Browsing by Author "Smit, Julian Lloyd"

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    Open Access
    A Comparison of Close-Range Photogrammetry to Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Heritage Documentation
    (2013) Ruther, Heinz; Smit, Julian Lloyd; Kamamba, Donatius
    This paper describes the photogrammetric and laser scan survey of an excavated section of the Laetoli hominid track-way in Tanzania. The survey was designed to allow for comparison to a prior detailed survey of the track-way carried out in 1995, and serves as a means to compare terrestrial laser scanning with close-range photogrammetry as survey methods for heritage documentation. Each hominid footprint in the track-way was photogrammetrically recorded using a rigorous multi-image controlled configuration. In a separate process a laser scanner was used to scan the entire track-way as well as the individual footprints. The data for the comparison and track-way / footprint shape assessment were a photogrammetrically generated point cloud and a 3D model (established in 1995 and 2011), as well as a laser scan point cloud acquired in the 2011 survey. The results showed a high agreement between the laser scan and the photogrammetric data captured in 2011. These two survey processes are entirely independent of each other, the results can be accepted as entirely objective and the excellent agreement between the data can serve as quality control, confirming that the footprint point clouds were captured with an external accuracy of approximately 0.3 to 0.4mm. Standard deviations which are internal precision measures, and typically optimistic, show an individual point accuracy of 0.1 to 0.2 mm. The accuracy for the full laser scan track-way survey was in the order of 1mm.
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    Open Access
    Establishment of Accuracy Testing Facilities for Terrestrial Laser Scanners
    (2018) Davison, Wayne; Smit, Julian Lloyd
    Measurement instruments that are required for high precision and reliable work need to have regular checks to ensure they are always performing at the required level of accuracy. A Terrestrial Laser Scanner is one such instrument and with the vast amount of information that this machine is able to capture, it is especially important to run regular accuracy checks. This research is building on the work that has been done by previous researchers on the assessment of instrument accuracy and the establishment of facilities specialized for this assessment. Theoretical principles are investigated in the form of Least Squares Adjustments, similarities to panorama photography and photogrammetric accuracy. Terrestrial Laser Scanners are reviewed with respect to their scanning principles and data acquisition. The methodology incorporated in this research encompasses the positioning of targets, their survey to establish high accuracy coordinates through various methods of adjustment and thereafter the scanning of those targets. Comparisons were done using derived angles and distances between the targets to discover the point accuracy of the Laser Scanner. This was done for two facilities; a short range facility (1 to 15 meters) and a medium range facility (1 to 75 meters). The medium range facility also included a range testing baseline for distance accuracy assessments. The outcomes from the comparisons between the surveyed control data and the laser scanner observed data indicated that the laser scanner is performing below the accuracy of the surveyed data. The laser scanner was further compared against the manufacturer quoted performance specifications and revealed the laser scanner to be performing below the quoted values. The laser scanner in question showed stronger results in the horizontal measurements over the vertical measurements. All results suggested the laser scanner was delivering weak results in the vertical observations due to a mis-alignment of individual scan halves. This research was able to establish two accuracy assessment facilities specialized for Terrestrial Laser Scanners under these same conditions. Both facilities were used in conjunction, to analyze the Z+F Imager 5010C laser scanner and determine the point accuracy in terms of the observed angles and distances from this machine. The results are also able to identify errors in the performance of the laser scanner and whether or not it is performing within the manufacturer specifications by noticing any large values such as in the case of the vertical observations for this instrument.
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    Open Access
    Three dimensional measurement of textured surfaces using digital photogrammetric techniques
    (1997) Smit, Julian Lloyd; Rüther, Heinz
    The deep-level gold mines on the Witwatersrand (South Africa) are located at depths of over 3,000m below surface. Mining excavations follow tabular reefs that are kilometres in extent, but only a few centimetres thick. Due to the great depths of these excavations and the large overburden of rock, immense pressure is exerted on the rock mass being excavated. In order to relieve this stress in the rock mass being mined, the rock is "pre-conditioned" by pre-fracturing the rock face with large blasts. This has the effect of pushing the critical stress load further into the rock mass, thus increasing safety at the rock face. To better understand the rock behaviour as a result of by pre-conditioning blasts, it is desirable to quantify the deformations of the rock face. Digital photogrammetry provides an ideally suited method of monitoring these deformations, as the necessary equipment is portable and easy to use underground, where the conditions are extreme with temperatures approaching 40°C and humidity levels close to 100%. Digital photogrammetric techniques are also highly accurate, and can be used to detect relatively small three-dimensional movements. The determination of the three-dimensional (XYZ) co-ordinates of the rock face, represented by densely spaced individual points, by means of digital photogrammetric techniques, is reported in this thesis. The novel measurement system developed comprises the following components: * establishment of a stable reference co-ordinate system; * image acquisition; * camera calibration and exterior orientation calculation; * feature extraction; * multi-image matching and space intersection; and * surface modelling. The details of the techniques developed and implemented in order to generate the necessary object space co-ordinates are discussed. Sub-millimetre accuracy point determination, as required for deformation analysis was achieved and a sample of the underground test result data is presented. The final analysis of the underground test data made it apparent that digital photogrammetry is highly suitable for the determination of digital terrain models of the rock surfaces, for subsequent deformation analysis. The relative speed of the process and the convenient size of the equipment makes the technology especially suitable to the demanding underground mining environment. The difficulties, which were experienced as a result of the highly restrictive environment, were overcome through careful planning and pre-analysis. It can thus be concluded that this approach is not only feasible, but it meets the stringent demands of the underground mining industry, as is confirmed by the high accuracy of the final surface point co-ordinates achieved. In addition to being implemented in the underground mining industry, the measurement system developed was used for the mapping of several other textured surfaces. In particular it was used in mapping the 3.6 million-year-old hominid trackway located at Laetoli (Tanzania), the imprints of cheetah and rhinoceros for the purposes of conservation, and for the archaeological documentation of a shipwreck found off the Cape coast (South Africa). All of these applications are discussed and the results achieved presented.