Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi

Optical measurement methods are widely used for precise and high-resolution underwater monitoring applications, however, remain limited in range as they are strongly affected by visibility. Through enhancements in laser technology, green LiDAR systems expand the range in the underwater domain under...

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Main Authors: E. Heffner, A. L. Walter, A. Scheider, H. Sternberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-07-01
Series:The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
Online Access:https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-2-W10-2025/123/2025/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W10-2025-123-2025.pdf
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author E. Heffner
A. L. Walter
A. Scheider
H. Sternberg
author_facet E. Heffner
A. L. Walter
A. Scheider
H. Sternberg
author_sort E. Heffner
collection DOAJ
description Optical measurement methods are widely used for precise and high-resolution underwater monitoring applications, however, remain limited in range as they are strongly affected by visibility. Through enhancements in laser technology, green LiDAR systems expand the range in the underwater domain under favourable conditions. The Underwater LiDAR System (ULi), recently developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM), is a Time-of-Flight (ToF) laser scanner optimized for underwater operation. This paper assesses the actual performance of ULi under varying environmental conditions in controlled laboratory setups. We present the results of static scans on different test objects like a Böhler-Star, spheres and metal plates at different distances and varying turbidity levels. Through repetitive range measurements on a metal plate range precision of ULi is evaluated to be 1.95 mm and ULi achieves a mean relative range accuracy of 6.01 mm. Additionally, we demonstrate that objects like small shells and water plants can be clearly identified in low turbid water.
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language English
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publisher Copernicus Publications
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series The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
spelling doaj-art-3167b8b1bf9e4589a5f8f306eae7fdc62025-08-20T03:28:33ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences1682-17502194-90342025-07-01XLVIII-2-W10-202512312910.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W10-2025-123-2025Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULiE. Heffner0A. L. Walter1A. Scheider2H. Sternberg3Dept. of Hydrography and Geodesy, HafenCity University Hamburg, GermanyDept. of Hydrography and Geodesy, HafenCity University Hamburg, GermanyDept. of Hydrography and Geodesy, HafenCity University Hamburg, GermanyDept. of Hydrography and Geodesy, HafenCity University Hamburg, GermanyOptical measurement methods are widely used for precise and high-resolution underwater monitoring applications, however, remain limited in range as they are strongly affected by visibility. Through enhancements in laser technology, green LiDAR systems expand the range in the underwater domain under favourable conditions. The Underwater LiDAR System (ULi), recently developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM), is a Time-of-Flight (ToF) laser scanner optimized for underwater operation. This paper assesses the actual performance of ULi under varying environmental conditions in controlled laboratory setups. We present the results of static scans on different test objects like a Böhler-Star, spheres and metal plates at different distances and varying turbidity levels. Through repetitive range measurements on a metal plate range precision of ULi is evaluated to be 1.95 mm and ULi achieves a mean relative range accuracy of 6.01 mm. Additionally, we demonstrate that objects like small shells and water plants can be clearly identified in low turbid water.https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-2-W10-2025/123/2025/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W10-2025-123-2025.pdf
spellingShingle E. Heffner
A. L. Walter
A. Scheider
H. Sternberg
Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi
The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
title Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi
title_full Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi
title_fullStr Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi
title_full_unstemmed Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi
title_short Laboratory-based assessment of the Underwater Laser Scanner ULi
title_sort laboratory based assessment of the underwater laser scanner uli
url https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-2-W10-2025/123/2025/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W10-2025-123-2025.pdf
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AT alwalter laboratorybasedassessmentoftheunderwaterlaserscanneruli
AT ascheider laboratorybasedassessmentoftheunderwaterlaserscanneruli
AT hsternberg laboratorybasedassessmentoftheunderwaterlaserscanneruli