Integration of Laser Scanning and Close-range Photogrammetry – the Last Decade and Beyond

In last decade, we have witnessed an increased number of publications related to systems that combine laser scanning and closerange photogrammetry technologies in order to address the challenges posed by application fields as diverse as industrial, automotive, space exploration and cultural heritage to name a few. The need to integrate those technologies is driven by resolution, accuracy, speed and operational requirements, which can be optimized using general techniques developed in the area of multisensor and information fusion theory. This paper addresses an aspect critical to multi-sensor and information fusion, i.e., the estimation of systems uncertainties. The understanding of the basic theory and best practices associated to laser range scanners, digital photogrammetry, processing, modelling are in fact fundamental to fulfilling the requirements listed above in an optimal way. In particular, two categories of applications are covered, i.e., information augmentation and uncertainty management. Results from both space exploration and cultural heritage applications are shown.