There are various options available for collecting 3D data, and we have demonstrated on many occasions that they can be successfully combined. Acoustic technology is best suited for quickly scanning large areas of the seabed. LiDAR can provide the same ability above water and photogrammetry can be used to collect the high-detail, close-range information from above or below the waterline. We refer to the process of combining them into a single, measurable 3D dataset as ‘data fusion’.
Data Fusion gives you complete confidence and certainty in your multi-source 3D assessments. We can collect data from different sources and align them to produce one single point cloud. This enables measurements between any two points in the dataset, regardless of how that particular point has been collected. Photogrammetry, acoustic and laser-based datasets can all be ‘fused’ if planned and actioned in the right way.
We recently showcased our data-fusion capabilities during a 3D data collection campaign at a flooded quarry site. This involved collecting data using three different technologies. After accurately fusing the data, the client was able to initiate a measurement that began from underwater sonar, transitioned through 3D LiDAR data, and concluded at a point collected by photogrammetry via an aerial drone, delighting the appointed architects and designers.
We view the different 3D data collection methods as collaborative rather than competitive, allowing each technique to be used in accordance with its particular specialism, and allow its specific benefits and efficiencies to be realised by your project schedule.
Expertise in each method and the experience of knowing when and where to use each method are key to successfully exploiting each method to the benefit of the project and helping your team understand and measure your worksite from the safety of their desk.
Our team has extensive experience in merging 3D datasets from various sources and analysing them to identify their strengths and weaknesses. If you believe your project could benefit from utilising 3D data from different sources, we are available to assist.
