V-Line Technology for Mining Applications:
Long Range Terrestrial Laser Scanner RIEGL VZ-1000

The latest result of our R&D efforts is a high-performance V-Line Terrestrial Laser Scanner for long range applications. The new RIEGL VZ-1000 is especially qualified for surveying in open pit mining.

The new RIEGL VZ-1000 offers a very long range up to 1200m, in combination with high-accuracy and high-precision, while still operating in Laser Class 1. Obviously, considering its operational area, the instrument is dust and splash-proof.
Target extraction technique, based on RIEGL’s unique echo digitization and online waveform processing, offers multiple target detection for each single laser shot, and consequently allows achieving superior measurement capability even under adverse atmospheric conditions and excellent laser-penetration of vegetation.
RIEGL’s  Manager International Sales and mining expert, Thomas Gaisecker, reports, “Bad visibility due to dust is a matter of fact in mining. Furthermore, in open pit mining often large, disused areas are covered with vegetation. Our V-Line technology allows to measure better through dust, and obstructive vegetation can be penetrated, respectively. So what you get is really reliable measurement data.”

High Performance meets User Friendliness


As a consequence of its light weight and the integrated Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for stand-alone operation without computer, the RIEGL VZ-1000 can easily be operated by a single person in the field. An internal storage capacity of up to 32 Gbyte and the optional add-on rechargeable battery support straightforward, fast and efficient data acquisition.
“The VZ-1000 is more than just a high performance measuring instrument for various surveying and monitoring applications in highly demanding environments. It is especially designed for these requirements. For example, the water and dirt resistant keypad with large buttons – there’s no problem to control the instrument even with wet and dirty hands, or while wearing gloves”, Gaisecker added.

Integrated inclination sensors, laser plummet, and compass provide additional data, enlarging the possibilities of data processing. An integrated GPS receiver, with antenna, allows smooth integration in mobile scanning applications; and for combined photogrammetric applications, the scanner can be equipped with a high-resolution digital camera.

Tested in the Field

The Czech service provider, Georeal spol. s.r.o, based in Plzen, and specialized in surveying and mining, has been using a RIEGL LMS-Z420i laser scanner for more than 5 years. Dr. Tomas Vybiral, head of photogrammetry and GIS sector, was one of the first to test the new VZ-1000 in their actual mining project.

“We used this new scanner to test its potential on a real order, in the open-cast quarry of Kaznejov, on an exempt (control) day to survey. As main mine surveyor for this customer, I’m responsible for the whole surveying documentation, which is demanded by state authorization. What we need: fast, high-accuracy data acquisition as a basis for further processing. The main output from point-clouds is volume calculations and cartography actualization.”

The Kaznejov site is one of the largest kaolin open-cast quarries in Central Europe, in a region with a 150 year history, in mining activities of kaolin, clay and coal. The longest distances to be measured are about 1.5 km’s; the total surface (including converting plant) is approx. 1.6 sq km’s.

“The new scanner works extremely fast and efficiently, and it is so easy to use. There is no doubt, the VZ-1000 is our way to minimize time and costs for outside measurements – important for our customers with many quarries in our country. Furthermore, this new equipment would be an optimal solution for the development and expansion of certain projects for which the VZ-1000 is better suited than the LMS-Z420i scanner that we've been using so far.”,
Tomas Vybiral commented on the new V-Line laser scanner.

About Georeal spol. s r.o.
www.georeal.cz

GEOREAL spol. s r.o. was founded in 1991, in the Czech Republic. Its Business focuses on land surveying, and development of the land registry for the Czech Republic mainly. However, GEOREAL also provides services in other EU countries. Since 1995, the company has gained experience in the reallocation of land and in digital photogrammetry. Other significant activities of the company include data collection, and development of geographic information systems (GIS), and 3D visualization and modeling. To better serve its customers, GEOREAL has invested in the most up-to-date terrestrial laser scanning and aerial photography equipment, and the latest software and hardware in the fields of land surveying, aerial photography, photogrammetry, and GIS.

Official Product Release at INTERGEO 2010

At INTERGEO 2010, in Cologne, you will have the possibility to get informed about the well-proven VZ-400 and to have a look at the first results and examples acquired with the VZ-1000.
Looking forward to meeting you in hall 11.1, booth # 1F.136!