OSU PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP: Reality Capture

Event Details:

Name:           Introduction to Reality Capture
Date:             September 11 – 12, 2025
Location:      Owen Hall, Room 110, Oregon State University
Address:       1501 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331
Cost:              TBD

Welcome to the Intro to Reality Capture Workshop!

Explore the intricacies of laser scanning technology with our comprehensive workshop designed to equip participants with foundational knowledge and practical skills. This workshop is perfect for professionals and students aiming to deepen their understanding of how laser scanning technology works and how to apply it in day-to-day surveying practice. Attendees will perform hands-on exercises with laser scanners and software.

What to Expect:

• Fundamentals of lidar systems: Learn how laser scanners operate, the capabilities and limitations of different platforms, and how this technology can support a diverse range of interesting applications.
• How to plan and execute lidar surveys: Gain hands on experience planning and conducting a field exercise to collect laser scan data and associated survey control.
• Registration and Georeferencing: Register multiple scans together with appropriate links to survey control to tie data to the National Spatial Reference System.
• Data Quality control: Explore how error sources impact data, how to apply the ASPRS geospatial data standards, and how to identify common issues with data.
• Modeling and analysis: Learn how to extract measurements, perform ground filtering, generate digital terrain models, and create contour maps from point cloud data.

Curriculum:

Day 1: 

• Introduction to Laser Scanning: How laser scanners operate, the capabilities and limitations of different platforms, and what applications they support.
• Survey Planning: Overview of considerations for conducting field surveys using laser scanning.
• Registration and Georeferencing: Overview of methods to georeferenced laser scan surveys and tie to the modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).
• Field Exercise: Hands on training operating laser scanning and executing a small topographic mapping field exercise.

Day 2: 

• Data Processing and Analysis: Workflows to efficiently process laser scan data for common procedures such as down-sampling, noise filtering, ground classification, topographic modeling, and 3D modeling.
• Error Sources: Understanding primary error sources in laser scanning and how they can impact data quality.
• Quality control: Discussion of QC procedures throughout the laser scan workflow and how to utilize the ASPRS Geospatial Data Standards.
• Future of reality capture: Exploring trends and opportunities in reality capture including pocket lidar device.
• Data Processing: Hands-on data processing exercises to 1) geo-reference laser scan data and 2) generation of topographic mapping products.

Logistics:

Refreshments: Coffee will be provided to keep you energized and focused throughout the workshop.

Meals: A light breakfast of fruit and pastries will be provided followed by a buffet style lunch on both days of this workshop.

Parking Guidance: It is best to park on campus, City of Corvallis street parking is heavily monitored.

• Daily parking passes can either be bought online or via one of the many parking pay stations on campus.
• See OSU’s Visitor Parking page for maps and information.