RIEGL

About RIEGL

RIEGL – Topo-Bathymetric Airborne Laser Scanners and Systems

RIEGL is a leading provider of cutting-edge Waveform-LiDAR technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, and UAV-based laser scanning.

The strengths of LiDAR technology in a hydrographic context are the collection of seamless data sets that span the land/water interface, enabling the survey of topography both above and below the water surface.

In coastal environments, Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry (ALB) is used for highly efficient mapping of large areas as well as for detailed underwater surveys in applications like survey of harbor infrastructure, the detection of floating objects, or archaeological sites. Applications in inland water environments include natural habitat monitoring of rivers and lakes, as well as survey of artificial waterways.

RIEGL provides a product range of compact ALB sensors and systems for different carrier platforms and different use cases.

For integration with crewed helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and larger UAVs with appropriate payload capacity, the RIEGL VQ-860-G topo-bathymetric scanner offers an enhanced water penetration capability of more than 2.5 Secchi depths. Used in flight altitudes from 75m to 500m, the VQ-860-G meets the requirements of challenging survey mission while at the same time offering high productivity.

With its low weight and compact design, the RIEGL VQ-840-GL topo-bathymetric scanner is suited for integration on smaller aircraft and UAVs – ideal for detailed data acquisition in smaller-scale applications that need to be carried out at shorter intervals, such as coastal erosion monitoring, surveying port infrastructure or rivers at risk of flooding. The scanner provides more than 2 Secchi depths water penetration and high spatial resolution due to a measurement rate of up to 200 kHz and selectable laser beam divergence.

Both RIEGL topo-bathymetric scanners can be completed with high-resolution cameras and appropriate IMU/GNSS systems to provide tailored solutions for the customer’s application scenarios.

Additionally, RIEGL offers their ALB systems VQ-840-GE and VUX-820-G, fully integrated packages that include sensor, IMU/GNSS unit, camera, and RIEGL’s proprietary software licenses for generating georeferenced and refraction-corrected point clouds.

The rugged internal mechanical structure together with the dust and splash water proof housing of the RIEGL VQ-840-GE enable long-term operation on all airborne platforms from UAVs and helicopters to fixed-wing aircraft. The system delivers water penetration of more than 2 Secchi depths and measurement rates of up to 200 kHz.

The NEW RIEGL VUX-820-G is offered as a fully integrated “all-in” package solution and comes with an integrated RIEGL RiLOC-F inside inertial navigation system and an integrated RGB camera to supplement the LiDAR data with image data. The compact design and low weight of only 5.7 kg make the VUX-820-G particularly suitable for use on UAVs. Additional features such as a display and status LEDs improve interactive handling and operation. Unser-friendly integration and operation enable straight-forward access to bathymetric LiDAR.

RIEGL’s dedicated software suite for data acquisition and processing supports mission preparation and parameter optimization, as well as data management and storage. In post-processing, RiHYDRO tools support data classification, generation of a water surface models, and the application of water refraction correction according to refraction indices. Full waveform processing and waveform averaging can be optionally applied to maximize depth penetration success.

Additionally, to provide even higher resolution for the landscape on shore or any features above the water surface, topo-bathymetric data can be merged with LiDAR data acquired by terrestrial laser scanning or mobile laser scanning. RIEGL Mobile Laser Scanning Systems are designed to be easily installed on any vehicle on land or water. Their millimeter precision paired with high grade IMU/GNSS units enables precise point cloud geo-referencing. Complementing bathymetric data with high resolution scan data of terrain or structures above the water extends the usability of the results for a variety of applications, like for example infrastructure maintenance, harbor development, or erosion monitoring.

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