Static laser scanners are sophisticated instruments that operate much like high-speed total stations and collect lidar point clouds from a static location. Typically, the lidar sensor is mounted on a tripod mount and is a fully portable, laser-based ranging and imaging system. These systems can collect lidar point clouds inside buildings as well as exteriors.

Lidar technology naturally lends itself to surveying and mapping applications such as construction verification, geological data collection, and mine planning. In response to advances in lidar technology and increasingly affordable prices, industries and sectors have found yet more applications for terrestrial laser scanners.

Three types of scanning systems are employed in ground-based lidar:

• Panoramic scanners rotate 360 degrees around the mounting axis, and scan 180 degrees vertically to provide seamless and total coverage of the surroundings.
• Single axis scanners also rotate 360 degrees but are limited to a 50-60 vertical swath.
• Camera scanners point in a fixed direction with limited angular range both horizontally and vertically.
  
  

​Ground-based lidars can also be classified according to operational range:

• Short-range systems operate at ranges of 50 – 100 meters with panoramic scanning, and are often used to map building interiors or small objects.
• Medium range systems operate at distances of 150 – 250 meters, also achieving millimeter accuracies in high definition surveying and 3D modeling applications, such as bridge and dam monitoring.
• Long range systems can measure at distances of up to one kilometer and are frequently used in open-pit mining and topographic survey applications.

Acquisition Platforms

• Stationary platform such as a tripod or mast

Example Applications

• Surveying in Open-Pit Mining
• Measurement of Bulk Materials
• Building Interior and Exterior Mapping
• As-Built Surveying
• Small Scale-As Built Control Panel Surveys for Utilities and Pump Stations
• Bridge Mapping
• Dam Deformation
• Airport Clearance Surveys