Accuracy Evaluation of Terrestrial LIDAR and Multibeam Sonar Systems Mounted on a Survey Vessel

This research provides a performance test of terrestrial light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and multibeam echo sounder scanners integrated with Global Navigation Satellite System/Inertial Navigation System positioning and orientation on a survey vessel platform. To measure the accuracy of the data, experiments were designed to allow the LIDAR and sonar scanners to acquire scans of a control target that extended above and below the water surface. The scans were acquired under normal and induced conditions expected in a marine survey environment, such as variations in speed, range, motion, and orientation. SD, root-mean-square error (RMSE), and mean were computed across all data sets for each experiment. Horizontal RMSE values of 0.06 and 0.03 m were achieved for the LIDAR and sonar data, respectively. Vertical RMSE results of 0.04 m were found for both data types. These results were comparable with previous mobile mapping research involving similar systems. Contributing uncertainty and error sources were analyzed and discussed.