Dual Channel Waveform Processing Airborne LiDAR Scanning System
for High-Point Density and Ultra-Wide Area Mapping

RIEGL VQ-1560i• high laser pulse repetition rateup to 2 MHz• up to 1.33 million measurements per
second on the ground• offers data acquisition at a wide
range of point densities• two waveform processing LiDAR
channels offering excellent multiple
target detection capability• enables Multiple-Time-Around (MTA)
processing of up to 25 pulses
simultaneously in the air• excellent suppression ofatmospheric clutter• offers online waveform processing
as well as smart and full waveformrecording• integrated inertial measurement
unit and GNSS receiver• integrated, easily accessible
medium format camera• prepared for integration of asecondary camera• high-speed fiber data interface toRIEGL data recorder• housing shape and mounting flange
optimized for interfacing with typicalhatches and stabilized platforms• detachable handgrips forfacilitated handling

The ultra-high performance, fully integrated and calibrated
Dual Channel Airborne Mapping System RIEGL VQ-1560imakes use of RIEGL‘s sophisticated Waveform-LiDAR technologyenabling an excellent multiple-target detection capability andMultiple-Time-Around (MTA) processing. The system is capable ofonline waveform processing as well as full or smart waveform recording,resulting in unsurpassed information content on each single target.
The VQ-1560i provides a laser pulse repetition rate of up to 2 MHz
resulting in more than 1.3 million measurements per second on theground and operates at an altitude of up to 18,300 ft. That allows
operation at varying flight altitudes resulting in a wide range of point
densities. Thus, the system is ideally suited for aerial survey of ultrawide areas as well as of complex urban environments. By the way,
faster and more efficient flight planning and safer flights are enabled.
The RIEGL VQ-1560i comes with a unique forward/nadir/backward
scan angle. This enables capturing data from multiple angles
more effectively and more accurately at a high point density. With
its large field of view of 58 degrees and its widely variable scanparameters the system enables highly efficient scan data acquisition.
The system is equipped with a seamlessly integrated highperformance IMU/GNSS unit and an optional 150 megapixel
RGB camera as well as another camera, e.g. a thermal
camera or a 100 megapixels near-infrared camera. All individualcomponents are integrated into a compact housing, featuring amounting flange for interfacing typical hatches or gyro-stabilized
leveling mounts.

Applications:• Ultra Wide Area / High Altitude Mapping• High Point Density Mapping• Mapping of Complex Urban Environments• Glacier & Snowfield Mapping• City Modeling• Mapping of Lakesides & River Banks• Agriculture & Forestry• Corridor Mapping

visit our website
www.riegl.com

Airborne Laser Scanning

Data SheetRIEGL VQ-1560i Scan Pattern

58° effective FOV

28°

Each channel delivers straight parallel scan lines. The scan lines of the twochannels are tilted against each other by 28 degrees providing an optimum
distribution of the measurements on the ground invariant to changes interrain height.
Tilt Angle of Scan Lines± 14°

Forward/Backward Scan Angle in Non-Nadir Direction± 8° at the edge

RIEGL VQ-1560i Elements of Function and Operation

mounting flange
aperture of primarycamera (RGB)
aperture of laser
channel #2

IMU bay

aperture of laserchannel #1
aperture ofsecondarycameraconnectors forpower supply anddata interface

desiccant cartridges

2

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coolingair outlets
carrying handles

Data SheetRIEGL VQ-1560i Main Dimensions

all dimensions in mm

Data Sheet

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3

RIEGL VQ-1560i System Components

A minimum number of system components and external cabling isrequired for an easy and quick installation in aircrafts.

RIEGL VQ-1560i Installation Examples

RIEGL VQ-1560i installedin the nose pod of fixed-wing
aircraft DA42 MPP

4RIEGL VQ-1560i installed on GSM-4000
gyro-stabilized platform to be used ina helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft

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Data SheetMeasurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ-1560i

Example: VQ-1560i at 150,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 14,900 ft AGL, Speed 150 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 0.51 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 1130 km²/h

Example: VQ-1560i at 250,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 12,100 ft AGL, Speed 140 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 1.12 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 857 km²/h

Example: VQ-1560i at 350,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 8,400 ft AGL, Speed 130 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 2.43 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 552 km²/h

The following conditions are assumed for the Operating Flight Altitude AGL• ambiguity resolved by multiple-time-around (MTA) processing• target size ≥ laser footprint• average ambient brightness• effective FOV 58°• roll angle ±5°

Assumptions for calculation of the Area Acquisition Rate• 20% overlap of neighboring flight strips. This overlap covers a rollangle of ±5° or a reduction of flight altitude AGL of 20%.

Typical ENOHD• Calculated under assumption of an angular step width of 0.012° and an aircraft speed higher than 10kn.

Data Sheet

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5

Measurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ-1560i

Example: VQ-1560i at 500,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 5,600 ft AGL, Speed 170 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 3.97 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 481 km²/h

Example: VQ-1560i at 700,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 3,700 ft AGL, Speed 115 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 12.49 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 215 km²/h

Example: VQ-1560i at 1,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 6,800 ft AGL, Speed 170 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 6.57 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 584 km²/h

The following conditions are assumed for the Operating Flight Altitude AGL• ambiguity resolved by multiple-time-around (MTA) processing• target size ≥ laser footprint• average ambient brightness• effective FOV 58°• roll angle ±5°

Assumptions for calculation of the Area Acquisition Rate
• 20% overlap of neighboring flight strips. This overlap covers a rollangle of ±5° or a reduction of flight altitude AGL of 20%.

Typical ENOHD• Calculated under assumption of an angular step width of 0.012° and an aircraft speed higher than 10kn.

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Data SheetMeasurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ-1560i

Example: VQ-1560i at 1,00,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 50%
Altitude = 2,900 ft AGL, Speed 120 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 21.81 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 176 km²/h

Example: VQ-1560i at 1,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 25%
Altitude = 2,700 ft AGL, Speed 100 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 28.11 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 136 km²/h

Example: VQ-1560i at 1,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 12%
Altitude = 1,300 ft AGL, Speed 95 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 61.45 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 62 km²/h

The following conditions are assumed for the Operating Flight Altitude AGL• ambiguity resolved by multiple-time-around (MTA) processing• target size ≥ laser footprint• average ambient brightness• effective FOV 58°• roll angle ±5°

Assumptions for calculation of the Area Acquisition Rate
• 20% overlap of neighboring flight strips. This overlap covers a rollangle of ±5° or a reduction of flight altitude AGL of 20%.

Typical ENOHD• Calculated under assumption of an angular step width of 0.012° and an aircraft speed higher than 10kn.

Data Sheet

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7

Measurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ-1560i

Example: VQ-1560i at 1,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 6%
Altitude = 800 ft AGL, Speed 75 kn

Results:

The following conditions are assumed for the Operating Flight Altitude AGL• ambiguity resolved by multiple-time-around (MTA) processing• target size ≥ laser footprint• average ambient brightness• effective FOV 58°• roll angle ±5°

Point Density ~ 126.49 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 30 km²/h

Assumptions for calculation of the Area Acquisition Rate
• 20% overlap of neighboring flight strips. This overlap covers a rollangle of ±5° or a reduction of flight altitude AGL of 20%.

Typical ENOHD• Calculated under assumption of an angular step width of 0.012° and an aircraft speed higher than 10kn.

RIEGL VQ-1560i Productivity
The RIEGL VQ-1560i Dual Channel Airborne Mapping System offers highest productivity.

Examples 1)
Average Point Density
Flight Altitude
Ground Speed
Swath Width
Productivity
Measurement Rate 2)
Camera GSD 3) 4)
Camera Trigger Intervall 4)2 pts/m2
6560 ft2000 m8 pts/m2
4500 ft
1370 m20 pts/m2
3300 ft
1000 m60 pts/m2
1150 ft
351 m

300 kn210 kn115 kn110 kn2240 m1540 m1130 m
400 m
2
22996 km /h
480 km /h
192 km /h
64 km2/h
933 000 meas./sec 1.33 mill meas./sec 1.33 mill meas./sec 1.33 mill meas./sec
184 mm
126 mm92 mm
32 mm
4.15 sec
4.1 sec
5.4 sec
2.0 sec1) calculated for 20% target reflectivity and 20% stripe overlap
2) The target detection rate is equal to the measurement rate for terrains offering only one target per laser pulse but may be much higher for vegetated areas.
3) Ground Sampling Distance4) Calculated for a 100 MPixel CMOS camera with a FOV of 56.2° x 43.7° and 60% image overlap in flight direction (endlap).

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Data SheetTechnical Data RIEGL VQ-1560i
Laser Product Classification
Class 3B Laser Product according to IEC60825-1:2014
The following clause applies for instruments delivered into theUnited States: Complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 except for
conformance 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.

Range Measurement Performance
Laser Power Level
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate (PRR) 1)
Max. Measuring Range 2) 3)
natural targets  ≥ 20 %natural targets  ≥ 60 %Max. Operating Flight Altitude
Above Ground Level (AGL) 2) 4)
NOHD 5) 7)
ENOHD 6) 7)
Laser Power Level
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate (PRR) 1)
Max. Measuring Range 2) 3)
natural targets  ≥ 20 %natural targets  ≥ 60 %Max. Operating Flight Altitude
Above Ground Level (AGL) 2) 4)
NOHD 5) 7)
ENOHD 6) 7)

as a function of laser power setting, PRR, and target reflectivity

2 x 150 kHz

2 x 250 kHz100%
2 x 350 kHz

2 x 500 kHz

2 x 700 kHz

4500 m6800 m
5600 m18300 ft
370 m
2450 m

3700 m
5600 m
4600 m
15000 ft
290 m
1900 m

3200 m
5000 m4100 m
13400 ft
240 m
1600 m

2800 m
4300 m3500 m
11500 ft
200 m
1340 m

2400 m
3800 m
3100 m
10200 ft
170 m
1120 m

100%
50%
25%
12%
6%
2 x 1000 kHz 2 x 1000 kHz 2 x 1000 kHz 2 x 1000 kHz 2 x 1000 kHz
2050 m
3300 m
2700 m
8800 ft

1500 m2450 m2000 m
6500 ft

1100 m1800 m1450 m
4800 ft

780 m
1300 m1050 m
3400 ft

560 m
940 m
770 m
2500 ft

140 m
940 m

95 m
650 m

61 m
430 m

36 m
260 m

21 m
145 m

1) rounded average PRR2) Typical values for average conditions and average ambient brightness; in bright sunlight the operational range may be considerably shorter and theoperational flight altitude may be considerably lower than under an overcast sky.
3) The maximum range is specified for flat targets with size in excess of the laser beam diameter, perpendicular angle of incidence, and for atmospheric visibilityof 40 km. Range amiguities have to be resolved by multiple-time-around processing.
4) Typical values for reflectivity  ≥ 60 %, max. effective FOV 58°, additional roll angle ± 5°5) Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance, based upon MPE according to IEC 60825-1:2014, for single line condition
6) Extended Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance, based upon MPE according to IEC 60825-1:2014, for single line condition
7) NOHD and ENOHD have been calculated for a typical angular step width of 0.012° (which means non-overlapping laser footprints), and an aircraft speed
higher than 10 kn. NOHD and ENOHD increase when using overlapping laser footprints which may be intended e.g. for power line mapping.

Minimum Range 8)
Accuracy 9) 10)
Precision 10) 11)
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate
Effective Measurement Rate
Echo Signal Intensity
Laser Wavelength
Laser Beam Divergence
Number of Targets per Pulse

100 m20 mm20 mm
up to 2 MHzup to 1.33 MHz @ 60° scan angle
provided for each echo signal
near infrared≤ 0.18 mrad @ 1/e 12), ≤ 0.25 mrad @ 1/e² 13)
with online waveform processing: practically unlimited 14) 15)
monitoring data output: first pulse

Scanner Performance

Scanning Mechanism
Scan Pattern
Tilt Angle of Scan Lines
Forward/ Backward Scan Angle
in Non-Nadir Direction
Scan Angle Range
Total Scan Rate
Angular Step Width Angle Measurement Resolution8)

Limitation for range measurement capability, does not consider
laser safety issues! The minimum range for valid reflectivity values
is 250 m.
9) Accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured quantity toits actual (true) value.
10) Standard deviation one sigma @ 250 m range under RIEGL test
conditions.
11) Precision, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is thedegree to which further measurements show the same result.

rotating polygon mirror
parallel scan lines per channel, crossed scan lines between channels± 14° = 28°± 8° at the edges
60° total per channel, resulting in an effective FOV of 58°
40 16) - 600 lines/sec
0.006° ≤  ≤ 0.180° 17) 18)
0.001°
12) Measured at the 1/e points. 0.18 mrad correspondto an increase of 18 cm of beam diameter per1000 m distance.
13) Measured at the 1/e2 points. 0.25 mrad correspondto an increase of 25 cm of beam diameter per1000 m distance.
14) Depending on laser pulse repetition rate, up to amax. of 15 targets per laser pulse.

15) If the laser beam hits, in part, more than one
target, the laser’s pulse power is split accordingly.
Thus, the achievable range is reduced.
16) The minimum scan rate depends on the selectedlaser PRR.
17) The minimum angular step width depends on theselected laser PRR.
18) The maximum angular step width is limited by themaximum scan rate.

Technical Data to be continued at page 10

Data Sheet

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9Technical Data RIEGL VQ-1560i (continued)
Data Interfaces

Configuration
Monitoring Data Output
Digitized Data Output
Synchronization

General Technical Data

Power Supply / Current ConsumptionMain Dimensions (flange diameter x height)
WeightProtection Class
Max. Flight Altitude operating / not operating
Temperature Range operation / storage

TCP/IP Ethernet (10/100/1000 MBit/s)
TCP/IP Ethernet (10/100/1000 MBit/s)
Dual glass fiber data link to RIEGL Data Recorder DR1560(i)Serial RS232 interface, TTL input for 1 pps synchronization pulse,
accepts different data formats for GNSS-time information
20 - 32 V DC / typ. 250 W
max. 550 W, depending on integrated optional components
Ø 524 mm x 780 mm (without flange mounted carrying handles)
approx. 55 kg without any camera but including a typical IMU/GNSS unit
approx. 60 kg with optional components
IP54
18500 ft (5600 m) above MSL1) / 18500 ft (5600 m) above MSL
0°C up to +40°C / -10°C up to +50°C

1) Mean Sea Level

Recommended IMU/GNSS System 2) 3)
IMU Accuracy 4)
Roll, Pitch
Heading
IMU Sampling Rate
Position Accuracy (typ.)0.0025°0.005°
200 Hz0.05 m - 0.1 m

Optional Components VQ-1560i
Primary Camera
Sensor Resolution
Sensor Dimensions (diagonal)
Focal Length of Camera Lens
Field of View (FOV)Interface
Data Storage

RGBe.g. 150 MPixel CMOS
67.2 mm (medium format)
50 mm
approx. 56.2° x 43.7°
USB 3.0
iX-Controller

Secondary Camera

Different camera types including thermal or NIR cameras can be integrated,details on request.

2) The recommended IMU is listed neither in the European Export
Control List (i.e. Annex 1 of Council Regulation 428/2009) nor
in the Canadian Export Control List. Detailed information on
certain cases will be provided on request.
3) The RIEGL VQ-1560i Laser Scanning system supports different
IMU/GNSS Systems, details on request.

4) One sigma values, no GNSS outages, post-processed withbase station dataRIEGL
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-1560i, 2019-09-02