An Average Error‐Ellipsoid Model for Evaluating TLS Point‐Cloud Accuracy. (2nd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Xijiang; Zhang, Guang; Hua, Xianghong; Xuan, Wei
• Is Part Of: Photogrammetric record. Volume 31:Number 153(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2016-03-02
• Subjects: error ellipsoid -- laser scanning -- point‐cloud accuracy -- sampling intervals -- terrestrial laser scanning -- TLS; Photogrammetry -- Periodicals; 526.982
• DOI: 10.1111/phor.12136
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-868X

Abstract

Abstract: Estimation of the accuracy of terrestrial laser scanning has become a topical research issue. Point‐cloud accuracy should be clearly differentiated from the accuracy of individual points, as it is influenced by positional errors and adjacent error spaces. Furthermore, it cannot be determined by the sum of positional errors. In this paper it is proposed that the average error‐ellipsoid model is favourable for evaluating the accuracy of point clouds. Central to this model is the computation of the overlap between adjacent error ellipsoids and the determination of a functional relationship between the average volume of error ellipsoids and the point‐cloud accuracy. This paper outlines the key advantages of the proposed evaluation model, such as the capability of providing an estimate of local point‐cloud accuracy. The effectiveness of the model is discussed using a validation experiment.