Calibration, Validation, and Verification of Static Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Professional Land Surveying of 3D Boundaries

Abstract

This thesis examines the validity of static terrestrial laser scanning self-calibration and measurement procedures within current 3D cadastral surveying law in Canada, Australia and South Africa. It examines methodologies used to validate static terrestrial laser scanning outputs subjected to rigorous cross-examination within professional land surveying missions. Due to the construction and design of current laser scanning systems, the raw measurements are not typically available for analysis by the operator and thus their validity could be scrutinized in a court of law. The objectives are met by reviewing and analyzing typical terrestrial laser scanner measurements and outputs based on the laser scanning system construction, scanning environment, and scanning mission procedures. The results show that while terrestrial laser scanning systems provide invaluable information, they could be scrutinized if the proper procedures are not followed. However, the results also suggest that the complimentary methods of terrestrial laser scanning and total station measurements provide the most rigorous results when defining 3D boundaries.