Sensor fusion for airborne 3D data capture

One of the major tasks for the rectification and mono-plotting of remote sensing data and photogrammetric images is the determination of a digital terrain model (DTM). With the advent of airborne laser range scanners the direct acquisition of DTMs became feasible. In order to determine the terrain surface the distance data provided by a laser scanner have to be georeferenced. Within this step, the exterior orientation (position, attitude) of the laser scanner at the time of measurement is determined by a combined CPS/INS sensor system. Additionally overlapping strips of range data are matched. Thus the system is callibrated and remaining errors e.g. caused by misalignment of the different sensor components can be corrected. This paper is focused on the description of the concept and the components of an integrated airborne laser ranging system. Especially, the GPS/INS part for determination of the exterior orientation of the laser scanner and the calibration routine for the acquired laser data will be briefly reviewed and demonstrated. 9 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.