Nottingham, UK, 25 August 2011 – StreetMapper, the vehicle-based laser mapping system, is being used to assess the damage caused by the Japanese earthquake of the 11th March 2011. The mobile mapping system, purchased from Mirukuru and operated by Asia Air Survey, has been used to capture highly detailed 3D survey data. This data will be used to assess the structural damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami, as well as the effects of soil liquefaction – loss of strength from saturated soil – which is an important factor in the disaster hit area where much of the land is reclaimed from the sea.
The Tohoku or Great East Japan earthquake was the most powerful earthquake known to have hit Japan and one of the ten most powerful in the world since modern record keeping began in 1900. The quake then triggered a destructive tsunami with waves of 38.9 metres travelling up to 10 kilometres inland. Asia Air Survey had just taken delivery of StreetMapper, which they have named Geomaster Neo, and StreetMapper Product Manager Chris Cox was onsite at the company’s offices in Kanagawa on the outskirts of Tokyo when the quake struck. Fortunately the building only suffered cosmetic damage and no one was hurt.
Shuhei Hatake, General Manager of Asia Air Survey’s Geospatial product Centre recently reported that they had captured 100 kilometres of survey data, using the system, along the roadways of Sendai – the largest city in the Tohoku region. Air Asia are currently processing the survey data in order to quantify structural damage suffered as a result of earthquake and measure water levels attained by the tsunami evident from stains left of structures and debris elevations. It is hoped that this information will provide a valuable resource for remediation works and from which to assess future vulnerabilities and prepare emegency responses.
StreetMapper, which is a joint development between UK based 3D Laser Mapping and German based guidance and navigation specialist IGI, has been specifically designed for the rapid 3D mapping of highways, runways, railways, infrastructure and buildings. Using vehicle-mounted lasers offering a 360-degree field of view StreetMapper enables high precision mapping to a range of 300 metres, a capacity of 300,000 measurements per second per sensor and recorded accuracies in independent real world projects of better than 10 millimetres.
Air Asia Survey purchased the StreetMapper system from 3D Laser Mapping’s local distributor and partner Mirukuru.
StreetMapper has been developed by UK based 3D Laser Mapping in conjunction with German based guidance and navigation specialist IGI mbH. The system employs the latest laser scanning technology for improved field performance and accuracy, precision navigation including a solution for reduced GPS coverage in urban areas, combined with a flexible, modular configuration and increased ease of use and deployment. For further information see www.streetmapper.com
3D Laser Mapping is a global developer of laser scanning solutions for sectors such as mapping, mining and manufacturing. 3D Laser Mapping specialises in integrating laser scanning hardware with their own software and peripherals to create solutions at the cutting edge of technology. Through a worldwide network of distributors 3D Laser Mapping is able to provide frontline support and service for a growing international client base. 3D Laser Mapping is also the Riegl Premier Distributor for the UK, Ireland and sub-Saharan Africa and the leading distributor of TerraScan software. For further information see www.3dlasermapping.com
Asia Air Survey is a measurement, technology development and spatial information solution company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. Since they successfully developed the world’s first Analytical Aerial Triangulation system in 1960, AAS has been dedicated to developing technology with an innovative approach. For more than five decades, AAS provides wide range of field solutions, such as disaster prevention planning of river erosion and torrent control, road ledger, fixed assets valuation, city planning, environmental impact assessment and forest planning etc. For further information see www.ajiko.co.jp/en/
Mirukuru is a technical consultant company for 3D measurement. A business partner of 3DLM and IGI in the Japanese market their technical background is Photogrammetry and Laser measurement. Mirukuru is also working in the 3D City model business. The achievement of Mirukuru always expands since the company establishment in 2003.