An Investigation on a Plane-Based Dynamic Calibration Method for the Handheld LiDAR Scanner

Area of Science:

• Geomatics Engineering
• Geospatial Technology
• LiDAR Surveying

Background:

• Handheld LiDAR scanners like the GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon require precise calibration for accurate spatial data acquisition.
• Previous studies proposed a plane-based dynamic calibration method but lacked comprehensive validation.
• The efficiency and reliability of this calibration method needed further investigation using diverse datasets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed plane-based dynamic calibration method for the GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon LiDAR scanner.
• To assess the calibration results using multiple datasets collected under varying conditions.
• To determine the impact of calibration data quality on the accuracy of LiDAR measurements.

Main Methods:

• Collected three distinct datasets in a dedicated calibration field on different dates and times.
• Applied the plane-based dynamic calibration method to each dataset.
• Analyzed calibration results by examining average residuals, a posteriori unit weight standard deviations, and root mean square error (RMSE) of check planes.

Main Results:

• All datasets showed reduced average residuals and significantly lower a posteriori unit weight standard deviations after calibration.
• Root mean square error (RMSE) of check planes improved by an average of 32.61%, 28.44%, and 14.7% across the three datasets.
• Calibration results were consistent regardless of data collection dates or times, indicating robustness.

Conclusions:

• The plane-based dynamic calibration method is highly efficient for the GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon LiDAR scanner.
• The method consistently improves measurement accuracy and reduces errors.
• The quality of calibration data influences the degree of accuracy improvement, but the method remains reliable across different collection conditions.