Greetings readers,
As land surveyors and ardent proponents of technology, we continually strive to push boundaries and redefine the possibilities within our industry. Today, I want to share a short test we did using mobile laser scanning technology: The GeoSlam RT Vision system. Our target for this test was none other than the iconic Ironbridge in Ironbridge, Shropshire.
The Ironbridge, a symbol of the dawn of the industrial age and a UNESCO World Heritage Site was a perfect subject for this laser scanning process. Spanning the River Severn, this impressive structure has stood for over two centuries, its majesty and historic significance making it a worthy candidate for our experiment. The bridge itself was the world’s first cast iron bridge, built by Abraham Darby III in 1779.
We wanted to check out how good the transient noise filter was and we wondered where would have plenty of people and cars on a busy warm Spring Saturday. We plumped for Ironbridge which has been scanned many times with terrestrial laser scanners so thought here would be a good comparison.
Using the GeoSlam RT Vision system, we conducted a detailed laser scan survey of the Ironbridge. What makes this story truly interesting is the timeframe – the entire process took a mere 17 minutes. When compared with traditional land surveying methods, which can be time-consuming and labour-intensive, this is a stunning example of how technology has been revolutionizing land surveying over the last few years. The pace of change is ever increasing with AI and machine learning taking the stage at the moment. Drones are the latest and possibly greatest driver for change in the surveying industry in my 35-year career as a land surveyor. For us combining all of these into one system is a complete game changer.
Read: What is a land surveyor to find out more about what we do and why we do it.
The GeoSlam RT Vision system uses a method known as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) to create a 3D map of its surroundings while simultaneously determining its position within that map. As we moved across the Ironbridge, the system sent out millions of laser pulses, each one reflecting off the bridge’s surfaces and returning to the scanner. By measuring the time taken for each pulse to return, the system calculated the exact distances and combined those with inertial trajectory measurements to calculate the position in 3d space, thereby creating a detailed 3D representation of the bridge.
A task of this magnitude could have taken days with traditional land surveying methods. However, by leveraging modern technology, we were able to quickly and efficiently generate a detailed point cloud of the Ironbridge. 3d models derived from point clouds like this are proving invaluable for maintenance, conservation planning, and potentially even 3D reproductions for educational purposes with 3d printing. If you need a 3d digital twin or would like to see how this could help on your project then please get in touch.
Furthermore, using this advanced laser scanning process offered a non-invasive and safe way to survey such a historically significant structure, allowing us to preserve its integrity while gaining crucial information. The bridge was bustling with visitors as is normal on most days. Our approach eliminated the need for manual measurements, which not only reduced the potential for human error but also minimized any risk to the structure, our team or anybody visiting the site. We might have finished a bit quicker if we hadn’t paused to answer questions
In closing, this rapid laser scan survey of The Ironbridge shows the potential for the profession. The profession should embrace these changes. Sadly survey companies that aren’t adopting these technologies will wither and die.
