test. The results of applying this metrics using this test method to laser range scanners is also presented.

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Abstract. A significant issue for companies or organizations integrating non-contact three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems into their production pipeline is deciding in which technology to invest. Quality non-contact 3D imaging systems typically involve a significant investment when considering the cost of equipment, training, software, and maintenance contracts over the functional lifetime of a given system or systems notwithstanding the requirements of the global nature of manufacturing activities. Numerous methods have been published to "help" users navigate the many products and specifications claims about "quality". Moreover, the "best" system for one application may not be ideally suited for another application. The lack of publically-available characterization methods from trusted sources for certain areas of 3D imaging make it difficult for a typical user to select a system based on information written on a specification sheet alone. An internationally-recognized standard is a vehicle that allows better communication between users and manufacturers. It is in this context that we present a progress report on standards developments to date in the diverse, but finite, world of non-contact 3D imaging systems from the nanometre to the 100 m range.

Quality metrics, within the field of laser range imaging, are used to quantify by how much some aspect of a measurement deviates from a predefined standard. Measurement quality evaluations are becoming increasingly important in laser range imaging for range image registration, merging measurements, and planning the next best view. Spatial uncertainty and resolution are the primary metrics of image quality; however, spatial uncertainty is affected by a variety of environmental factors. A review how contemporary researchers have attempted to quantify these environmental factors is presented, along with spatial uncertainty and resolution, resulting in a wide range of quality metrics.