Scanlines with Rock Mapper & PointStudio

Intro

Rock Mapper allows the collection of coloured 3D Point Clouds OR Textured Meshes using the iPad Pro's built-in LiDAR sensor and camera array. These LiDAR scans can be georeferenced right within the app. Moreover, the user can then add structural measurements with freely configurable structure attributes to them. This makes Rock Mapper a great tool for geotechnical data capture and true 3D scanline mapping. 

Workflow

Capture rock wall or rock face as 3D Scan LiDAR in Rock Mapper. 

2. Georeference LiDAR Scan

Use a drive direction laser or any other known reference point (aka survey point) on the rock face to georeference the LiDAR Scan right within the Rock Mapper app. The scan is then available in a fully georeferenced format and stored as [FaceID]_pointcloud.csv or [FaceID]_lidar_mesh.obj file.

3. Collect Discontinuity Data and assign to LiDAR Scan

Rock Mapper allows to add Structural Measurements to a LiDAR Scan. For any Structural Measurement, so called Structure Attributes can be included as well (such as joint fill, joint roughness, etc). Structure Attributes are freely configurable in the Settings.  All Structural Measurements assigned to the LiDAR Scan are stored in the [FaceID]_structures_planes_3D.csv file. 

3. Use Query Scanline feature in PointStudio

Import the LiDAR Scan and [FaceID]_structures_planes_3D.csv into Maptek's PointStudio and open the Query Scanline tool. PointStudio will then allow you to generate a Scanline Report based on the provided structural data. Additionally, the user can also generate stereonets for further analysis. 

😊 Big shout out to Jason for providing the details and screenshots.