History of Laser Scanning, Part 2: The Later Phase of Industrial and Heritage Applications

The second part of this article examines the transition of midrange terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)–from applied research to applied markets. It looks at the crossover of technologies; their connection to broader developments in computing and microelectronics; and changes made based on application. The shift from initial uses in on-board guid- ance systems and terrain mapping to tripod-based survey for as-built documentation is a main focus. Origins of terms like digital twin are identified and, for the first time, the earliest examples of cultural heritage (CH) based midrange TLS scans are shown and explained. Part two of this history of laser scanning is a comprehensive analysis upto the year 2020.