Laser scanning - surveying and mapping agencies are using a new technique for the derivation of digital terrain models

A user group of the Surveying and Mapping Agencies (SMA) of the Federal Sta tes of Germany tested several datasets for the derivation of high-quality D igital Terrain Models (DTM) which were collected by laser scanning. Since t he results were very promising, a standard procedure for verification and h andling of the data was proposed. Because the ground points that are delive red by the contractor are the result of an automated filtering process, fin al editing is necessary to correct remaining misclassifications. This can b e carried out using photogrammetric stereo models or through comparison of the results with large scale topographic maps. Both approaches lead to a hi gh-quality DTM with much shorter production time and less costs as compared to the photogrammetric methods used up to now. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.