Open software and standards in the realm of laser scanning technology

Abstract

This review aims at introducing laser scanning technology and providing an overview of the contribution of open source projects for supporting the utilization and analysis of laser scanning data. Lidar technology is pushing to new frontiers in mapping and surveying topographic data. The open source community has supported this by providing libraries, standards, interfaces, modules all the way to full software. Such open solutions provide scientists and end-users valuable tools to access and work with lidar data, fostering new cutting-edge investigation and improvements of existing methods. The first part of this work provides an introduction on laser scanning principles, with references for further reading. It is followed by sections respectively reporting on open standards and formats for lidar data, tools and finally webbased solutions for accessing lidar data. It is not intended to provide a thorough review of state of the art regarding lidar technology itself, but to provide an overview of the open source toolkits available to the community to access, visualize, edit and process point clouds. A range of open source features for lidar data access and analysis is provided, providing an overview of what can be done with alternatives to commercial end-to-end solutions. Data standards and formats are also discussed, showing what are the challenges for storing and accessing massive point clouds. The desiderata are to provide scientists that have not yet worked with lidar data an overview of how this technology works and what open source tools can be a valid solution for their needs in analysing such data. Researchers that are already involved with lidar data will hopefully get ideas on integrating and improving their workflow through open source solutions.

Machine Learning for Classification of an Eroding Scarp Surface Using Terrestrial Photogrammetry With Nir and RGB Imagery

“…Optical descriptors were far the most important attributes in classification, although, this is predetermined by the selection of training areas based on visible light properties. Shape features from 3D points clouds bring some improvement over the overall classification results, and this can be further addressed including the laser scanning data (Pirotti, 2019) from the RPAS survey of the area. During data acquisition, processing and analyses each of the participants learned new skills and identified practical applications of those skills in their own study areas.…”

Open-source geospatial tools and technologies for urban and environmental studies

“…Finally, the last article of this thematic collection provides an overview of the contribution of open-source projects for supporting the use and analysis of laser scanning data [19]. The first part of the article provides an introduction on laser scanning principles, followed by sections respectively reporting on open standards and formats for lidar data, tools and finally web-based solutions for accessing lidar data.…”

Preface of Special Issue on Laser Scanning

“…Multi-wavelength LiDAR is a technology that expands the typical single-wavelength LiDAR, usually having a wavelength in the near infrared range (e.g., 1064 nm [2]). It provides important information on the reflective properties of targets by using more channels, such as green, near-infrared, and mid-infrared channels, and using them for the improved classification of land cover [3] and for accurate land/water discrimination [21].Unmanned, as well as manned, aerial systems, equipped with laser scanners are topics of active investigation.…”

“…Recent developments include multi-wavelength scanners, solid-state LiDAR, single-photon LiDAR, and scanners with increased pulse frequency, thanks to solutions related to concurrent pulses in the air (multiple time around-MTA). Also the decreased weight of components allows sensors to be assembled into unmanned vehicles (e.g., Unmanned Aerial Vehicles-UAVs) [1,2].…”