Topo-Bathymetric Airborne Laser Scanning Systemwith Online Waveform Processing and Full Waveform Recording

RIEGL VQ-880-GH®

••designed for combined topographic
and bathymetric airborne survey••green laser scanner with up to700kHz measurement rate••IR laser scanner with up to 279kHz
measurement rate and improved
ranging performance••high accuracy ranging based onecho digitization and online waveform processing with multiple-target
capability••multiple-time-around processing
for straightforward mission planningand operation••concurrent full waveform output for
all measurements for subsequent
full waveform analysis for the greenchannel••integrated inertial navigation system••up to two integrated digitalcameras••form factor with reduced height
optimized for helicopter integrations

The RIEGL® VQ-880-GH is a fully integrated airborne laser scanningsystem for combined topographic and bathymetric surveying. The
system is offered with integrated and factory-calibrated high-end
GNSS/IMU system and up to two cameras. The design allows flexible application of these components to meet specific requirements.
Complemented by a RIEGL data recorder, the RIEGL VQ-880-GH
LIDAR system can be installed on various platforms in a straightforward way.
The RIEGL VQ-880-GH carries out laser range measurements for high resolution surveying of underwater topography with a narrow, visible green
laser beam, emitted from a powerful pulsed laser source. Subject toclarity, at this particular wavelength the laser beam penetrates water
enabling measurement of submerged targets.
The distance measurement is based on the time-of-flight measurementwith very short laser pulses and subsequent echo digitization and online
waveform processing. To handle target situations with most complex
multiple echo signals, beside the online waveform processing the digitized echo waveforms can be stored on the RIEGL solid state data
recorder for subsequent off-line waveform analysis.
The laser beam is deflected in a circular scan pattern and hits the water
surface at a nominally constant incidence angle.
The VQ-880-GH comprises a high precision inertial measurement sensor for subsequent precise estimation of the instrument’s exact location and orientation. Two high-resolution digital cameras and an additional infrared laser scanner are integrated to supplement the data
gained by the green laser scanner.
The rugged internal mechanical structure together with the dust- undsplash water proof housing enables long-term operation on airborne
platforms.

Typical applications include••coastline and shallow water mapping••acquiring base data for flood prevention••measurement for aggradation zones••habitat mapping••surveying for hydraulic engineering••hydro-archeological-surveying

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Airborne Laser Scanning

Data SheetRIEGL VQ-880-GH Scan Patterntransmitted
laser pulse

circular scan ofgreen laser scanner

typ. topographictargets

line scan of
infrared laser scannerreceived echo signal

surfaceecho

shoreline

bottomecho

bottom echowater surface
seabedsurface echo

RIEGL VQ-880-GH Elements of Function and Operation2

Copyright RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH © 2019– All rights reserved.

Data SheetRIEGL VQ-880-GH
Main Dimensions
RIEGL VQ-880-G
Housing

all dimensions in mm

Data Sheet

Copyright RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH © 2019– All rights reserved.

3

RIEGL VQ-880-GH Technical Data
Export Classification

The Topo-Bathymetric Airborne Laser Scanner
VQ-880-GH has been designed and developedfor commercial topographic, hydrographic andbathymetric surveying applications.

The VQ-880-GH is subject to export restrictions as set up by the Wassenaar Arrangement.
It is classified as dual-use good according to position number 6A8j3 of the official Dual-Use-List
to be found on site http://www.wassenaar.org.
Within the European Union, Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 implements the export
restrictions of the Wassenaar Arrangement. The corresponding position number is 6A008j3.

Laser Product Classification
Class 3B Laser Productaccording to IEC60825-1:2014
The following clause applies for instruments delivered into theUnited States: Complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 except forconformance with IEC 60825-1 Ed.3., as described in Laser Notice
No. 56, dated May 8, 2019.
The instrument must be used only in combination with the appropriate
laser safety box.

180 m 2)

NOHD 1)
1) NOHD ... Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance, based upon
MPE according to IEC60825-1:2014, for single pulse condition

2) NOHD is determined by green laser scanner, @ 80 lps, 1.1 mrad, 550 kHz;NOHD of the infrared laser scanner: 60 m @ 900 kHzINFRARED LASER CHANNEL
Range Measurement Performance
Measuring Principle

time of flight measurement, echo signal digitization, online waveform processing

Max. Measurement Range 3) 4) 5)@ Laser Pulse Repetition Rate		
natural targets ≥20 % 		natural targets ≥60 %		
Max. Operating Flight Altitude 6)		150 kHz
1800 m
2800 m
1600 m (5250 ft.)

300 kHz
1300 m2100 m1100 m (3600 ft.)

600 kHz
950 m
1600 m
850 m (2790 ft.)

900 kHz
800 m
1300 m
700 m (2290 ft.)

Above Ground Level (AGL)

10 m
25 mm
25 mmup to 900 kHz

Minimum Range 7)
Accuracy 8) 10)
Precision 9) 10)
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate 11) 12)
Max. Effective Measurement Rate 6) 12)

47 000 meas./sec (@ 150 kHz PRR & 40° FOV)
93 000 meas./sec (@ 300 kHz PRR 40° FOV)
186 000 meas./sec (@ 600 kHz PRR & 40° FOV)
279 000 meas./sec (@ 900 kHz PRR & 40° FOV)
Echo Signal Intensity
Number of Targets per Pulse
Laser Wavelength
Laser Beam DivergenceLaser Beam Footprint (Gaussian Beam Definition)for each echo signal, high-resolution 16 bit intensity information is provided
practically unlimited (details on request) 13)
1.064 nm (near infrared)
0.3 mrad 14)
30 mm @ 100 m, 150 mm @ 500 m, 300 mm @ 1000 m

Scanner Performance
Scanning Mechanism / Scan Pattern
Field of View (selectable)
Scan Speed (selectable)
Angular Step Width   (selectable)

rotating polygon mirror / curved parallel lines± 20° = 40°
28 - 200 scans/sec

0.006° ≤   ≤ 0.042° (for PRR 600 kHz)between consecutive laser shots

better than 0.001° (3.6 arcsec)

Angle Measurement Resolution3)		 The following conditions are assumed:
target larger than the footprint of the laser beam, averageambient brightness, visibility 23 km, perpendicular angle ofincidence.
4)		 In bright sunlight, the operational range may be considerably		 shorter and the operational flight altitude may be consider		 ably lower than under an overcast sky.
5)		 Ambiguity to be resolved by post-processing with RiMTA ALSsoftware.
6) Reflectivity  ≥ 20%, 20° FOV, additional roll angle ±5°7) Limitations for range measurement capability does notconsider laser safety.

8)
9)

Accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its actual (true) value.
Precision, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the degree to which further measurements
show the same result.
10) One sigma @ 150m range under RIEGL test conditions.
11) Rounded values.
12) User selectable.
13) If the laser beam hits, in part, more than one target, the laser’s pulse power is split accordingly. Thus, theachievable range is reduced.
14) Measured at the 1/e² points. 0.30 mrad corresponds to an increase of 30 cm of beam diameter per1000 m distance.

Technical Data to be continued on page 5 and 6

4Copyright RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH © 2019– All rights reserved.

Data SheetRIEGL VQ-880-GH Technical Data
GREEN LASER CHANNEL
Range Measurement Performance
Measuring Principle

time of flight measurement, echo signal digitization,
online waveform processing, full waveform recording for post processing

Hydrography
Typ. Measurement Range 3)

1.5 Secchi depth for bright ground (≥80 %) 4)

Topography (diffusely reflecting targets)Max. Measurement Range 6) 7) 8)
natural targets ≥20 % 		natural targets ≥60 %		

2500 m
3600 mMinimum Range
Accuracy 9) 11)
Precision 10) 11)
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate
Max. Effective Measurement Rate 5)

Echo Signal Intensity
Number of Targets per Pulse
Laser Wavelength
Laser Beam DivergenceLaser Beam Footprint (Gaussian Beam Definition)

10 m25 mm25 mmup to 700 kHz 5)
200 000 meas./sec (@ 200 kHz PRR)
400 000 meas./sec (@ 400 kHz PRR)
550 000 meas./sec (@ 550 kHz PRR)
700 000 meas./sec (@ 700 kHz PRR)
for each echo signal, high-resolution 16 bit intensity information is provided
online waveform processing: up to 9, depending on measurement program 12)532 nm, green
selectable, 0.7 up to 2.0 mrad 13)
100 mm @ 100 m, 500 mm @ 500 m, 1000 mm @ 1000 m 14)

Scanner Performance
Scanning Mechanism / Scan Pattern
Field of View (selectable)
Scan Speed (selectable)
Angular Step Width   (selectable)
between consecutive laser shotsrotating prism / circular± 20° = 40°
30 - 80 lines per second (lps) 15)
0.02° ≤   ≤ 0.052° (for PRR 550 kHz)

Angle Measurement Resolution

better than 0.001° (3.6 arcsec)3)		 The Secchi depth is defined as the depth at which a standard
black and white disc deployed into the water is no longer 		visible to the human eye.
4)		 at 650 m flight altitude5)		 rounded values6)		 The following conditions are assumed:
target larger than the footprint of the laser beam, averageambient brightness, visibility 23 km, perpendicular angle ofincidence, ambiguity to be resolved multiple-time-aroundprocessing.
7) In bright sunlight, the operational range may be considerably
shorter than under an overcast sky.
8) Reflectivity  ≥ 20%, 40° FOV, additional roll angle ±5°9) Accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured quantity
to its actual (true) value.

10) Precision, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the degree to which further measurements show
the same result.
11) Topography, one sigma @ 150m range under RIEGL test conditions.
12) If the laser beam hits, in part, more than one target, the laser’s pulse power is split accordingly. Thus, theachievable range is reduced.
13) Measured at the 1/e² points. 1.0 mrad corresponds to an increase of 100 mm of beam diameter per
100 m distance.
14) The laser beam footprint values correspond to a beam divergence of 1mrad.
15) One line corresponds to a full revolution (360°) of the scan mechanism which can be split into
two user-defined segments.

Technical Data to be continued on page 6

Data Sheet

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5

		RIEGL VQ-880-GH Technical Data
IMU/GNSS Performance 1) 2)

IMU Accuracy 3)		Roll, Pitch
0.0025°
Heading
0.005°IMU Sampling Rate
200 HzPosition Accuracy (typ.)horizontal / vertical<0.05 m / <0.1 m

Integrated Digital Cameras 4)
RGB and/or IR Camera

Sensor ResolutionSensor Dimensions (diagonal)
Focal Length of Camera Lens
Field of View (FOV)Interface
Data Storage

up to 100 MPixel CMOS without FMC5) or up to 80 MPixel CCD with FMC5)
67.2 mm (medium format)
50 mm
approx. 56.2° x 43.7°
USB 3.0
separate dedicated data recorder

Data Interfaces
Configuration
Scan Data Output

LAN 10/100/1 000 Mbit/sec
LAN 10/100/1 000 Mbit/sec,
High Speed Serial Dual Glass Fiber Link to RIEGL Data Recorder
Serial RS232 interface for data string with GNSS-time information,
TTL input for 1 PPS synchronization pulse

GNSS Interface 6)

General Technical Data
Power Supply Input Voltage
Power Consumption

18 - 32 V DC
typ. 330 W (without IMU/GNSS/cameras)
typ. 370 W (with IMU/GNSS/cameras) 7)
max. 400 W
489.5 mm x 660 mm x 580 mm, mounting flange 580 mm x 580 mm
approx. 70 kg (with IMU/GNSS/cameras and optional infrared laser scanner)non condensing
IP54, dust and splash-proof

Main Dimensions (flange diameter x height)
WeightHumidity
Protection Class Scan Head
Max. Flight Altitude 8)operating
not operating
Temperature Range
operation / storage
The INS configuration of the RIEGL VQ-880-GH Laser Scanning
System can be modified to the customer‘s requirements.
2) 		
The installed IMU is listed neither in the European Export Control List (i.e. Annex 1 of Council Regulation 428/2009) nor in theCanadian Export Control List. Detailed information on certain
cases will be provided on request.
3) One sigma values, no GNSS outages, post-processed duringbase station data.

1)

16 500 ft (5 000 m) above Mean Sea Level (MSL)
18 000 ft (5 500 m) above MSL
0°C up to +40°C / -10°C up to +50°C
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

The camera configuration of the RIEGL VQ-880-GH Laser Scanning System can be modified to thecustomer‘s requirements.
Forward Motion Compensation
to be used for external GNSS receiver@ 20°C ambient temperature, 100 kHz PRR, 100 scans/sec
For standard atmospheric conditions: 1013 mbar, +15°C at sea level

RIEGL
Laser Measurement Systems GmbH
Riedenburgstraße 48
3580 Horn, Austria
Phone: +43 2982 4211
office@riegl.co.at | www.riegl.com

Copyright RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH © 2019– All rights reserved.
Use of this data sheet other than for personal purposes requires RIEGL’s written consent.
This data sheet is compiled with care. However, errors cannot be fully excluded and alternations might be necessary.

RIEGL USA Inc. | info@rieglusa.com | www.rieglusa.com
RIEGL Japan Ltd. | info@riegl-japan.co.jp | www.riegl-japan.co.jp
RIEGL China Ltd. | info@riegl.cn | www.riegl.cn
RIEGL Australia Pty Ltd. | info@riegl.com.au | www.riegl.com

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Data Sheet, RIEGL VQ-880-GH, 2019-09-02