3D digital mapping of cave spaces in Slovakia by terrestrial laser scanning

Terrestrial laser scanning emerges as a powerful tool for unified speleological mapping, bridging the gap between detailed morphological data and high-precision geodetic measurements. This study demonstrates its potential to standardize cave documentation in Slovakia, where current practices lack consistency. By combining non-contact surveying technology with traditional speleological methods, researchers achieve maps that are both accurate and rich in morphological detail. The approach addresses longstanding challenges in cave mapping, offering a solution for comprehensive, high-fidelity representations of underground spaces. This advancement supports environmental education, tourism, and scientific research, particularly in the Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Bartos, K., Pukanska, K., Rakay, S., Sabova, J., & Bella, P. (2018). 3D digital mapping of cave spaces in Slovakia by terrestrial laser scanning. Advances and Trends in Geodesy, Cartography and Geoinformatics, 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429505645-2