A vehicle-based laser system for high-resolution DEM development – performance evaluation of system components

Authors: LI, PENG - Kansas State University; ZHANG, NAIQIAN - Kansas State University; Wagner, Larry; Fox, Jr, Fred; OARD, DARRELL - Kansas State University; LAGAE, HUBERT - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: Biosystems Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Surface roughness is quantified by the vertical changes in surface elevation. Soil surface roughness is a major factor influencing soil erosion by water and wind. Surface roughness can be accurately described using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). In this study, a vehicle-based laser system was developed to generate high-resolution DEM data. The system consisted of five major components: a laser line scanner, a gyroscope sensor, a real-time kinematic GPS, a frame-rail mechanism, and a data-acquisition and control unit. A series of experiments were conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the performance of the components. The result of elevation distance measurements indicated that the system gave the most consistent measurements on white paper. Static accuracy tests of the gyroscope sensor showed that angle measurement errors observed in combined pitch/roll rotations were larger than those in single axis rotations. Within ±30º of single axis rotations, the measurement errors for pitch and roll angles were within 0.8º and 0.4º, respectively. The tests of the angular displacement on the linear rail showed that the rail slightly tilted towards the laser line scanner when it moved along the rail.

Technical Abstract: Surface micro topography is quantified by the deviations in the direction of the normal vector of the surface. Soil micro topography is a major factor influencing soil erosion by water and wind. Surface micro topography can be accurately described using the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). In this study, a vehicle-based laser system was developed to generate high-resolution DEM data. The system consisted of five major components: a laser line scanner, a gyroscope sensor, a real-time kinematic GPS, a frame-rail mechanism, and a data-acquisition and control unit. A series of experiments were conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the performance of the components. The result of distance measurements indicated that the system gave the most consistent distance measurement on white paper. Static gyroscope sensor accuracy tests showed that angle measurement errors observed in combined pitch/roll rotations were larger than those in single rotations. Within ±30 deg. of single rotations, the measurement errors for pitch and roll angles were within 0.8 deg. and 0.4 deg., respectively. The tests of the angular displacement on the linear rail showed that the rail slightly tilted towards the laser line scanner when it moved along the rail.