Large-scale and high-resolution 3-D cave mapping by terrestrial laser scanning: a case study of the Domica Cave, Slovakia

A groundbreaking study demonstrates that terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) can revolutionize cave mapping by capturing over 11.9 billion points with millimeter-scale accuracy, far surpassing traditional tacheometric methods. The research, conducted in the Domica Cave within Slovakia's Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site, achieved an impressive registration error of just 2.24 mm (RMSE) by using reference spheres across 327 scanning positions over five days. This high-resolution 3-D data set, representing nearly 1600 meters of cave passages, enables unprecedented volumetric and spatial analyses, paving the way for simulating subsurface processes that shape karst landscapes. The study highlights TLS's potential to transform cave research with its speed, precision, and portability, offering a new standard for large-scale geological documentation.

Gallay, M., Kaňuk, J., Hochmuth, Z., Meneely, J., Hofierka, J., Sedlák, V.,. (2015). Large-scale and high-resolution 3-D cave mapping by terrestrial laser scanning: a case study of the Domica Cave, Slovakia. International Journal of Speleology, 44(3), 277–291. https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806x.44.3.6