Road Construction Earthwork Volume Calculation Using Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning
Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 2
Abstract
Terrestrial laser-scanning (TLS) technology can be used to create a detailed model before and after construction to determine earthwork quantities. Cost-effective implementation of this technology requires that field operations are planned to efficiently acquire sufficient scan data and that data processing is able to filter out off-terrain points to provide an accurate bare earth model. This research developed a workflow for using TLS on road projects and created a customized computer program with a graphical user interface. Scans taken before and after construction were planned using the best available terrain model. Point cloud data were converted to station/offset coordinates for viewing cross-sections and generating the surface. An algorithm was developed, based on the finite element method, to create a surface through the lowest scan points. This surface was converted to a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) file, and earthwork quantities were calculated by comparing the TIN of the original terrain to that of the finished project.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this project was provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation through the Illinois Center for Transportation.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 2 • May 2012
Pages: 96 - 99
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 13, 2011
Accepted: Nov 17, 2011
Published online: Nov 19, 2011
Published in print: May 1, 2012
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