Airborne Laser Scanner with Online Waveform Processing
®
RIEGL VQ-480i
• high-accuracy ranging based on
echo digitization and online
waveform processing
• high laser repetition rate fast data acquisition
The V-Line® Airborne Laser Scanner RIEGL VQ-480i provides
high speed data acquisition using a narrow infrared laser
beam and a fast line scanning mechanism. High-accuracy
laser ranging is based on RIEGL´s unique echo digitization and
online waveform processing, which allows achieving superior measurement results even under adverse atmospheric
conditions, and the evaluation of multiple target echoes.
• multiple target capability unlimited number of targets
The scanning mechanism is based on a fast rotating multi-facet poly-
• perfectly linear scan lines
lines.
• compact, rugged, and
lightweight design
The RIEGL VQ-480i is a very compact and lightweight scanner, moun-
• electrical interfaces for GPS data
string and Sync Pulse (1PPS)
helicopters or UAVs. The instrument requires only one power supply and
• mechanical interface for
IMU mounting
gonal mirror, which provides fully linear, unidirectional and parallel scan
table in any orientation and even under limited space conditions on
provides line scan data via the integrated LAN-TCP/IP interface. The binary data stream can easily be decoded by user-designed software
making use of the available software library RiVLib.
• integrated LAN-TCP/IP interface
Typical applications include
• Corridor Mapping
• Power Line Inspection
• Cultural Heritage Mapping
visit our website
www.riegl.com
Airborne Laser Scanning
Technical Data RIEGL VQ®-480i
Laser Product Classification
Class 1 Laser Product according to IEC60825-1:2007
The following clause applies for instruments delivered into the United States:
Complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 except for deviations pursuant
to Laser Notice No. 50, dated June 24, 2007.
Range Measurement Performance
Measuring Principle
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate PRR 1)
Effective Measurement Rate (meas./sec.) 1) 2)
Max. Measuring Range 3) 4)
natural targets ≥ 20 %
natural targets ≥ 60 %
Max. Operating Flight Altitude AGL 1) 2)
time of flight measurement, echo signal digitization,
online waveform processing, multiple-time-around-processing
50 kHz
25 000
100 kHz
50 000
400 kHz
200 000
550 kHz
275 000
1300 m
2100 m
1050 m
(3450 ft)
950 m
650 m
550 m
500 m
1550 m
1100 m
950 m
800 m
750 m
550 m
450 m
400 m
(2450 ft)
(1800 ft)
(1450 ft)
(1300 ft)
practically unlimited (details on request)
400 m
700 m
300 m
(1000 ft)
Max. Number of Targets per Pulse
200 kHz
100 000
300 kHz
150 000
1) Rounded values.
2) Reflectivity  ≥ 20%, ±30° FOV, additional roll angle ±5°.
3) Typical values for average conditions. Maximum range is specified for flat targets with size in excess of the laser beam diameter, perpendicular angle of incidence, and for
atmospheric visibility of 23 km. In bright sunlight, the max. range is shorter than under overcast sky.
4) Ambiguity to be resolved by post-processing with RiMTA ALS software.
Minimum Range
Accuracy 5) 7)
Precision 6) 7)
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate 1) 8)
Max. Effective Measurement Rate 1)
Echo Signal Intensity
Laser Wavelength
Laser Beam Divergence 9)
Laser Beam Footprint (Gaussian Beam Definition)
5)
6)
Accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured quantity
to its actual (true) value.
Precision, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the
degree to which further measurements show the same result.
Scanner Performance
7)
8)
9)
One sigma @ 150 m range under RIEGL test conditions.
User selectable.
Measured at the 1/e2 points. 0.30 mrad corresponds to an increase of 30 mm of beam diameter
per 100 m distance.
Scanning Mechanism
Field of View (selectable)
Scan Speed (selectable)
Angular Step Width  (selectable)
rotating polygon mirror
60° (+30° / -30°)
10 - 150 scans/sec
0.002° ≤   ≤ 0.36°
Angle Measurement Resolution
Internal Sync Timer
Scan Sync (optional)
0.001°
for real-time synchronized time stamping of scan data
scanner rotation synchronization
between consecutive laser shots
Data Interfaces
Configuration
Scan Data Output
GPS-System
Mechanical Interfaces
Mounting of the Laser Scanner
Mounting of IMU sensor
General Technical Data
Power Supply Input Voltage
Current Consumption
Main Dimensions
Weight
Humidity
Protection Class
Max. Flight Altitude (operating)
Max. Flight Altitude (not operating)
Temperature Range
2
10 m
20 mm
20 mm
up to 550 kHz
up to 275 000 meas./sec. (@ 550 kHz PRR & 60° FOV)
for each echo signal, high-resolution 16 bit intensity information is provided
near infrared
0.3 mrad
31 mm @ 100 m, 75 mm @ 250 m, 150 mm @ 500 m
LAN 10/100/1000 Mbit/sec
LAN 10/100/1000 Mbit/sec, USB 2.0
Serial RS232 interface for data string with GPS-time information,
TTL input for 1PPS synchronization pulse
mounting base block (with 8 x M8 thread inserts and 6x mounting slots)
3 x M6 thread inserts in the front and rear plate
(rigidly coupled with the internal mechanical structure)
18 - 32 V DC
typ. 65 W
360.5 x 206 x 219 mm (L x W x H)
approx. 11.5 kg
max. 80 % non condensing @ +31°C
IP64, dust and splash-proof
16 500 ft (5 000 m) above MSL
18 000 ft (5 500 m) above MSL
-10°C up to +40°C (operation) / -20°C up to +50°C (storage)
Maximum Measurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ®-480i
PRR = 50 kHz
PRR = 50 kHz
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960
880
250
15
20
25
30
35
40
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500
10
4500
70
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
800
720
640
560
480
4
3500
3000
2500
2000
10
150
320
1000
160
80
0
0
90
20
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5000
1360
MTA2
1200
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
4500
80
85
800
720
640
560
480
70
8
3500
3000
2500
2000
10
00
6
150
1500
250
400
320
1000
160
80
20
0 ft
40
30
50
60
70
([DPSOH
([DPSOH
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40
45
50
55
60
35
Flight Altitude AGL
500 ft (152 m)
700 ft (213 m)
1000 ft (305 m)
1800 ft (549 m)
30
4500
50
4000
25
80
90
100
VQ-480i
VQ-480i at
at 10SXOVHVVHFRQG
10SXOVHVVHFRQG
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65
70
75
880
80
85
800
720
640
560
480
3000
2500
2000
ft
1500
70
20
10
15
10
180
00
0f
t
ft
0 ft
400
320
1000
5
240
160
500
80
0
90
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MTA1: no ambiguity / 1 transmitted pulse „in the air”
MTA2: 2 transmitted pulses „in the air”
0
swath width
176 m
246 m
352 m
634 m
3500
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960
MTA2
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1040
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[m]
1520
1200
250
20
0 ft
1280
MTA1
15
ft
0
0
1360
500
10
swath width
246 m
352 m
528 m
880 m
t
1440
750
5
0f
@ visibility 23 km
@ visibility 15 km
@ visibility 8 km
1000
0
VQ-480i at 5SXOVHVVHFRQG
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1250
0
100
PRR = 200 kHz
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Maximum Measurement Range [m]
1500
90
500
90
2500
1750
80
2
240
PRR = 200 kHz
2000
70
4
7DUJHW5HÀHFWLYLW\>@
MTA1: no ambiguity / 1 transmitted pulse „in the air”
MTA2: 2 transmitted pulses „in the air”
2250
60
Flight Altitude AGL
700 ft (213 m)
1000 ft (305 m)
1500 ft (457 m)
2500 ft (762 m)
10
4000
3RLQW'HQVLW\ [SWVP2]
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35
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30
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250
25
12
1120
500
20
50
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1280
880
15
40
30
1440
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Maximum Measurement Range [m]
[m]
1520
960
10
ft
500
1040
750
5
3500
1
PRR = 100 kHz
1000
0
0 ft
2
@ visibility 23 km
@ visibility 15 km
@ visibility 8 km
1250
0
ft
1500
240
2500
1500
t
400
PRR = 100 kHz
1750
0f
swath width
246 m
352 m
528 m
1232 m
6SHHG [NQ]
MTA1: no ambiguity / 1 transmitted pulse „in the air”
2000
00
3
7DUJHW5HÀHFWLYLW\>@
2250
Flight Altitude AGL
700 ft (213 m)
1000 ft (305 m)
1500 ft (457 m)
3500 ft (1078 m)
5
4000
3RLQW'HQVLW\ [SWVP2]
MTA1
750
5
6
1120
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1200
1040
1000
0
5000
1280
1250
0
>IW@
1360
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1500
[m]
1520
1440
ZKLWHPDUEOH
1750
GHFLGXRXVWUHHV
Maximum Measurement Range [m]
2000
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2250
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2500
0
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6SHHG [NQ]
@ visibility 23 km
@ visibility 15 km
@ visibility 8 km
([DPSOH
VQ-480i at 20SXOVHVVHFRQG
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The following conditions are assumed for the Operating Flight Altitude AGL
• ambiguity resolved by multiple-time-around (MTA) processing & flight planning
• target size ≥ laser footprint
• scan angle 60°
• average ambient brightness
• roll angle +/-5°
3
Maximum Measurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ®-480i
PRR = 300 kHz
PRR = 300 kHz
[m]
>IW@
1520
5000
1360
1200
880
800
720
560
480
MTA2
250
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
3500
30
3000
25
2500
2000
500
5
0
0
80
90
ZKLWHSODVWHUZRUNOLPHVWRQH
>IW@
5000
1360
1200
800
720
250
MTA1
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
80
320
3500
3000
2500
2000
160
50
1000
20
500
10
0
0
20
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>IW@
5000
1360
1200
t
00
ft
40
30
50
60
70
90
100
([DPSOH
VQ-480i at 40SXOVHVVHFRQG
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MTA1
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
120
Flight Altitude AGL
300 ft (92 m)
500 ft (152 m)
700 ft (213 m)
1000 ft (305 m)
30
800
720
ft
swath width
106 m
176 m
246 m
352 m
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
3RLQW'HQVLW\ [SWVP2]
880
0
4000
80
85
320
50
80
70
60
10
00
0f
0f
t
t
ft
40
1000
240
160
20
500
80
0
90
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MTA1: no ambiguity / 1 transmitted pulse „in the air”
MTA2: 2 transmitted pulses „in the air”
MTA3: 3 transmitted pulses „in the air”
MTA4: 4 transmitted pulses „in the air”
140
100
1040
960
ZKLWHPDUEOH
250
0
20
30
40
50
60
70
([DPSOH
@ visibility 23 km
@ visibility 15 km
@ visibility 8 km
• ambiguity resolved by multiple-time-around (MTA) processing & flight planning
• target size ≥ laser footprint
• scan angle 60°
80
90
6SHHG [NQ]
VQ-480i at 55SXOVHVVHFRQG
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The following conditions are assumed for the Operating Flight Altitude AGL
4
80
400
MTA2
30
4500
1120
560
MTA3
25
t
1280
640
500
20
0f
0f
1440
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Maximum Measurement Range [m]
[m]
1520
480
15
swath width
106 m
176 m
282 m
457 m
PRR = 550 kHz
MTA4
10
80
13
30
90
750
5
ft
@ visibility 23 km
@ visibility 15 km
@ visibility 8 km
1000
0
VQ-480i at 30SXOVHVVHFRQG
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6SHHG [NQ]
1250
0
100
40
80
2500
1500
50
60
1500
PRR = 550 kHz
1750
90
240
85
MTA1: no ambiguity / 1 transmitted pulse „in the air”
MTA2: 2 transmitted pulses „in the air”
MTA3: 3 transmitted pulses „in the air”
2000
0
4000
7DUJHW5HÀHFWLYLW\>@
2250
80
400
ZKLWHPDUEOH
500
30
3RLQW'HQVLW\ [SWVP2]
880
480
20
70
70
1040
960
Flight Altitude AGL
300 ft (92m)
500 ft (152 m)
800 ft (244 m)
1300 ft (396 m)
90
4500
1120
640
MTA2
100
1280
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Maximum Measurement Range [m]
[m]
1520
560
15
60
([DPSOH
1440
750
10
50
PRR = 400 kHz
MTA3
5
40
30
20
@ visibility 23 km
@ visibility 15 km
@ visibility 8 km
1000
0
ft
15
6SHHG [NQ]
1250
0
ft
1000
160
2500
1500
00
t
240
PRR = 400 kHz
1750
15
00
0f
t
10
320
85
MTA1: no ambiguity / 1 transmitted pulse „in the air”
MTA2: 2 transmitted pulses „in the air”
2000
10
20
7DUJHW5HÀHFWLYLW\>@
2250
70
0f
swath width
176 m
246 m
352 m
528 m
1500
400
ZKLWHPDUEOH
MTA1
35
3RLQW'HQVLW\ [SWVP2]
1040
640
500
50
4000
1120
960
Flight Altitude AGL
500 ft (152 m)
700 ft (213 m)
1000 ft (305 m)
1500 ft (457 m)
40
4500
1280
1000
750
45
1440
2SHUDWLQJ)OLJKW$OWLWXGH$*/
MTA3
1250
ZKLWHSODVWHUZRUNOLPHVWRQH
WHUUDFRWWD
GU\DVSKDOW
FOLIIVVDQGPDVRQU\
1500
FRQVWUXFWLRQFRQFUHWH
1750
GHFLGXRXVWUHHV
Maximum Measurement Range [m]
2000
GU\VQRZ
2250
FRQLIHULRXVWUHHV
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2500
• average ambient brightness
• roll angle +/-5°
100
Dimensional Drawings RIEGL VQ®-480i
5
Example for a profile of scan data processed in MTA zones
1 to 4
Multiple-time-around Data Acquisition and Processing
In time-of-flight laser ranging a maximum unambiguous measurement range exists, which is defined by the laser pulse repetition
rate and the speed of light. In case the echo signal of an emitted
laser pulse arrives later than the emission of the subsequently
emitted laser pulse, the range result becomes ambiguous - an
effect known as „Multiple-Time-around“ (MTA).
The RIEGL VQ-480i allows ranging beyond the maximum unambiguous measurement range using a sophisticated modulation
scheme applied to the train of emitted laser pulses. The dedicated post-processing software RiMTA ALS provides algorithms
for multiple-time-around processing, which automatically assign
definite range results to the correct MTA zones without any further
user interaction required.
Example for a profile of scan data processed in MTA zones 1 to 4
RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH
Riedenburgstraße 48
3580 Horn, Austria
Phone: +43 2982 4211 | Fax: +43 2982 4210
office@riegl.co.at
www.riegl.com
RIEGL USA Inc.
Orlando, Florida | info@rieglusa.com | www.rieglusa.com
RIEGL Japan Ltd.
Tokyo, Japan | info@riegl-japan.co.jp | www.riegl-japan.co.jp
RIEGL China Ltd.
Beijing, China | info@riegl.cn | www.riegl.cn
www.riegl.com
Information contained herein is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility
is assumed by RIEGL for its use. Technical data are subject to change without notice.
Data Sheet, RIEGL VQ-480i, 2015-03-24