Digitizing Reality: Automated 3D Point Cloud Data Processing Using AI

Intelligent Point Clouds

How can today's advanced technology solve the challenges that many organizations face after obtaining vast 3D point cloud datasets, such as the management, storage, registration, fusion and extraction of useful and actionable information? Instruments for digitizing the 3D real environment are becoming smaller, more lightweight, cheaper and more robust. Accordingly, they are finding increasingly widespread usage, not only on surveying tripods for the highest accuracy, but also on mobile platforms such as autonomous vehicles, drones, helicopters, aircraft, robotic vacuum cleaners, trains, mobile phones, satellites and Martian rovers. Lidar uses laser scanning, while photogrammetry records images from one or more cameras which may be... (read more)

2020-02-25 10:56:50

Industry Report: The Geospatial Industry is Alive and Kicking

How Digitalization and the Immense Need for 3D Data Drive the Business Forward

The advancement of new technology in the geospatial industry is opening up new horizons for surveyors. The profession has rapidly become high-tech, which has brought many benefits and also an ever-greater need to invest in advanced data acquisition, processing, analysis and visualization solutions. According to the findings from the annual 'GIM International' survey among geospatial professionals, the demand for such solutions is set to reach new heights in 2020 and beyond. It is a case of ‘full steam ahead’ for the surveying and mapping business – which is great news in particular for hardware and software companies. The mood among... (read more)

2020-02-14 11:04:00

Ana Roxin

Ana Roxin is an associate professor in computer science at the University of Burgundy, France. Her research addresses approaches that allow computers to simulate human reasoning and problem-solving. She has proven experience across semantic web, semantic interoperability, context-aware BIM, GIS and explainable AI. She is a member of several standardization bodies (e.g. AFNOR, CEN, ISO). (read more)

2020-02-14 10:03:50

Christian Clemen

Christian Clemen teaches and researches at HTW Dresden, Germany, on BIM from the perspective of geospatial engineering. His research projects relate to 3D data acquisition and construction progress documentation with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) as well as 3D city models (CityGML) and land management with BIM. He is a member of BIM standardization at DIN and ISO and is active in NGOs such as the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). (read more)

2020-02-14 10:02:57

Bridging the Gap between Geospatial and Construction

There is certainly a gap in information exchange between the geospatial and construction domains. This is a serious issue, mainly because geospatial systems and engineering surveys are not yet aligned and integrated with building information modelling (BIM). The BIM method is expected to move construction activities from plan-based individual work to model-based collaboration. Such a paradigm shift will bring huge opportunities regarding planning, building and management of the built environment in a more productive, open and sustainable way. Although it is still difficult to entirely close the gap between these two fields, this article shows how that gap can at... (read more)

2020-02-14 09:44:12

Simultaneous Capturing of Lidar and Imagery

How Major Cities May Benefit from a Hybrid Sensor System

Aerial surveys conducted in the UK and Ireland demonstrate the potential of a combination of nadir camera, oblique cameras and a Lidar unit in one to meet the need for accurate, detailed and up-to-date 3D city models. People continue to migrate from rural areas to major cities, driving sustained urban growth and increasing the demand for accurate, detailed and up-to-date 3D city models. The creation of such models is still a cumbersome endeavour but new advancements, such as the combination of three sensor types – nadir camera, oblique cameras and a Lidar unit – in one and the same geodata... (read more)

2020-02-05 01:33:28

Industry Support for Geo Connect Asia 2020 Builds Momentum

An expanding list of industry leaders will be joining Geo Connect Asia 2020 – South East Asia's geospatial services and location intelligence event – taking place on 18 and 19 March in Singapore. Themed ‘Mapping the data-driven future economy’, the event will feature leading technology and non-government organizations with representatives from the likes of the World Bank, Southeast Asian mobile technology giant Grab, the UK government’s mapping agency Ordnance Survey, and others. An Asian event with a global audience, Geo Connect Asia 2020 has announced new global exhibitors and sponsors who will be bringing their latest technologies and innovations to Singapore. New exhibitors... (read more)

2020-02-05 09:44:50

Avineon Acquires Dutch GIS Consulting Company Tensing

Avineon, a US-based geospatial products and services provider, has announced the acquisition of Tensing. As one of the leading GIS consulting companies in the Netherlands, Tensing has helped clients succeed with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Esri and Safe Software’s FME technology. With a focus on innovation, client engagement and high-end technical expertise, Tensing provides consulting services, project management and GIS development and administration for clients across the Netherlands and beyond. Both an Esri Gold Partner and Safe Software (FME) Silver Partner, Tensing adds over 60 high-caliber GIS consultants to Avineon’s global professional services team. With a shared... (read more)

2020-01-28 10:31:35

3D BIM Models for Heritage Asset Management

Moving beyond the Field of Data Capture for Digital Preservation

Research undertaken under a collaborative doctoral partnership between Historic England and the University of Reading, UK, is moving beyond the field of 3D data capture for digital preservation. It considers how critical information for the conservation, repair and maintenance of historic buildings can be visualized in 3D BIM models and how BIM processes can be used for the management of structured datasets that inform conservation and repair programmes. A pilot study has been conducted using the work of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and historic British research base ‘E’ on Stonington Island, Antarctica, to consider this potential. Building information modelling... (read more)

2020-01-16 09:49:50

Indoor Mobile Mapping Goes Mainstream

Mobile mapping is well past the tipping point and is about to go mainstream. Read this column by Felix Reinshagen to find out why. In his previous column about the future of indoor mobile mapping, Felix Reinshagen made the case for why this technology was on the brink of widespread adoption. That was just over a year ago, and a lot has changed since then: brisk expansion of the products and services on offer, together with a widening field of applications. So, after another incredible year, Reinshagen has written a new column outlining why he believes that mobile mapping is... (read more)

2020-01-16 09:27:27