MALSCE Board Approves Point Cloud Scoping and Acquisition Best Practice Guidelines

During their June Annual Meeting, members of the MALSCE Board of Directors approved the MALSCE Point Cloud Scoping and Acquisition Best Practice Guidelines. These guidelines are the product of a MALSCE committee that was charged with assessing and comparing the utility of the data produced by rapidly changing survey technologies. The resulting standards are focused on remote sensing point cloud data production. Their purpose is to both inform and protect the owner, service provider surveyors, and end user, when procuring and using point cloud data.

These standards aim to facilitate the process of asking for a scope and fee to conduct a survey to deliver a point cloud or derived model, such that all parties understand the steps and procedures they must take to assure the data being collected, processed, and then provided to the client, will meet the standards and accuracies being requested. 

When requesting a survey involving a point cloud or derived deliverable, MALSCE recommends using a registered Massachusetts professional land surveyor, professional engineer, and/or ASPRS certified photogrammetrist to perform the required work. MALSCE leaders encourage MALSCE members who are engaged in this type of work to utilize these standards and ensure that their final deliverable is accompanied by a stamped certified statement for the end use intent based on these standards.

These guidelines are seen as a living document which shall be informed and revised with continuing outreach, technology changes, and industry developments.