rangeskaneerimine

Rangeskaneerimine is the process of measuring distances to objects and surfaces and creating spatial representations by means of active remote-sensing devices. It combines signals that are emitted by a sensor with the detection of their reflections to derive range, shape and position data, often resulting in three-dimensional point clouds, range images or digital elevation models. The term is used in Estonian technical literature to describe techniques that map the physical environment for surveying, mapping, robotics and related fields.

Principles and methods

Most rangeskanerimise systems rely on emitting a signal and measuring the time taken for it to return or its phase shift. LiDAR uses laser pulses and time-of-flight or phase-based ranging to compute distances with high spatial resolution. Radar systems emit radiofrequency pulses and often employ frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) or pulsed ToF to determine range, speed and other properties of targets. Sonar uses acoustic waves to map underwater environments. In practice, data from multiple sensors can be fused with optical imagery to improve accuracy and create detailed 3D representations.

Data products and processing

Ranged data are typically produced as point clouds, range images, or gridded digital elevation or depth models. Processing involves filtering noise, aligning successive scans (registration), correcting for sensor motion, and integrating with imagery or photogrammetric data. Advanced workflows may include semantic labeling, surface reconstruction, and multi-sensor fusion.

Applications and limitations

Rangeskaneerimine is widely used in autonomous vehicles, aerial and ground surveying, forestry inventories, urban planning, maritime and underwater mapping, and defense. Limitations include sensitivity to weather, occlusions, signal interference, limited range or resolution in certain conditions, and high data volumes requiring substantial processing resources.