Three dimensional surface model from laser scanning of proving ground road

Abstract

This project goal is to creating a 3D surface model from scanning of an existing road proving ground for vehicle testing. The road surface has several different kinds of deviation features intended to test the vehicle for its stability and durability. An innovative laser scanning system, with two laser measurement sensors, has been designed, built, and used for this purpose. The two laser scanners, working in two mutually perpendicular planes XZ and YZ, scan and record distances and angles to the surface. This measured data is converted to a 3D point cloud data set using a scan matching algorithm. The point cloud data, thus obtained, is processed with special algorithms to construct the 3D model of the scanned road surface. The resulted precise 3D model of the road surface can be used for virtual simulation of the vehicles' performance and accelerated test. Education impact of this project is usage of the created model for simulation of the testing vehicle in automotive laboratory and research activities. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.