3DSurs – An Example of the Development of Mobile Mapping Systems in China

Since the early 1990s mobile mapping techniques have been developed for the rapid acquisition of data along highways and streets. A number of systems have been successfully tested and applied to numerous projects. China started research and development of mobile mapping in the mid-1990s and several systems reached their application stage in the 2000s. This paper reviews developments in mobile mapping techniques in China and overseas. In particular, our focus is on the 3DSurs system developed by the authors of this paper. First, the system is described in detail, including sensors, coordinate systems, and data processing. Then theoretical error analysis of the system is discussed, followed by field experimental studies.