Waveform Processing Airborne Laser Scanner
for Wide Area Mapping and High Productivity

NEWRIEGL VQ -780 II®

••high laser pulse repetition rate
up to 2 MHz••up to 1.33 million measurements/sec
on the ground••excellent multiple target
detection capabilityIM••interface for
GNSS time synchronizationIN••parallel scan lines anduniform point distribution

AR••Multiple-Time-Around (MTA)
processing of up to 35 pulses
simultaneously in the air••online waveform processing
as well as smart andfull waveform recordingPREL••seamless integration andcompatibility with other RIEGL ALS
systems and software packages

The versatile scanner is designed for high efficient data acquisition atlow, mid, and high altitudes, covering a variety of different airborne
laser scanning applications from high density to wide area mapping.
Its high speed rotating mirror design ensures reliability, and uniform
point distribution across its entire wide field of view and at all flying altitudes. Based on RIEGL’s proven Waveform-LiDAR technology, the systemprovides point clouds with highest accuracy, excellent vertical target
resolution, calibrated reflectance readings, and pulse shape deviation
for unsurpassed information content on each single measurement.
Excellent atmospheric clutter suppression yields clean point clouds withminimum efforts in filtering isolated noise points.

Y••excellent suppression ofatmospheric clutter

The Waveform Processing Airborne Laser Scanner RIEGL VQ-780 II
provides further increased performance and highest productivity
based on a laser pulse repetition rate of up to 2 MHz, resulting in
more than 1.33 million measurements/sec on the ground.

The RIEGL VQ-780 II is designed to work with the latest Inertial Navigation(IMU) Systems, flight management systems, and camera options. The
system is complimented with RIEGL‘s advanced acquisition and dataprocessing software suite that utilizes parallel computing (GPU) for fast
data processing.

Applications:••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

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Airborne Laser Scanning

Preliminary Data SheetRIEGL VQ®-780 II Productivity

ARYThe RIEGL VQ-780 II Airborne Laser Scanner offers highest productivity.

1 pts/m2

2 pts/m2

4 pts/m2

8 pts/m2

20 pts/m2

30 pts/m2

Flight Altitude
AGL

6960 ft
2120 m4920 ft
1500 m3580 ft
1090 m3580 ft
1090 m2820 ft
860 m

2310 ft
700 m

Ground Speed

300 kn300 kn292 kn206 kn130 kn106 knSwath Width2450 m1730 m1260 m1260 m

990 m

810 m

Productivity

1090 km2/h

770 km2/h

545 km2/h

386 km2/h

192 km2/h

128 km2/h

378 000
meas./sec

535 000
meas./sec

757 000
meas./sec

1.07 mill.
meas./sec

1.33 mill.
meas./sec

1.33 mill.
meas./secELMeasurement
Rate 2)

INAverage PointDensityIMExamples 1)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.

RIEGL VQ®-780 II Dense Scan Pattern and Wide Effective Swath Width
The RIEGL VQ-780 II scanning mechanism – based on a continuously rotating polygon
mirror wheel – delivers straight parallel scan lines resulting in a regular point pattern on theground. With equal spatial sampling frequency along and across track, object extents
are well defined and even small objects may be detected. The instrument is perfectly
suited for applications where a superior point pattern on target surfaces is required.

The wide field of view and the multiple-time-around measurement capability of theRIEGL VQ-780 II make the instrument perfectly suited for wide area mapping applications.
The instrument has been designed for utmost efficiency in collecting data by enablingscanning operations from high altitudes at high laser pulse repetition rates simultaneously,
reducing the necessary flight time to a minimum.

OthersRIEGL VQ-780 II point distribution

FOV60°
broad effective swath width2Copyright RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH © 2019– All rights reserved.

Data SheetMeasurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ®-780 IIResults:

Point Density ~ 0.35 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 826 km²/h

ELIMINARY

Example: VQ-780 II at 150,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 9,900 ft AGL, Speed 160 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 0.68 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 708 km²/h

Results:

Point Density ~ 3.8 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 252 km²/h

PRExample: VQ-780 II at 250,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 9,700 ft AGL, Speed 140 kn

Example: VQ-780 II at 500,000 pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 4,400 ft AGL, Speed 110 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• full FOV of 60°• 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.

Uniform Point Pattern• The line to line spacing is equal to the average point to point spacing.

Data Sheet

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

3

Measurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ®-780 II

Results:

Point Density ~ 4.17 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 461 km²/h

ELIMINARY

Example: VQ-780 II at 1.0 mill. pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 5,200 ft AGL, Speed 170 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 9.82 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 391 km²/h

Results:

Point Density ~ 22.73 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 169 km²/h

PR

Example: VQ-780 II at 2.0 mill. pulses/sec, laser power level 100%
Altitude = 5,000 ft AGL, Speed 150 kn

Example: VQ-780 II at 2.0 mill. pulses/sec, laser power level 50%
Altitude = 2,700 ft AGL, Speed 120 kn

4

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• full FOV of 60°• 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.

Uniform Point Pattern• The line to line spacing is equal to the average point to point spacing.

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

Data SheetMeasurement Range & Point Density RIEGL VQ®-780 II

Results:

Point Density ~ 26.68 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 144 km²/h

ELIMINARY

Example: VQ-780 II at 2.0 mill. pulses/sec, laser power level 25%
Altitude = 2,400 ft AGL, Speed 115 kn

Results:

Point Density ~ 29.46 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 130 km²/h

Results:

Point Density ~ 51.14 pts/m²
Area Acquisition Rate ~ 75 km²/h

PR

Example: VQ-780 II at 2.0 mill. pulses/sec, laser power level 12%
Altitude = 2,500 ft AGL, Speed 100 kn

Example: VQ-780 II at 2.0 mill. pulses/sec, laser power level 6%
Altitude = 1,800 ft AGL, Speed 80 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• full FOV of 60°• 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.

Uniform Point Pattern• The line to line spacing is equal to the average point to point spacing.

Data Sheet

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

5PRELIMINARYRIEGL VQ®-780 II Main Dimensions

all dimensions in mm

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

Data SheetTechnical Data RIEGL VQ®-780 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.

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

Range Measurement Performance

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

100%
500 kHz

1000 kHz

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
450%
2000 kHz

25%
2000 kHz12%
2000 kHz

6%
2000 kHz

1100 m1800 m

780 m
1300 m

560 m
940 m

400 m
680 m

900 m  3000 ft
1450 m
4800 ft
61 m
430 m
4640 m2100 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
4

ELIMIN

Laser 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)

ARY

Laser Power Level			Laser Pulse Repetition Rate (PRR) 1)
150 kHz250 kHzMax. 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)
1414PR1) 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

100 m20 mm
20 mm
150 kHz up to 2 MHz, selectable in steps of less than 1%up to 1333 kHz @ 60° scan angle
provided for each echo signal
near infrared≤ 0.18 mrad @ 1/e 16), typ. 0.25 mrad @ 1/e² 17)

Scanner Performance

Scanning Mechanism
Scan Pattern
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 to
its 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

rotating polygon mirror
parallel scan lines± 30° = 60°
20 18) - 300 lines/sec0.006° ≤  ≤ 0.108° 19) 20)
0.001°
15) For smart and full waveform recording themax. laser PRR is limited to 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 8

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

7

		Technical Data RIEGL VQ®-780 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)
High-speed 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
2 x power, RS232, 1 pps, trigger, exposureCamera interface

General Technical Data

Power Supply / Power Consumption
Main Dimensions (length x width x height)
Weight18 - 32 V DC / typ. 160 W
425 mm x 212 mm x 331 mm
approx. 20 kg

Protection Class
Max. Flight Altitude operating / not operating
Temperature Range operation / storage

IP54
18500 ft (5600 m) above MSL1) / 18500 ft (5600 m) above MSL-5°C up to +40°C / -10°C up to +50°C

PRELIMIN

ARY1) Mean Sea Level

RIEGL
Laser Measurement Systems GmbH
Riedenburgstraße 483580 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-780II, 2019-10-29