Proper quality assurance and quality control procedures are essential to ensuring that your mobile lidar project delivers all that you and your clients need. These procedures run throughout all phases of the project including project planning, pre-acquisition in the field, during acquisition, post processing while still in the field and feature extraction.

1. Pre-Acquisition Checklist
Quality Assurance: QA means putting a plan or
process in place to prevent failure. QA is about
refining a proactive process for success.
Quality Control: The steps followed to
deliver a product that is free of
defect. QC steps are reactive to
defects that might be found
in the process.
Check the weather
Do a physical check of all equip-
ment from the tires to the
sensor. Make sure equipment is
fully operational, installed
and/or ready
Check that all paperwork is valid and current
Review the route to make
sure driver and operator
are in sync
VALIDATE:
>Sensor function – Ensure
sensor powers up and all
components are functioning
>White balance the cameras
capture and review video under
ambient light conditions, and
adjust camera exposure
settings as necessary
>Ensure data can record to hard
drive and ample space is
available
Run through safety plan
VALIDATE BEFORE LEAVING SITE:
>Trajectory - Ensure that GPS/INS
solution is within tolerance to meet
the required specifications
>Imagery – Review imagery and ensure
it is usable for the intended purpose
>Coverage – Ensure lidar (and imagery)
completely cover the areas of interest
for the project
Data Collection QC Measures
Post Collection Checklist
>Constant communication
between driver and sensor
operator to ensure consistent
collection
>Adjust driving as traffic and
project collection warrant (do not drive next to a
large truck, adjusting location in the lane as
needed, etc.)
>Stop sensor collection at long
stop lights
>Monitor weather, lighting &
road conditions
Back up data after collection is complete
Project Planning Checklist
Feature Extraction Checklist
Do a thorough location scout to understand
site conditions and layout
Plan the drive for best quality result
ID GPS base station locations and confirm
their condition and suitability
Ensure all registration points are in place
along the route prior to collection
Create a safety plan
Validate point cloud to survey control
Review drive lines for relative alignment
“Drive” the project to seek any irregularities
QA/QC GUIDELINES
FOR MOBILE LIDAR
PROJECTS
EARTH
SKY
SPACE
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