Using laser scanners for modeling and analysis in architecture, engineering, and construction

Laser scanners are rapidly gaining acceptance as a tool for three dimensional (3D) modeling and analysis in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) domain. Since 2001, our cross-disciplinary research team has been developing new methods for analyzing and modeling laser scanner data, with an emphasis on applications in the AEC domain. This paper provides an overview of our group's recent research efforts. Our work includes improving our understanding of the low-level aspects of laser scanner data, using comparison methods to analyze laser scanner data and derived models, and developing modeling and recognition algorithms to support the automatic creation of building models from laser scan data.