Example of the assessment of data integration accuracy on the base of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology has changed conventional approach to the spatial data acquisition. Unusually amount of the measurements points with extremely high precision are now available from generally two platforms: airborne (Airborne Laser Scanner - ALS) and terrestrial (Terrestrial Laser Scanner - TLS). There are however some gaps in these products, in ALS - on vertical surfaces and in TLS - on horizontal one. The reason is that these laser systems register the same object from different points in space. Integration of the data obtained for airborne and terrestrial platforms can fulfil the gaps. The aim of the research presented in the paper was comparing the matched ALS and TLS data to the in-situ total station (TS) measurements. Different test areas were chosen: placed on horizontal, vertical or inclined surfaces and covered by grass or asphalt pavement. Point’s positions obtained from ALS, TLS and TS measurements are analysed together. TS measurements are taken as a reference. ALS and TLS point position accuracy analysis based on these perpendicular distance from the plane defined by the nearest three non-collinear TS points. The discrepancies were further statistically analysed. In conclusion can be stated that some bias was observed in ALS data, they are below TLS and TS points as well. Besides more significant discrepancy between TS points are observed for ALS points in compare to the TLS one, confirming our expectations.