Critical analysis of instruments and measurement techniques of the shape of trees: Terresrial Laser scanner and Structured Light scanner

In this paper is described the starting of a research activity to define measurement tecniques and instruments for analyzing the shape of an olive tree in order to obtain the most interesting geometric characteristics, such as stem diameter, branch direction and crown volume. After an introduction to possible non-contact measurement systems applied till now to trees, we have choose two of them: one based on laser scanner and the other based on structured light. Both as been used to performed measurements on a test case: an olive tree. Data processing and comparision is illustrated.