ABSTRACT
The terrestrial laser scanners that are being utilized for topographic mapping and modelling operations can be operated either from a static position or they can be operated from a dynamic platform such as a van, truck or railcar. Indeed the locations of the ground stations where a terrestrial laser scanner had been set up on a tripod could easily are carried out using the traditional traversing and resection methods that are used by land surveyors. However terrestrial laser scanners, whether tripod- or vehicle-mounted, do have the great advantage of providing the details of building facades as required for the production of realistic three-dimensional city models. The subject of vehicle-borne terrestrial laser scanners is an exciting one to explore. It forms only a part of a much wider subject area—namely that of conducting surveying and mapping operations from dynamic vehicular platforms. The development and use of laser scanners on vehicular platforms either instead of cameras has taken place somewhat later.
