Optical Trick Inspired By Blue Morpho Butterfly

http://www.fastcompany.com/biomimicry/never-before-seen-optical-trick-creates-ultra-secure-cash

The next generation of battleship weapons - laser cannons?

In a new research project the MK-38 25 mm machine gun will be combined with a solid-state laser weapon. This new technology can be useful against the small ships and drone attacks in the future, because the invention of this unique defense system provides a huge improvement in the field of next generation weapons.

The next MK-38 can be used in three different ways. First, the machine gun function (180 rounds per minute) can destroy the enemies within the range of 2000 yards. The second method is the laser function; the canon can fire of “different levels of laser energy???”. I don’t know, what does it means exactly, but I’m sure, I don’t want to stand at the front of the cannon during the test phase of the weapons. J Today, officially we can burn small objects (with 10 kilowatts maximum energy) or mosquitoes with laser…maybe there are some secret developments in the background like the Death Star Superlaser in StarWars. The third function of the new MK-38 means the combination of the first and the second techniques: the laser can identify and lock on a target for the machinegun. I think this third “combination method” of the weapon should be as a basic attribute in the first function. My question is: Why would I use only the machinegun function? I have an integrated laser as well, which could help during the target selection….I don’t understand. To summarize: I think, this “new” invention tries to upgrade the previous machinegun technologies and unfortunately, we should wait again for the real laser cannon news.

source: wired.com

Mount Rushmore in 3-D

Great work! Info: http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/metrology-article/international-team-scans-entire-mt-rushmore-3-d.html
I like this picture. :)


Source:www.qualitydigest.com

Laser Scanning - A Guide to Good Practice

I want to share this link:

http://guides.archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/g2gp/LaserScan_Toc

In this guide you will find the significant information of archaeological documentation with laser scanner systems. Other survey methods were introduced in this tutorial as well. Have fun! :)

International LIDAR Mapping Forum 2011

Great event in New Orleans!

"ILMF 2011 will showcase more than 50 leading companies in this rapidly growing global market. Exhibitors include the LIDAR and complementary sensor manufacturers, survey service companies, data processing, GIS and management specialists and the latest mobile mapping vehicles."

info and source: http://www.lidarmap.org/ILMF.aspx

Topographic Laser Ranging and Scanning: Principles and Processing - Book Review

Reviewed by
Jason A. Tullis, Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences, University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

"Topographic Laser Ranging and Scanning: Principles and Processing targets a multidisciplinary environmental research audience with a detailed discussion of topographic lidar, including its history, technology, calibration, quality, and management as well as a variety of techniques for lidar-assisted information extraction. This book is organized into 19 chapters, with 29 contributors from academic, commercial, and governmental organizations in the United States, Finland, Canada, Germany, Australia, Austria, China, France, and the United Kingdom. A signifi cant number of grayscale fi gures, tables, and equations are complemented by chapter-level references, 12 color fi gures, an index, and a key to abbreviations. The 19 chapters are logically organized into four parts...."

more information and source: http://www.asprs.org/publications/pers/2009journal/october/review.pdf

Lidar Analysis in ArcGIS 9.3.1 for Forestry Applications

Great new tutorial! If you work with ArcGIS and LiDAR datasets, you must download this document!

http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/lidar-analysis-forestry.pdf

Mapping Ancient Civilization - New York Times

"For a quarter of a century, two archaeologists and their team slogged through wild tropical vegetation to investigate and map the remains of one of the largest Maya cities, in Central America. Slow, sweaty hacking with machetes seemed to be the only way to discover the breadth of an ancient urban landscape now hidden beneath a dense forest canopy...."



Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/science/11maya.html

Interesting article in NYTimes!

Workshop I - Laser Scanner Systems for Archeological Surveys - CAA

"This workshop pretends to divulgate information on The State of the Art of the laser scanner technology as far as the software and hardware is concerned when solving the usual problems encountered on arqueological surveys.

To this end, we are limiting ourselves to the description of the features offered by a Laser Scanner system, model IMAGER 5006i, manufacturer by Z+F in Germany as well as the software programs JRC Reconstructor and Cloud Cube.

The problems we will focus on are the following:

• Logistic and portability of the equipment, in the concern that field work sites are not always easy to access
• Need of facing small and big objects with high accuracy

The IMAGER 5006i laser scanner concentrates its power on the following characteristics:

1. Very high speed in data acquisition combined with high resolution on the captured files. This feature makes it valid either for surveys of great targets at very far distances or when we are surveying small pieces at close range.
2. The system is very easy to set up and handle. The equipment can be configured without requiring any external connections. This feature is tremendously appreciated as far as the arqueological field work is concerned. Since the batteries, the data storage unit and the file configuration processor are part of the unit, it is not necessary to connect or use any other external complement to perform the data capture. This feature facilitates the work in scenarios which can be uncomfortable, far from urban areas and often of difficult access.
3. Capacity for data acquisition when working with targets coloured close to black.
4. Merging of images captured using the complementary camera with the scanner acquired data, in a integral and automatic fashion, for each of the scenes involved.

With regard to the software programs, we will discuss them in the same manner as we will discuss the hardware and we will try to demonstrate the tools which are used to solve the most common problems in handling the data acquired with the laser scanner: large files corresponding the huge clouds of points within the Auto Cad environment; how the final products are obtained, including profiles, cross sections, contours and volumes; all of them directly on DXF format or on some other CAD compatible systems.

Finally we will explain the working procedures and proper tools to be used to obtain the final products mentioned above: profiles, volumes, slopes, DTM, surface comparisons, and how to obtain the different results on DXF files or on files which are compatible with other CAD systems, in concrete we will discuss the following characteristics:

• Possibility of registering different files without requiring man-made marks, only using natural marks.
• Work aids to digitize plans, profiles and cross sections in general, starting with the cloud of points; all within the Auto CAD environment.
• Automatic generation of a wire mesh, over flats or curved surfaces by using average cross lines or cross planes.
• Integration of different data capture files in only one using a common reference system .
• Work aids to be used in the generation of a wire mesh.
• Registration of different survey files when the target has been changed in position or location while the scan files were being taken."

source: www.caa2010.org

IP-S2 - High Accuracy Mobile Mapping System

"The IP-S2 provides fast, safe GIS data collection at a cost well below conventional ground mapping methods and it has flexible options for mounting on a vehicle.

Features include:

• High definition mobile 3D mapping
• Dual-frequency GNSS tracking
• High-accuracy 6-axis IMU integration
• Odometry inputs from on-board vehicle CAN bus or wheel encoders
• Supports mutliple laser scanner models for operation and application flexibility"

source: http://www.theppigroup.com/campaign.html?campaign=IPS2

The Handyscan 3D Technology

„The first self-positioning and only truly portable handheld laser scanners
The Handyscan 3D line, by Creaform, has revolutionized the industry by accelerating and simplifying scanning processes, particularly for the design, manufacturing, and inspection of all types of parts and assemblies…..”

Looks like a laser gun in star wars…. :)

source: http://www.nosco.com.sg/handyscan_3d

David Laserscannar and Lego Technic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32JhAYTfep4

Nice work! :)

How robots think

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/03/how-robots-think.ars/4

News: Topcon’s GLS-1500 Laser Scanner

„The GLS-1500 features include:

· 30,000 precise points per second. 10 times faster data collection than previous models;

· Precise Scan Technology for industry-leading clean point cloud data;

· Lens array optics technology to maintain distance accuracy from 1-150 meters;

· Additional ranging past 330 meters;

· Onboard scan control software stores scan data and images to a standard SD card for easy download;

· Eye-safe and invisible Class 1 laser."

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/topconrsquos-gls-1500-laser-scanner-speeds-point-cloud-collection,1184717.shtml#ixzz0h0ntcxhm

(Photo: Business Wiere)

Airborne Laser Testbed Successful in Lethal Intercept Experiment

"The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile. The experiment, conducted at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast, serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration for directed energy technology. The ALTB is a pathfinder for the nation’s directed energy program and its potential application for missile defense technology....."






source and more information: http://www.mda.mil/news/10news0002.html

News: DAVID Laserscanner v2.5.1

New version of low cost DAVID 3D scanner is arrived! It is only 400$, good solution to scan small objects!
Popular low-cost 3D scanner: http://www.david-laserscanner.com/laserscanner.com/



If you want to make alone a 3D scanner, here is a good example (homemade laser scanners): http://www.muellerr.ch/engineering/overview.html

The International LiDAR Mapping Forum 2010 - Denver, USA

"How LiDAR is being used in Haiti

A new last minute addition to the International LiDAR Mapping Forum conference program will include two presentations on how LiDAR is being used in Haiti to assess the damage from the recent earthquake and the future probability of subsequent earthquakes.

Imagery of the region damaged by the M 7 Haiti earthquake, including high-resolution photography and airborne LiDAR, has revealed a variety of ground failure that resulted from shaking. Surprisingly, the Enriquillo Fault seems to have not ruptured at the ground surface, so the negative result obtained from imagery has significant implications. The USGS issued a statement, based on imagery analysis, that because it is clear that the rupture of the Enriquillo Fault was clearly farther west than Port-au-Prince, and because rupture was buried deep on the fault, there is a significant risk of not only regular aftershocks, but also the threat of a subsequent large event that could occur even closer to Port-au-Prince. The probability of one or more subsequent earthquakes of M 7 or greater increased by about 3% for the 30 days following 21 January 2010. Although this is a low probability, it would be a potentially very high impact event. High-resolution imagery was crucial to this assessment." - source: www.lidarmap.org

Program: http://www.lidarmap.org/conference/ILMF10_ConferenceProgram.pdf

New Book: Airborne and Terrestrial Laser Scanning

"Written by a team of international experts, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the major applications of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning. The book focuses on principles and methods and presents an integrated treatment of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning technology."


link: http://www.librario.com/2472

MakerBot - affordable, opne source 3D printer

The result of laser scanner documentation is mostly a digital 3D model. You can make physical replicas of the digital models with this open source 3D printer! Very good concept on this website!

http://www.makerbot.com/

The new Trimble CX scanner

The announcement was made at World of Concrete 2010.

This high-accuracy sensor captures more than 50,000 position points per second - enough data to record the details of a target's shape, size and position.

More Information: http://trl.trimble.com/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-479635/022504-111_Trimble_CX_DS_1109_LR.pdf