Book review: Lasser scanning explained

Title: Airborne and Terrestrial Laser Scanning Edited by: George Vosselman and Hans-Gerd Maas Published by: Whittles Publishing Pages: 336

Laser scanning is the accepted technology for 3D terrain mapping and 3D mapping of natural and manmade features. It has now been extended to the 3D mapping of historical monuments and buildings as well as terrestrial mobile mapping. The technology and its applications have been evolving over the past two decades. However, in the absence of a definitive text book, geospatial professionals have had to depend on technical literature and papers. The book “Airborne and Terrestrial Laser Scanning,” edited by George Vosselman and Hans-Gerd Maas, fills this gap. The book is published by Whittles Publishing of Scotland and distributed by CRC Press, LLC of the Taylor and Francis Group, USA. The first chapter covers the technology from basic principles of lasers and laser scanning to the various components and types of scanners. Both airborne and terrestrial scanners are covered in detail, including aspects of flight planning for airborne scanning. The section on LiDAR bathymetry also illustrates the versatility of the technology. Chapters two and three cover the data handling aspects which include visualisation and point cloud structuring, data registration and calibration. Both airborne and terrestrial scanners are addressed. Issues related to data compression, systematic errors and error modelling, geometric registration and calibration are discussed in detail. The mathematical foundations are addressed in a very lucid manner.

Chapters four to nine deal with applications beginning with digital terrain models and continuing with building extraction, forestry applications, engineering applications, cultural heritage applications and ending with mobile mapping. The applications are comprehensive and well illustrated with case studies. However, except for the cultural heritage applications, the other case studies deal with European examples. It would have been interesting to see an example of forest mapping in the Amazon area to see how the different storeys of the tropical forest could be separated.

Similarly, the building extraction deals with gabled roofs. It will be interesting to see examples of high density flat roofs as found in large metropolises. One application which could be added is the use of the technology in disaster surveys. I am sure these could be included in later editions.

The authors and editors are to be congratulated for this effort at bringing together the knowledge of the technology, data handling and applications of laser scanning in a comprehensive book for the first time. I would recommend it as essential reading for any student or professional in the field of geospatial technology and its applications.