Shaping the Future of Mobile Mapping

HAMEL Géomètres-Experts, a company based in western France, recently undertook a large-scale project, scanning 40 municipalities in just 2.5 months using the 3D mobile scanner MS-96 with his car kit system. Objective: Identify surface features and map underground networks with unparalleled precision.

In the corridors of the CRIStAL laboratory (Research Center in Computer Science, Signal and Automation of Lille) at the University of Lille, teams of researchers are working to create simulation environments capable of accurately reproducing the real world, paving the way for safer and smarter autonomous vehicles. We interviewed two researchers, Zaynab EL MAWAS, post-doctoral researcher, and Gérald DHERBOMEZ, CNRS Research Engineer and technical manager of the Lille Robotics and Intelligent Transport Research Platform (PRETIL), about the outlines of this project and the integration of Viametris' MS-96 mobile laser scanner in their research work. Before delving into the details of the work conducted by Zaynab EL MAWAS and Gérald DHERBOMEZ, it is essential to place this project in its broader context.

Forests cover nearly a third of the world’s land area, or about 4.06 billion hectares, according to FAO’s 2020 Global Forest Resources Assessment. However, this cover, which is essential for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and climate regulation, continues to decline, with an estimated loss of 178 million hectares between 1990 and 2020. In response to these challenges, innovative technologies, such as Viametris’ MS-96 mobile 3D scanner, provide solutions for more efficient and sustainable forest management.