Istanbul 2004 
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International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV 
camera calibration, a mounting calibration guarantees a 
reliable correspondence of image and scan data. This 
mounting calibration can easily be checked automatically in 
the field. After the execution of a panorama scan (field of 
view 360°x 80°, operation time 4 minutes, 2 Mio 
measurement points) and fine scanning of the (automatically 
identified) reflectors and possible additional detail scans 
resp. detail sequences, a series of photos are taken that cover 
the corresponding field of view. Right after performing a 
scan on a new scan position, the resulting data is merged 
with the already existing scans in the project file. The 
accuracy of the single scan data can be increased by 
averaging the results of a multiple scanning process, called 
scan sequence. 
  
  
  
     
   
   
   
     
   
   
  
    
   
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
    
   
  
   
  
, Part BS. Istanbul 2004 
2.2. Post-Processing 
The acquisition software package RiScan Pro stores the data 
in a well organized, open and documented rsp (RiScan Pro) 
format for further post processing and archiving. The data is 
directly readable by various post processing software without 
friction losses, as described in the subsequent section for 
PHIDIAS, the software solution utilized in Bam. The many 
features provided in the operating software RiScan Pro apart 
from raw data acquisition — such as merging, registration, 
calibration, resampling, filtering — prepare the data ideally 
for a latter interpreter, who can therefore orientate himself 
easily within the data without knowing the site and without 
external maps. In order to respond to requirements of 
countless different applications, RIEGL recommends a 
selection of proven software packages and, by providing a 
command library, allows software developers to write their 
own post processing software. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
a. 
  
  
Figure 3: PHIDIAS mono plot post processing (point cloud, photograph and CAD drawing within one window) 
    
    
    
2.3. Primary results 
The immediate results of a scanning campaign show the 
versatility of the combined system and the different ways of 
data interpretation respective to the desired final result. 
First of all, the operating software RiScan Pro delivers the 
data as point cloud that contains the RGB value for cach 
pixel out of the corresponding photograph. This coloured 
point cloud serves as a visualisation of the scenery, for 
checking the data acquired and deciding upon the necessity 
of additional scan positions. The raw data can be resampled 
so as to keep even point clouds containing a large amount of 
single scans lightweight and thus manageable by the 
operation notebook in the field. 
The second result consists of a decimated data mesh with a 
high resolution texture. The few post processing tasks 
necessary to achieve this are carried out directly in the same 
operating software. The high quality of the mesh is 
guaranteed through the Delaunay triangulation method. The 
mesh is to be cleaned and smoothed before the image data is 
applied in its entire pixel resolution. The gained mesh shows 
the respective advantages of laser scanning and 
photogrammetry: While the strength of laser scanning lies in 
the fast and reliable rendering of surfaces, the advantage of 
photogrammetry is the recognition of edges and details. By 
mapping the high resolution undistorted photographs on the 
scan data, it is possible to profit from both the high overall 
accuracy of the 360? scanner as