The base map provides basic information about land to individuals, companies, developers, design engineers, organizations, and government agencies. Its contents include spatial location data for control network points, buildings, land lots, infrastructure facilities, and topographic features. As the primary map of the country, it must be developed in accordance with specific laws and regulations and be continuously updated. The base map is a data source used for the development and updating of derivative maps and other large scale cartographic materials such as thematic or topographic maps. Thanks to the advancement of science and technology, the quality of land surveys carried out by means of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) matches that of traditional surveying methods in many respects. This paper discusses the potential application of output data from laser scanners (point clouds) to the development and updating of cartographic materials, taking Poland’s base map as an example. A few research sites were chosen to present the method and the process of conducting a TLS land survey: a fragment of a residential area, a street, the surroundings of buildings, and an undeveloped area. The entire map that was drawn as a result of the survey was checked by comparing it to a map obtained from PODGiK (pol. Powiatowy Ośrodek Dokumentacji Geodezyjnej i Kartograficznej – Regional Centre for Geodetic and Cartographic Records) and by conducting a field inspection. An accuracy and quality analysis of the conducted fieldwork and deskwork yielded very good results, which provide solid grounds for predicating that cartographic materials based on a TLS point cloud are a reliable source of information about land. The contents of the map that had been created with the use of the obtained point cloud were very accurately located in space (x, y, z). The conducted accuracy analysis and the inspection of the performed works showed that high quality is characteristic of TLS surveys. The accuracy of determining the location of the various map contents has been estimated at 0.02-0.03 m. The map was developed in conformity with the applicable laws and regulations as well as with best practice requirements.

Periodic inventory and check surveys of the surfaces in engineering structures using terrestrial laser scanning require performing scans from many locations. The survey should be planned so as to obtain full coverage of the measured surface with a point cloud of appropriate density. Due to a variety of terrain obstacles in the close vicinity of the surveyed structure, structural and technical elements, as well as machinery and construction equipment (whose removal is impossible e.g. because of their role in the building and protection of the structure), it is often necessary to combine scans acquired from locations having different measurement geometry of the scene and performed in different lighting conditions. This makes it necessary to fill in blank spots with data of different spectral and geometric quality. This paper presents selected aspects of data harmonization in terrestrial laser scanning. The laser beam incidence angle and the scanning distance are assumed as parameters affecting the quality of the data. Based on the assumed minimum parameters for spectral data, an example of a harmonizing function for the concrete surface of a slurry wall was determined, and the methodology for determining its parameters was described. The presented solution for spectral data harmonization is based on the selection of reference fields representative of a given surface, and their classification with respect to selected geometric parameters of the registered point cloud. For geometric data, possible solutions to the harmonization problem have been analyzed, and criteria for point cloud reduction have been defined in order to obtain qualitatively consistent data. The presented results show that harmonization of point clouds obtained from different stations is necessary before their registration, in order to increase the reliability of analyses performed on the basis of check survey results in the assessment of the technical condition of a surface, its deformation, cracks and scratches.

This paper presents a suggested approach for forensic investigation of bridge decks in which Ground penetrating radar (GPR) consisting of two antennas is used to assess the current conditions. The methodology was tested on a bridge deck in central Sicily. The acquired data were analyzed for identifying the asphalt overlay thickness, concrete cover depth and deck thickness and location of the rebar reinforcement. In the proposed approach for assessing bridge deck conditions the GPR survey was complemented with (i) a site investigation on layer thicknesses for calibration/verification purposes of the GPR response and (ii) a Terrestrial Laser Scanning system (TLS) to verify the bridge design slab curvature. The study shows that this methodology has significant merits on accurately assessing such bridge deck components when bridge design records are non-existing, and by using non-invasive methods such as laser scanning and GPR. The great advantage provided by the TLS technique is the possibility to obtain a 3D output model of the scanned element with the accuracy of the best topographic instruments in order to complement GPR data surveys for bridge inspection.

The article describes the process of creating 3D models of architectural objects on the basis of video images, which had been acquired by a Sony NEX-VG10E fixed focal length video camera. It was assumed, that based on video and Terrestrial Laser Scanning data it is possible to develop 3D models of architectural objects. The acquisition of video data was preceded by the calibration of video camera. The process of creating 3D models from video data involves the following steps: video frames selection for the orientation process, orientation of video frames using points with known coordinates from Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), generating a TIN model using automatic matching methods. The above objects have been measured with an impulse laser scanner, Leica ScanStation 2. Created 3D models of architectural objects were compared with 3D models of the same objects for which the self-calibration bundle adjustment process was performed. In this order a PhotoModeler Software was used. In order to assess the accuracy of the developed 3D models of architectural objects, points with known coordinates from Terrestrial Laser Scanning were used. To assess the accuracy a shortest distance method was used. Analysis of the accuracy showed that 3D models generated from video images differ by about 0.06 ÷ 0.13 m compared to TLS data.

Wind turbines are among the key equipment needed for eco-friendly generation of electricity. Maintaining wind turbines in excellent technical condition is extremely important not only for safety but also for efficient operation. Studies indicate that defects in the external structure of a turbine blade reduce energy production efficiency. This research investigated the potential of the terrestrial laser scanning technology to examine the technical conditions of wind turbine blades. The main aim of the study was to examine whether terrestrial laser scanning measurements can be valuable for wind turbine blade condition surveying. The investigation was based on the radiometric analyses of point clouds, which forms the novelty of the present study. Condition monitoring focuses on the detection of defects, such as cracks, cavities, or signs of erosion. Moreover, this study consisted of two stages. The next objective entailed the development and examination of two different measurement methods. It was then identified which method is more advantageous by analysing their effectiveness and other economic considerations.

Extremely intensive development of technology has resulted in many innovations. There are new methods of acquiring spatial data, such as laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicles or digital non-metric cameras, which are the subject of this study. Integration of this data has become a new tool that has expanded existing measurement capabilities, finding applications in 3D modelling, archaeology and monument conservation. Owing to scanning, we can get the coordinates of almost every point of the scanned surface, obtaining full and detailed information about the object dimensions. The level of technical advancement of digital cameras allows them to be successfully used in short-range photogrammetry [27], and recently also in low-altitude aerial photogrammetry (unmanned aerial vehicles). Two different test objects were selected to achieve the intended purpose. The monument located on the 14-meter-high top of the Wanda Mound was adopted as the first object. It consists of a simple rectangular plinth made of brown marble. On its top there is a figure of an eagle with a crown of white marble. On the west wall of the plinth there is an inscription “Wanda” and a drawing showing a sword crossed with a distaff. The following features supported the choice of the monument: interesting shape of the object, which includes both simple geometric forms with large and flat surfaces (plinth), and more detailed surfaces (figure of an eagle); detailed texture of the object (complicated marble veins, wing details). The second object under study was The Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre. The building was rebuilt in the style of Viennese Art Nouveau, so that it fully incorporates into the rest of buildings. Measurements included data obtained from a non-metric camera, Leica ScanStation scanner and DJI S 1000 multi-rotor.

Monitoring the technical condition of hydrotechnical facilities is crucial for ensuring their safe usage. This process typically involves tracking environmental variables (e.g., concrete damming levels, temperatures, piezometer readings) as well as geometric and physical variables (deformation, cracking, filtration, pore pressure, etc.), whose long-term trends provide valuable information for facility managers. Research on the methods of analyzing geodetic monitoring data (manual and automatic) and sensor data is vital for assessing the technical condition and safety of facilities, particularly when utilizing new measurement technologies. Emerging technologies for obtaining data on the changes in the surface of objects employ laser scanning techniques (such as LiDAR, Light Detection, and Ranging) from various heights: terrestrial, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, drones), and satellites using sensors that record geospatial and multispectral data. This article introduces an algorithm to determine geometric change trends using terrestrial laser scanning data for both concrete and earth surfaces. In the consecutive steps of the algorithm, normal vectors were utilized to analyze changes, calculate local surface deflection angles, and determine object alterations. These normal vectors were derived by fitting local planes to the point cloud using the least squares method. In most applications, surface strain and deformation analyses based on laser scanning point clouds primarily involve direct comparisons using the Cloud to Cloud (C2C) method, resulting in complex, difficult-to-interpret deformation maps. In contrast, preliminary trend analysis using local normal vectors allows for rapid threat detection. This approach significantly reduces calculations, with detailed point cloud interpretation commencing only after detecting a change on the object indicated by normal vectors in the form of an increasing deflection trend. Referred to as the cluster algorithm by the authors of this paper, this method can be applied to monitor both concrete and earth objects, with examples of analyses for different object types presented in the article.