Performance Analysis of the Ouster OS1-32 LiDAR sensor for Indoor Mapping

Indoor mapping applications demand high precision and reliability, particularly in environments where accurate spatial representation is required. LiDAR technology has become a key solution for these tasks, providing detailed 3D point clouds for various mapping and analysis purposes. However, the significant cost of traditional LiDAR systems highlights the need to evaluate more affordable alternatives. This study assesses the performance of the Ouster OS1-32 LiDAR sensor for indoor mapping applications in a large auditorium of 196 sq. m at the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iași. The focus is on evaluating the accuracy and reliability of the point cloud generated by the Ouster sensor, comparing it with reference data obtained from the Maptek I-Site 8820 terrestrial laser scanner, a well-established LiDAR system. Both point clouds were acquired from the same scanning position in a controlled environment to ensure a direct comparison, with point cloud registration carried out using the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm. Geometric analysis was conducted through best-fitting planes and section extractions and comparison, with deviations quantified using standard statistical metrics. The results show that the Ouster OS1-32 demonstrates significant potential for providing accurate two-dimensional representations of indoor environments, positioning it as a reliable tool for indoor mapping applications.