Efficient Planning and Acquisition of Terrestrial Laser Scanning–Derived Digital Elevation Models: Proof of Concept Study

Abstract

Development of a digital elevation model (DEM) with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) point cloud data of inadequate resolution and/or completeness will result in a poor-quality DEM with significant gaps. In many cases, this fact can be obscured from the user because spatial interpolation (e.g., generating a surface mesh or kriging) is often performed prior to or during DEM creation, resulting in a seamless DEM in which data gaps in the source TLS data have been filled in. However, evaluating the completeness of DEMs created directly from the point cloud data provides more feedback regarding the suitability of a given TLS point cloud for supporting a specified DEM resolution. An empirical DEM completeness database and associated TLS acquisition planning tool is proposed that can assist in optimizing TLS survey parameters (quantity of scans and scanning resolution) for achieving a high-quality DEM of specified resolution and completeness.