3D laser scanning of the natural caves: example of Škocjanske jame

Martel’s Chamber within the Škocjan Caves is confirmed as the 11th largest cave chamber globally, with a volume of 2.55 million cubic meters. This finding was achieved through an innovative 3D laser scanning approach, involving terrestrial laser scanning from 370 stations and aerial photogrammetry using unmanned vehicles. The method captured 8.3 billion points and 2,600 high-resolution photos, which were processed into a detailed point cloud model and surface model using advanced software like Reigl’s RiSCAN Pro and Hexagon’s 3D Reshaper. This high-resolution model enables precise volume calculations and the detection of geological and speleogenetic features, offering new insights into cave structures and their formation processes.

Walters, R., & Zupan Hajna, N. (2020). 3D laser scanning of the natural caves: example of Škocjanske jame. Geodetski Vestnik, 64(01), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.15292/geodetski-vestnik.2020.01.89-103