How to Utilize the Angle Gate in Rock Desktop for Optimal LiDAR Scanning

Angle Gate in Rock Desktop for precision LiDAR scanning. Learn to adjust scan angles and fields of view, understand the impact of terrain and high-rise objects, and combine the angle gate with the range gate for high-quality

Navigating the Angle Gate in Rock Desktop allows for a flexible, tailored, and quality LiDAR scanning experience. Understanding how to adjust the scan angle and the field of view significantly enhances the value of your final Point Cloud Las. Let's dive into the steps to effectively use the angle gate.

Understanding the Role of Angle Gate

Key Insight: The scan angle greatly affects the quality of data. As you move closer to Nadir (directly below the sensor to the ground), the data quality improves, and as the field of view widens, data quality decreases.

Hence, it's crucial to set the right scan angle for capturing high-quality data, which could vary based on your specific needs such as capturing high-rise objects or ground-level details.

Using the Angle Gate: Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Colorize the Point Cloud

    • Start by clicking the eyedropper in the top right corner of the angle gate section. This action colorizes the point cloud in the visualizer by the field of view angle, making it easy to see overlap.
  2. Adjust the Scan Angle

    • Use the blue slider to adjust the endpoints of the minimum and maximum angles, or manually type in the desired minimum and maximum degree angles of the field of view that you wish to produce in the final Point Cloud.

Callout: The recommended default for the R3 Pro lidar system is -30° to +30°, totaling a 60° field of view. The smaller the field of view, the higher the overlap, and the higher quality data will be produced.

  1. Consider High Objects and Varying Terrain

    • Sometimes, it's crucial to widen the field of view to capture taller objects like transmission power lines or tall trees. This adjustment is required because the overlap calculated during mission planning considers the height above ground level (AGL), and high-rise objects or varied terrain may not be covered adequately. If missing data is detected in the final Point Cloud, you can always return to Rock Desktop and increase the scan angle.
  2. Use the Angle Gate and Range Gate Together

    • It's important to use the scan angle in conjunction with the range gate. By controlling the scan angle and the total distance and range from the sensor, you can optimize and capture the highest quality data for your scan.

Tip: Always revisit your settings in Rock Desktop to adjust the scan angle and range gate for optimized data capture, especially in unique environments with varied terrain or high-rise structures.

By mastering the use of the angle gate in Rock Desktop, you are setting yourself up for high-quality, accurate LiDAR data capture. Happy scanning!