Application of a topographic 3D scanner to irrigation research

A topographic three-dimensional scanner is similar to a radiometric total station, but it does not require a reflecting prism, and the optical measurement device is motorized and automated. With this device, very large survey data sets can be collected with moderate effort. In this paper, the applic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Irrigation science 2010-03, Vol.28 (3), p.245-256
Main Authors: Playán, E, Zapata, N, Burguete, J, Salvador, R, Serreta, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-D technology
Agriculture
Aquatic Pollution
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate Change
Elevation
Environment
Irrigation
Life Sciences
Original Paper
Scanners
Soil surfaces
Soil surveys
Soils
Sprinkler irrigation
Surface irrigation
Sustainable Development
Waste Water Technology
Water Industry/Water Technologies
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:A topographic three-dimensional scanner is similar to a radiometric total station, but it does not require a reflecting prism, and the optical measurement device is motorized and automated. With this device, very large survey data sets can be collected with moderate effort. In this paper, the application of a 3D scanner to surface and sprinkler irrigation research is presented and discussed. In surface irrigation, the scanner was successfully applied to (1) the survey of soil surface elevation, including furrowed areas; (2) the determination of flow cross-sections; (3) surveying the location of the advancing front and (4) measuring water surface elevation. The device showed some limitations in the measurement range, which was limited to about 35 m for water surface elevation and 50 m for the detail survey of furrowed areas. In sprinkler irrigation, the scanner was applied to the survey of the sprinkler jet and the irrigation drops during their trajectory. The scanner seemed to fail to survey fine drops, since falling drops were rarely scanned in the vicinity of the sprinkler. Despite the reported limitations, the 3D scanner seems to be destined to occupy a relevant place in the irrigation research laboratory.
ISSN:0342-7188
1432-1319
DOI:10.1007/s00271-009-0185-9