Let’s kick off the new year (2016) with a heads up about a portable scanner that I have not heard of. It’s the EinScan-S from Shining 3D and it claims to “scan both people and objects in high resolution, down to the smallest detail, thanks to its interchangeable settings that allow for high-accuracy scanning of both large and small objects.”

They report, “If positive reviews from award-winning visual effects artists aren’t enough, the EinScan-S also recently passed the vigorous iMakr test. iMakr, the retailer of all things 3D, is famous for its high standards, putting every product through rigorous and extensive tests before accepting them into its stock. After about a month and a half of assessment, iMakr accepted the EinScan-S, which will be sold from the retailer’s online store as well as its two brick-and-mortar locations in London and New York.

– See more at: http://blog.lidarnews.com/#sthash.8RNgQCJq.dpuf

This is an excellent presentation on the future of lidar data acquisition and processing by Dr. Qassim Abdullah who works for Woolpert, Inc. He discusses all of the major topics including single photon counting and Geiger mode as well as full waveform and flash. Qassim also contrasts the benefits and limitations of each system. He also looks into the future to predict what the state of the art might be in five years.

This is an important reference for all topics related to airborne lidar data collection.

– See more at: http://blog.lidarnews.com/#sthash.7Q0CcsbM.dpuf

The hotter the water temperature in a river the less oxygen that is carried. This can cause problems for certain fish species such as rainbow trout. The slower the river is flowing the more it heats up.

Idaho Power hired Quantum Spatial to map the Snake River using bathymetric lidar. In order to model the velocity of the river the contours of the river bottom must be known.

On of the challenges with topo bathy is the depth of penetration of the laser usually as a result of turbidity of the water. They really won’t know until the data is processed whether they were able to reach the bottom.

– See more at: http://blog.lidarnews.com/#sthash.7Q0CcsbM.dpuf

This Scientific Expedition was held at Kundasang from 23rd November until 30th November 2015. The expedition was organized by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and participated by 6 organisations which are Jabatan Mineral & Geosains Malaysia, Institut Kajian Bencana Asia Tenggara, UKM (seadpri), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Fakulti Geosains & Kejuruteraan Petroleum, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and Geomapping Technology SDN. BHD.

The objectives of this expedition are :

1. To collect and record all data and important information regarding the disaster phenomenon and the effects.
2. To enable the recorded data and information to be delivered and shared among the authorities whom might be needed for disaster management and reduction whether in state or federal level.

Study area along the debris flow

Along debris flow channel

Through out this expedition, there are 3 main groups which is Geology, Vegetation and Social Science.

The member of Kundasang Scientific Expedition

Pinosouk gravel at the debris flow area

Different tree types in scarp, body and toe

Velodyne’s new PUCK™ (VLP-16) sensor is the smallest, newest, and most advanced product in Velodyne’s 3D LiDAR product range. Vastly more cost-effective than similarly priced sensors, and developed with mass production in mind, it retains the key features of Velodyne’s breakthroughs in LiDAR: Real-time, 360°, 3D distance and calibrated reflectivity measurements.

Further info at: http://velodynelidar.com/vlp-16.html

http://eora3d.com/

Now this may be very important news.

Eora 3D’s scanner was born from the need for a precise laser scanner to verify the accuracy of a large parabolic dish used to focus sunlight on solar panels. The quest led Eora 3D co-founders Rahul Koduri​, Richard Boers and Asfand Khan to design a $199 3D laser scanner powered by any model iPhone 5 or 6 – with support for Android and Windows Phone devices on the way.

Having completed development of the 3D scanner and lined up manufacturers in China, Eora 3D is launching a Kickstarter​ crowdfunding project in September to help cover manufacturing costs and is on the lookout for seed funding as well as Australian manufacturing partners. Eora 3D is a local finalist in the Seedstars World global start-up competition and is set to represent Australia at the finals in Geneva next March.

We all may need one of these soon.

– See more at: http://blog.lidarnews.com/#sthash.csHHBoOY.dpuf