Rachakonda, P.
, Muralikrishnan, B.
, Sawyer, D.
and Cournoyer, L.
(2018),
Software to Determine Sphere Center from Terrestrial Laser Scanner Data per ASTM Standard E3125- 17, Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.123.006, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=924703 (Accessed May 10, 2026)
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Software to Determine Sphere Center from Terrestrial Laser Scanner Data per ASTM Standard E3125- 17
Published
Author(s)
, , Daniel Sawyer, Luc Cournoyer
Abstract
Terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs) are instruments that can measure 3D coordinates of objects at high speed using a laser, resulting in high density 3D point cloud data. The Dimensional Metrology Group (DMG) at NIST performed research to support the development of documentary standards within ASTM E57 committee on 3D imaging systems. This led to the publication of the ASTM E3125-2017 standard on point-to-point distance performance evaluation of 3D imaging systems such as TLSs. To ensure that the data from different TLS systems are processed identically, the ASTM E3125- 2017 mandates the use of a common algorithm to determine the center of a sphere from point cloud data. This paper describes this algorithm and software code is provided as a download.Citation
Journal of Research (NIST JRES) -
Volume
123
NIST Pub Series
Pub Type
NIST Pubs
Download Paper
Keywords
3D point cloud, sphere fitting, terrestrial laser scanner data
Citation
Issues
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Created July 12, 2018, Updated May 7, 2026