Error modelling, calibration and analysis of an AM–CW terrestrial laser scanner system

Abstract A rigorous method for terrestrial laser scanner self-calibration using a network of signalised points is presented. Exterior orientation, object point co-ordinates and additional parameters are estimated simultaneously by free network adjustment. Spherical co-ordinate observation equations are augmented with a set of additional parameters that model systematic errors in range, horizontal direction and elevation angle. The error models include both physically interpretable and empirically identified components. Though the focus is on one particular make and model of AM–CW scanner system, the Faro 880, the mathematical models are formulated in a general framework so their application to other instruments only requires selection of an appropriate set of additional parameters. Results from controlled testing show that significant improvement is achieved by using the proposed model in terms of both reducing the magnitude of observational residuals as well as the three-dimensional positioning accuracy of signalised points. Ten self-calibration datasets captured over the course of 13 months are used to examine short- and long-term additional parameter stability via standard hypothesis testing techniques. Detailed investigations into correlation mechanisms between model parameters accompany the self-calibration solution analyses. Other contributions include an observation model for incorporation of integrated inclinometer observations into the self-calibration solution and an effective a priori outlier removal method. The benefit of the former is demonstrated to be reduced correlation between exterior orientation and additional parameters, even if inclinometer precision is low. The latter is arrived at by detailed analysis of the influence of incidence angle on range.