Continuous Time SLAM – How does it work?

Posted on March 28, 2020 by lidar
point cloud of GeoSLAM Explains SLAM

GeoSLAM Explains SLAM

GeoSLAM is a world leader in the development and use of Simultaneous Location and Mapping technology, or SLAM. They have developed an informative infographic that explains why SLAM is needed and how it can be used to benefit customers when it is not possible to determine the lidar scanner location using GPS or other traditional means.

To learn more click here.

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Posted in 3D Modeling, AI, BIM, Business Development, Cloud, Consumer, geodetic, Geomatics, GPS, Hardware, Indoor Mapping, Infrastructure, Inspection, Laser Scanning, Lidar, Mapping, Marketing, point clouds, Robots, Sensors, SLAM, Software, Technology, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

LevelS3D Delivered Beyond Spec Using Mobile Lidar

Posted on March 26, 2020 by lidar
Photo of Metro Station LevelS3D Delivered Using NavVis M6

LevelS3D Delivered Using NavVis M6

LevelS3D delivered results that exceeded the project requirements on a recent project where they mapped a Paris metro station using the NavVis M6.

LevelS3D is a French company founded in 2012 which develops 3D scanning applications for the next-gen tablets and smartphones, currently publishing a new pre-modeling point cloud web application.

LevelS3D is a NavVis mapping partner and recently had the opportunity to take on a surveying project from RATP Group, the Paris public transport operator and maintainer.

Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, Business Development, Hardware, Indoor Mapping, Laser Scanning, Lidar, Mobile LiDAR, point clouds, Sensors, SLAM | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument 3D Mapped

Posted on March 25, 2020 by lidar
Photo of Canyons of the Ancients

Canyons of the Ancients

Crow Canyon Archaeology Center and the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument looked to map Sand Canyon an ancestral Pueblo site. They knew traditional mapping would not suffice. Using UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) LiDAR technology, they received impressive results. They also made some new discoveries.

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the culturally rich Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado, USA contain a wealth of historical and environmental resources. Now a recreational hotspot, in A.D. 1240, the Pueblo community occupied the area. They constructed over 70 villages with approximately 30,000 residents. In Sand Canyon alone over 90 subterranean structures, known as ‘kivas’, were used by families as dwellings. Hundreds of years later, the preservation team were looking for a way to accurately survey this site of archaeological importance. It had been over 20 years since a survey of this calibre had been undertaken. They needed new ways to visualise the area. Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, airborne LiDAR, archaeology, cultural heritage, Data, Historic Preservation, Laser Scanning, Lidar, remote sensing, Sensors, topography, UAS, UAVs | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

RIEGL Virtual Lidar Conference is Today

Posted on March 24, 2020 by lidar

To replace the loss of this week’s ILMF conference RIEGL has taken this opportunity to offer a free, day long virtual lidar conference. When you are given lemons make lemonade.

I hope everyone will take this opportunity to support this effort. You are certain to gain  valuable insights and knowledge from international experts in their fields.

Here we go.

Learn about RIEGL’s Ultimate LiDAR™ solutions from our leading experts on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 from 9AM – 5PM EST for a FREE, one-of-a-kind Virtual LiDAR Conference!

Below, you will find the agenda or CLICK HERE to see the agenda in PDF! Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, airborne LiDAR, bathymetric, BIM, Conferences, Data, Drones, Forestry, Forums, Full waveform, Geomatics, Hardware, Infrastructure, Laser Scanning, Lidar, Mapping, Mobile LiDAR, remote sensing, Sensors, Software, Surveying Engineering, Technology, The Industry, training, UAS, UAVs, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Waymo Autonomous Vehicles Upgraded to Gen 5

Posted on March 23, 2020 by lidar
photo of Waymo Autonomous Vehicles Upgraded

Waymo Autonomous Vehicles Upgraded

People who are accustomed to seeing the Waymo autonomous vans rolling around Chandler and the East Valley are due for a surprise. These are likely to be the most sophisticated AVs on the market and the safest.

From an article in The East Valley Tribune.

The company is rolling out a new fleet of sportier-looking vehicles. And they’ll be equipped with a new generation of hardware the company says will make their vehicles even safer.

“While these vehicles will not be providing rides as part of its Waymo One fleet right away, local residents will see them driving around the East Valley,” a company spokeswoman said. Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, AI, artifical perception, artificial intelligence, Autonomous vehicles, computer vision, Consumer, driverless vehicles, Hardware, Laser Scanning, Lidar, machine learning, Radar, remote sensing, Research, Safety, Sensors, The Industry, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Skanska is Using 3D Laser Scanning to Inform and Connect

Posted on March 22, 2020 by lidar

Skanska, one of the world’s largest construction firms has intergrated 3D laser scanning into their core workflows and that of their subcontractors.

Image of site Skanska Uses Scanning, Photography and Videography

Skanska Uses Scanning, Photography and Videography

This is from an article in The Architects Newspaper.

The Swedish multinational construction and development company Skanska is responsible for many of the world’s biggest building projects. Right now in New York City alone, it is overseeing two massive infrastructural and architectural undertakings: The Moynihan Train Hall and the LaGuardia Terminal B redevelopment.

Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, AI, BIM, Business Development, Construction, Data, Hardware, Indoor Mapping, Infrastructure, Inspection, Laser Scanning, Sensors, Software, Surveying, Surveying Engineering, virtual reality, Visualization | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Google Driverless Car Project Founder Pleads Guilty

Posted on March 21, 2020 by lidar
graphic of Google Driverless Car Project Founder Pleads Guilty

Google Driverless Car Project Founder Pleads Guilty

ANTHONY LEVANDOWSKI, the once-lauded engineer who co-founded Google’s self-driving car project and helped spark interest in autonomous vehicles, pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing a confidential Google document shortly before leaving the company. In the agreement, Levandowski agreed to a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum prison term of 10 years, though prosecutors expect to recommend a sentence of 24 to 30 months.

From an article in Wired by Alex Davies.

The charges stemmed from the months before Levandowski left Google in January 2016 to found a self-driving truck startup called Otto, which Uber quickly acquired for a reported $680 million. In February 2017, Waymo—as Google’s AV effort is now known—sued Uber, alleging that it had bought Otto to get access to a trove of confidential documents Levandowski downloaded before striking out on his own. In a February 2018 settlement, Uber paid Waymo about $245 million, but not before the judge trying the case recommended that the prosecutors consider a criminal case against Levandowski. In August 2019, Levandowski was indicted on 33 charges of trade secret theft and attempted trade secret theft. Continue reading →

Posted in AI, artificial intelligence, Autonomous vehicles, Business Development, Consumer, driverless vehicles, Government, Laser Scanning, Lidar, Research, Sensors, The Industry, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

3D Printed Replica of Raffaello’s Tomb

Posted on March 20, 2020 by lidar
photo of 3D Printed Replica of Raphael's Tomb 3D Printed

3D Printed Replica of Raphael’s Tomb 3D Printed

The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing all social venues – including museums and exhibits – to close their doors to slow down the virus’ diffusion. For the Raffello exhibit, which marks the ​500-year anniversary of famous Italian painter’s death, Factum Arte created the spectacular starting point of the exhibition: a 3D printed replica, in part of Raffaello’s tomb from the Pantheon, with its 19th-century additions removed. Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, 3D Printing, art, Consumer, cultural heritage, Historic Preservation, Laser Scanning, Photogrammetry, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

iPad Pro Models for 2020 Will Feature Lidar Sensor

Posted on March 19, 2020 by lidar
photo of iPad Pro to Include Lidar

iPad Pro to Include Lidar

Adding support to my claim that this will be the Lidar Decade and that lidar will become more well known by the general public than GPS, Apple announced yesterday that two iPad Pro models and some models of the iPhone will also ship with a lidar sensor.

From an article in Apple Insider by Mike Peterson.

At the most basic level, LiDAR is a time-of-flight system that shoots low-power lasers at an environment. Using the reflections, it calculates the distance to objects and points in the environment, and creates an accurate 3D depth map or rendering based on the results.

Apple’s own proprietary take on it, simply dubbed the LiDAR Scanner, likely has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Apple says it can measure the distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away and operates “at the photon level at nano-second speeds.” Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, 3D Printing, AI, AR/VR, artificial intelligence, Business Development, computer vision, Consumer, Entertainment, Hardware, Indoor Mapping, Laser Scanning, Lidar, point clouds, Sensors, Software, Technology, The Industry, virtual reality, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

TruePoint Laser Scanning Delivers Scan to BIM

Posted on March 18, 2020 by lidar
TruePoint Laser Scanning Delivers

TruePoint Laser Scanning Delivers

Laser scanning is an ideal technology for Building Information Modeling (BIM) due to its efficiency, accuracy, and level of detail. Laser scanning accurately documents as-built conditions and proves to be invaluable in facility asset management and modifications. Laser scanning can also be used for reality capture and augmented reality in many aspects of architecture, construction and engineering. TruePoint Laser Scanning has been delivering high quality scan to BIM services for a number of years.

More About BIM

Building Information Modeling is more than just a 3D model. BIM is a process of creating and managing building data throughout the building’s entire life cycle. BIM encompasses not only the geometry and spatial relationships, but also documents features about the building such as the specific information about the type of materials used, the quantity used, and how those characteristics impact the building as a whole. BIM can be thought of as a database of information ranging from project cost management to the “as-built” 3D model after construction on through the operation of the facility which can be used to actively manage the process every step of the way. Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Modeling, BIM, Business Development, Construction, Data, Indoor Mapping, Laser Scanning, Quality, Software, Surveying, Young Geospatial Professional | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment