Intelligent Scanning with Robot-Tacheometer and Image Processing A Low Cost Alternative to 3D Laser Scanning?

Abstract

SUMMARY The intention of this essay is to lay down the great variety of automated and partly-automated surveying technology offered by a reflectorless, notebook-controlled tacheometer - especially when the use of certain photogrammetric tools is integrated. Integration of tacheometry and image processing enables to create new ways of surveying and to a certain amount, it also provides an alternative as well as an addition to the third method of architectural surveying (besides tacheometrie and photogrammetry): The method of laserscanning. First the characteristics between intelligent tacheometers and laserscanners are compared. In the second section certain “intelligent” functions will be explained. The third section deals with extending the instrument’s possibilities of application in connection with the addition of digital images. Further uses by means of constructional modifications of the robot-totalstation are shown in the final section.