Oct/Nov 2006

One of the aspirations of modern road mapping is to be able to survey whole sections of route from vehicles moving at normal traffic speeds, and create accurate maps automatically, using GPS and related technologies.

Most major map creators have developed or used such systems in recent years, including for instance Britain's AA; and last year mapping specialist Tele Atlas acquired Warsaw-based PPWK GeoInvent, which has developed a system for combining still to create a 360-degree digital view of a road.

Now UK company 3D Laser Mapping has worked with German developer IGI to take the concept further, offering a system called StreetMapper for generating three-dimensional maps from vehicles travelling at up to 70mph.

The vehicle-mounted system uses an array of lasers to measure the position of features along the route relative to the vehicle, which are then processed to produce a detailed three-dimensional model of the street corridor and overhead features.

There are many potential applications, including accident scene surveys and wide load route-planning. There is also potential to model whole cityscapes, combining the laser plots with video and still photography to create realistic, textured images of entire scenes.

3D Laser Mapping's product portfolio includes both terrestrial and airborne laser scanning solutions.