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

NEWRIEGL VQ-1560 IIThe Dual LiDAR Waveform Processing Airborne Scanning System
VQ-1560 II provides further increased performance and highest
productivity based on a laser pulse repetition rate of up to 4 MHz,
resulting in more than 2.66 million measurements per second on theground.

••offers highly efficient dataacquisition at a wide rangeof point densities••two waveform processing LiDAR
channels offering excellent multiple
target detection capability••enables Multiple-Time-Around (MTA)
processing of up to 35 pulses
simultaneously in the air••online waveform processing aswell as smart and full waveformrecordingIM••integrated inertial measurement
unit and GNSS receiver••integrated, easily accessible
medium format cameraEL••prepared for integration of asecondary cameraPR••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

These features make the instrument the most flexible choice foracquisition of scan data with an exceptionally wide range ofachievable point densities and utmost data collection efficiency at thesame time. The unique forward/backward scan angle of the VQ-1560 IIwith its large field of view of 58 degrees enables capturing data frommultiple angles more effectively and more accurately at high point
densities.

IN••excellent suppression of
atmospheric clutter

Typical operating flight altitudes vary from less than 1,500 ft up to 12,100 ft(@ target reflectance of >20%). Laser pulse repetition rates can betuned in steps of less than 12 kHz.
In combination with different laser power modes subtle optimizationof acquisition parameters is possible in order to meet specific projectrequirements.

Y••up to 2.66 million measurements
per second on the groundAR••high laser pulse repetition rate
up to 4 MHz

The system is equipped with a seamlessly integrated high performance
IMU/GNSS unit and e.g. an optional 150 megapixel RGB camera
integrated in the primary camera bay.
Optionally, a second camera, e.g. a thermal camera or a
150 megapixels near-infrared camera, can be integrated on request.
The design of the compact housing features a mounting flange forinterfacing with typical hatches or gyro-stabilized leveling mounts.

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

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Airborne Laser Scanning

Preliminary Data SheetRIEGL VQ-1560 II Scan Pattern

58° effective FOVARY28°IN

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.
± 14°

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

ELIM

Tilt Angle of Scan LinesPR

RIEGL VQ-1560 II Elements of Function and Operation

mounting flange

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

IMU bay

aperture of laser
channel #1
aperture ofsecondarycameraconnectors forpower supply anddata interface

desiccant cartridges

2

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coolingair outlets
carrying handles

Data SheetPRELIMINARY

RIEGL VQ-1560 II Main Dimensions

Data Sheet

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3

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

ELIM

IN

AR

Y

RIEGL VQ-1560 II System Components

PR

RIEGL VQ-1560 II Installation Examples

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

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

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

Results:

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

ELIMINARY

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 150,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude 14,900 ft AGL, Speed 150 kn

Results:

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

Results:

Point Density ~ 4.12 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 467 km²/h

PRExample: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 250,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude 12,100 ft AGL, Speed 140 kn

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 500,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude 7,100 ft AGL, Speed 130 kn
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-1560 IIResults:

Point Density ~ 11.1 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 344 km²/hELIMINARYExample: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 1,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude 4,000 ft AGL, Speed 170 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 45 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 169 km²/h

Results:

Point Density ~ 24.8 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 310 km²/h

PR

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 2,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude 2,900 ft AGL, Speed 115 kn

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 2,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 50%
Altitude 3,600 ft AGL, Speed 170 kn
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.

6Copyright RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH © 2019– All rights reserved.

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

Results:

Point Density ~ 37 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 207 km²/h

ELIMINARY

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 2,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 25%
Altitude 3,400 ft AGL, Speed 120 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 61 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 127 km²/h

Results:

Point Density ~ 99 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 77 km²/h

PR

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 2,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 12%
Altitude 2,500 ft AGL, Speed 100 kn

Example: VQ-1560 II at 2 x 2,000,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 6%
Altitude 1,800 ft AGL, Speed 85 kn
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

RIEGL VQ-1560 II Productivity

ARY

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

Ground Speed

8 pts/m2
4040 ft
1230 m20 pts/m2
4000 ft
1220 m60 pts/m2
2450 ft
750 m

300 kn300 kn190 kn103 kn2450 m1090 km2/h
756 000 meas./sec
165 mm
4.6 sec

1380 m613 km2/h
1.7 mill meas./sec93 mm
2.6 sec

ELSwath WidthProductivity
Measurement Rate 2)
Camera GSD 3) 4)
Camera Trigger Intervall 4)2 pts/m2
7200 ft
2200 mIM

Average Point Density
Flight Altitude			

INExamples 1)

1360 m840 m
384 km2/h
128 km2/h
2.66 mill meas./sec 2.66 mill meas./sec
92 mm
56 mm
4.0 sec
4.5 sec

PR1) 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 150 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-1560 IILaser 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 forconformance with IEC 60825-1 Ed.3., as described in Laser Notice
No. 56, dated May 8, 2019.

Range Measurement Performance

The instrument must be used only in combination with the appropriate laser safety box.

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

IM2 x 1000 kHz 2 x 2000 kHz

2800 m
4300 m2050 m
3300 m

1500 m2450 m2300 m
7500 ft
3500 m
11500 ft
200 m
1340 m141700 m
5500 ft
2700 m
8800 ft
140 m
940 m
91200 m4000 ft2000 m
6500 ft
95 m
650 m
4

AR

50%
25%12%6%
2 x 2000 kHz 2 x 2000 kHz 2 x 2000 kHz 2 x 2000 kHz
1100 m1800 mINLaser Power Level		
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate (PRR) 1)		Max. Measuring Range 2) 3) 4)
natural targets  ≥ 20 % 		natural targets  ≥ 60 %Max. Operating Flight Altitude 2) 5) (AGL) 6)
natural targets  ≥ 20 %				natural targets  ≥ 60 %				
NOHD 7) 9)
ENOHD 8) 9)
Number of Targets per Laser Pulse up to 10)100%
2 x 500 kHz

YLaser Power Level			Laser Pulse Repetition Rate (PRR) 1)
2 x 150 kHz
2 x 250 kHz
Max. Measuring Range 2) 3) 4)
natural targets  ≥ 20 %
4500 m
3700 mnatural targets  ≥ 60 %
6800 m
5600 mMax. Operating Flight Altitude 2) 5) (AGL) 6)
natural targets  ≥ 20 %
3700 m3000 m  			12100 ft
9900 ftnatural targets  ≥ 60 %
5600 m
4600 m  			18300 ft
15000 ft
NOHD 7) 9)
370 m
290 m
ENOHD 8) 9)2450 m1900 mNumber of Targets per Laser Pulse up to 10)1414

900 m  3000 ft
1450 m
4800 ft
61 m
430 m
4780 m1300 m

560 m
940 m

400 m
680 m

640 m
2100 ft
1050 m
3400 ft
37 m
270 m
4460 m
1500 ft
770 m
2500 ft
21 m
145 m
4330 m1080 ft
550 m
1800 ft
12 m
82 m
4PREL1) 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) 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.
5) Typical values for max. effective FOV 58°, additional roll angle ± 5°6) Above Ground Level
7) Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance, based upon MPE according to IEC 60825-1:2014, for single line condition
8) Extended Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance, based upon MPE according to IEC 60825-1:2014, for single line condition
9) 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.
10) when using online waveform processing

Minimum Range 11)
Accuracy 12) 13) / Precision 13) 14)
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate 15)
Effective Measurement Rate
Echo Signal Intensity
Laser Wavelength
Laser Beam Divergence

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 Resolution11) Limitation for range measurement capability, does not consider
laser safety issues! The minimum range for valid reflectivity values
is 250 m.
12) Accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured quantity toits actual (true) value.
13) Standard deviation one sigma @ 250 m range under RIEGL test
conditions.
14) Precision, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is thedegree to which further measurements show the same result.

Data Sheet

100 m
20 mm / 20 mm
2 x 150kHz up to 2 x 2000kHz, selectable in steps of less than 1%up to 2 x 1.33 MHz @ 60° scan angleprovided for each echo signal
near infrared≤ 0.18 mrad @ 1/e 16), ≤ 0.25 mrad @ 1/e² 17)
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 18) - 600 lines/sec
0.006° ≤  ≤ 0.180° 19) 20)
0.001°
15) For smart and full waveform recording themax. laser PRR is limited to 2 x 1600kHz.
16) Measured at the 1/e points. 0.18 mrad correspondto an increase of 18 cm of beam diameter per1000 m distance.
17) Measured at the 1/e2 points. 0.25 mrad correspondto an increase of 25 cm of beam diameter per1000 m distance.

18) The minimum scan rate depends on the selectedlaser PRR.
19) The minimum angular step width depends on theselected laser PRR.
20) The maximum angular step width is limited by themaximum scan rate.

Technical Data to be continued at page 10

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9		

Technical Data RIEGL VQ-1560 II (continued)
Data Interfaces

Configuration
Monitoring Data Output
Digitized Data Output
Synchronization

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 DR1560i
Serial RS232 interface, TTL input for 1 pps synchronization pulse,
accepts different data formats for GNSS-time information

General Technical Data

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

20 - 32 V DC / typ. 250 W
max. 550 W, depending on integrated optional componentsØ 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-5°C up to +40°C / -10°C up to +50°C1) Mean Sea LevelY

Recommended IMU/GNSS System 2) 3)

EL

Secondary Camera

IN

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

RGBe.g. 150 MPixel CMOS
66.7 mm (medium format)
50 mm
approx. 54.6° x 42.3°
USB 3.0iX-Controller

IMOptional Components VQ-1560II

ARIMU Accuracy 4)		Roll, Pitch
0.0025°
Heading
0.005°IMU Sampling Rate
200 HzPosition Accuracy (typ.)0.05 m - 0.1 m4) One sigma values, no GNSS outages, post-processed withbase station dataPR2) 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 oncertain cases will be provided on request.
3) The RIEGL VQ-1560 II Laser Scanning system supports different
IMU/GNSS Systems, details on request.

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

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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Preliminary Data Sheet, RIEGL VQ-1560II, 2019-10-09