Airborne Laser Scanner for Full Waveform Analysis
LMS-Q560
• full waveform analysis for unlimited
number of target echoes
• high laser pulse repetition rate
up to 240 kHz
• high mean measurement rate
up to 160 000 measurements/sec
• high ranging accuracy of 20 mm
• interface for smooth integration of GPS
• eye safe for operation at any altitude
• parallel scan lines
• compact and rugged design,
single power supply
• wide operating temperature range
Airborne Laser Scanning
The RIEGL® LMS-Q560 is a revolutionary 2D laser scanner
applying the latest state-of-the-art digital signal processing
technique which meets the most challenging requirements
in airborne laser scanning.
The RIEGL LMS-Q560 gives access to detailed target parameters by
digitizing the echo signal online during data acquisition, and
subsequent off-line waveform analysis. This method is especially
valuable when dealing with difficult tasks, such as canopy height
investigation or target classification. The operational parameters of
the RIEGL LMS-Q560 can be configured to cover a wide field of
applications. Comprehensive interface features support smooth
integration of the instrument into complete airborne scanning
systems.
The instrument makes use of the time-of-flight distance measurement
principle of nanosecond infrared pulses. Fast opto-mechanical
beam scanning provides absolutely linear, unidirectional and parallel
scan lines. The instrument is extremely rugged, therefore ideally suited
for the installation on aircraft. Also, it is compact and lightweight
enough to be installed in small twin- or single-engine planes,
helicopters or UAVs. The instrument needs only one power supply and
GPS timing signals to provide online monitoring data while logging the
precisely time-stamped and digitized echo signal data to the rugged
RIEGL Data Recorder.
·Topography & Mining
·Corridor Mapping
·City Modeling
·Mapping of Lakesides & River Banks
·Agriculture & Forestry
·Target Classification
·Glacier & Snowfield Mapping
·Power Lines
visit our website www.riegl.com
LASER MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
Echo Digitization of the RIEGL LMS-Q560

1 2 3 The digitization feature of the RIEGL

LMS-Q560 enables the user to extract most

Echo Signal

Echo Signal

Echo Signal
Laser Pulse

Laser Pulse

Laser Pulse
comprehensive information from the echo
signals. Figure 1 illustrates a measurement
situation where 3 laser measurements are
taken on different types of targets. The red
pulses symbolize the laser signals travelling
towards the target with the speed of light.
When the signal interacts with the diffusely
reflecting target surface, a fraction of the
transmitted signal is reflected towards the
laser instrument, indicated by the blue
signals.

In situation 1, the laser pulse hits the canopy

first and causes three distinct echo pulses. A
fraction of the laser pulse also hits the
Fig. 1 Echo signals resulting from ground giving rise to another echo pulse. In situation 2, the laser beam is
different types of targets reflected from a flat surface at a small angle of incidence yielding an extended
echo pulse width. In situation 3, the pulse is simply reflected by a flat surface at
perpendicular incidence resulting in one single echo pulse with a shape
identical to the transmitted laser pulse.

The upper line of the acquisition diagram shows

the analog signals: the first (red) pulse relates to a
fraction of the laser transmitter pulse, and the
next 3 (blue) pulses correspond to the reflections
by the branches of the tree; the last pulse
corresponds to the ground reflection.

This analog echo signal is sampled at constant

time intervals (middle line) and is, in the following,
analog-to-digital converted, resulting in a digital
data stream (bottom line of the acquisition
section). This data stream is stored in the RIEGL
Data Recorder for subsequent off-line post
processing, as indicated in the post-processing
section of the diagram.

Based upon RIEGL's long-standing expertise and

experience in designing, manufacturing and
marketing digitizing laser rangefinders for
Fig. 2 Data acquisition and post challenging industrial and surveying applications, and due to the careful design
processing of the analog and digital front-end electronics, the LMS-Q560 records the
complete information of the echo signal over a wide dynamic range. Thus, in
post-processing the signal can be perfectly reconstructed and analyzed in
detail to precisely derive target distance, target type, and other parameters .

2
 Maximum Measurement Range & Point Density for RIEGL LMS-Q560

PRR = 240 kHz PRR = 240 kHz

[m] [ft] Flight Alt. Swath Width
800 640 50,00
ft (m) AGL FOV FOV
2000 60° 45°
750 600
45,00
700 560
1800

Altitude AGL
650 520
40,00 FOV
1600
600 480 45°
Maximum Measurement Range [m]

Point Density [pts/m²]

35,00 60°
550 440

Operating Flight Altitude AGL

1400
swath width
500 400
30,00 swath width
450 360 1200 1000 ft
(~300m)
400 320 25,00
1000 1250 ft
350 280 (~380m) 352m

white plaster work, limestone

20,00
300 240 800 1500 ft
(~450m) 440m 253m
250 200
cliffs, sand, masonry

600 15,00 528m 316m

200 160
coniferous trees

deciduous trees

379m
150 120 400 ~1010,00
dry asphalt

terra cotta
dry snow

100 80
wet ice

200 5,00
50 40

0 0 0,00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Target Reflectivity [%] Speed [kn]

@ visibility 23 km Example: Q560 at 240,000 pulses/second

@ visibility 15 km Altitude = 1250ft AGL, Speed = 80 kn
@ visibility 8 km Resulting Point Density ~ 10 pts/m²

For the Operating Flight Altitude AGL, the following conditions are assumed
• target size ≥
laser footprint • average ambient brightness
• scan angle 60° • roll angle +/-6°

PRR = 180 kHz PRR = 180 kHz

[m] [ft] Flight Alt. Swath Width
1000 800 2600 30,00
ft (m) AGL FOV FOV
AGL 60° 45°
2400
900 720

Altitude AGL
2200 25,00
800 640 FOV
2000
45°
Maximum Measurement Range [m]

700 560 1000 ft 60°

1800 (~300m)
Operating Flight Altitude AGL

Point Density [pts/m²]

20,00
swath width
600 480 1600
1250 ft swath width
(~380m)
1400 352m
500 400 15,00
1500 ft
1200 (~450m)
440m 253m
white plaster work, limestone

400 320
1000
2000 ft 528m
(~600m) 316m
10,00
300 240 800
cliffs, sand, masonry

379m
704m
coniferous trees

deciduous trees

600
505m
200 160 ~6.5
dry asphalt

400 5,00
terra cotta
dry snow
wet ice

100 80
200

0 0 0 0,00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Target Reflectivity [%] Speed [kn]

@ visibility 23 km Example: Q560 at 180,000 pulses/second

@ visibility 15 km Altitude = 1500ft AGL, Speed = 80 kn
@ visibility 8 km Resulting Point Density ~ 6.5 pts/m²

3
 Maximum Measurement Range & Point Density for RIEGL LMS-Q560

PRR = 100 kHz PRR = 100 kHz

[m] [ft] Flight Alt. Swath Width
1400 1120 14,00
ft (m) AGL FOV FOV
3500 60° 45°
1300 1040
3250
1200 960 12,00

Altitude AGL
1000 ft
3000 (~300m)
1100 880 FOV
2750 45°
Maximum Measurement Range [m]

1000 800 10,00 60°

1250 ft

Operating Flight Altitude AGL

2500
(~380m)
900 720 352m swath width

Point Density [pts/m²]

2250
swath width
800 640 8,00 1500 ft
2000 (~450m)
440m 253m
700 560
1750
600 480 6,00 2000 ft 528m

white plaster work, limestone

1500 (~600m) 316m

500 400 379m

1250 2600 ft
(~800m ) 704m
cliffs, sand, masonry

400 320 4,00

1000 505m
915m
coniferous trees

deciduous trees

300 240 750 657m

~2.4
dry asphalt

terra cotta

200 160
dry snow

500 2,00
wet ice

100 80 250

0 0 0,00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Target Reflectivity [%] Speed [kn]

@ visibility 23 km Example: Q560 at 100,000 pulses/second

@ visibility 15 km Altitude = 2000ft AGL, Speed = 80 kn
@ visibility 8 km Resulting Point Density ~ 2.4 pts/m²

For the Operating Flight Altitude AGL, the following conditions are assumed
• target size ≥
laser footprint • average ambient brightness
• scan angle 60° • roll angle +/-6°

PRR = 50 kHz PRR = 50 kHz

[m] [ft] Flight Alt. Swath Width
2000 1600 6,00
ft (m) AGL FOV FOV
1900 1520 5000 AGL 60° 45°

1800 1440

Altitude AGL
1700 1360 4500
5,00
1600 1280 1250 ft FOV
(~380m)
1500 1200 4000 45°
Maximum Measurement Range [m]

1400 1120 60°

Operating Flight Altitude AGL

3500 4,00
1300 1040 1500 ft swath width
Point Density [pts/m²]

(~450m)
1200 960 440m swath width
3000
1100 880
1000 800 3,00 2000 ft 528m 316m
2500 (~600m)
900 720
white plaster work, limestone

800 640 379m

2000 2600 ft
(~800m) 704m
700 560
2,00
3300 ft 505m
cliffs, sand, masonry

600 480
1500 (~1000m) 915m
500 400
coniferous trees

deciduous trees

1161m 657m
400 320 1000 833m
dry asphalt

~1 1,00
terra cotta

300 240
dry snow
wet ice

200 160 500

100 80
0 0 0,00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Target Reflectivity [%] Speed [kn]

@ visibility 23 km Example: Q560 at 50,000 pulses/second

@ visibility 15 km Altitude = 2600ft AGL, Speed = 80 kn
@ visibility 8 km Resulting Point Density ~ 1 pts/m²

4
 Dimensional Drawings RIEGL LMS-Q560

origin of scanner‘s
local coordinate system

165
power interface

data interface

rear view
3 x M8 threads, beam aperture 3 x M8 threads, 3 x M8 threads,
depth 10 mm window depth 10 mm depth 10 mm
9 8
110.75

52
81.5 81.5
95.5

156
132
75 104.5 104.5

161.5

419.5
30

100
100
30

110

100
bottom view 3.4 side view top view
2

desiccant cartridge

200 212

nitrogen valve

227.5

front view
all dimensions in mm

5
 Technical Data RIEGL LMS-Q560
Laser Product Classification Class 1 Laser Product according to IEC60825-1:2007 CLASS 1
The following clause applies for instruments delivered into the United States: LASER PRODUCT
Complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 except for deviations pursuant
to Laser Notice No. 50, dated June 24, 2007.

Range Measurement Performance as a function of PRR and target reflectivity

Laser Pulse Repetition Rate 50 kHz 100 kHz 180 kHz 200 kHz 240 kHz
1)
max. Unambiguous Measurement Range
natural target ρ
≥20 % 1200 m 1000 m 780 m 700 m 580 m
natural target ρ
≥60 % 1800 m 1200 m 800 m 700 m 580 m
max. Operating Flight Altitude AGL2) 1000 m 800 m 600 m 550 m 450 m
3300 ft 2600 ft 2000 ft 1800 ft 1500 ft
1) The following conditions are assumed:target is larger than the footprint of the laser beam average ambient brightness
perpendicular angle of incidence visibility 23 km
2) Reflectivity r
³20 %, max. scan angle 60°, additional roll angle +/- 5°

Minimum Range 30 m
Accuracy3) 4) 20 mm
Precision3) 5) 10 mm
Laser Pulse Repetition Rate6) up to 240 000 Hz
Effective Measurement Rate up to 120 kHz @ 45° scan angle
to 160 kHz @ 60° scan angle
Laser Wavelength near infrared
Laser Beam Divergence7) ≤ 0.5 mrad
Number of Targets per Pulse digitized waveform processing: unlimited 8)
online monitoring data output: first pulse or last pulse
Scanner Performance
Scanning Mechanism rotating polygon mirror
Scan Pattern parallel scan lines
Scan Angle Range ± 22.5° = 45° total ( ± 30° = 60° total 9) )
Scan Speed 10 - 160 lines/sec
Angular Step Width ∆
ϑ ∆ ϑ ≥ 0.004° ( for PRR in excess of 100 000 Hz 10) )
6)

between consecutive laser shots

Angle Measurement Resolution 0.001°
Scan Sync option for synchronizing scan lines to external timing signal
3) Standard deviation one sigma @ 250 m range under 6) User selectable
RIEGL test conditions. 7) 0.5 mrad correspond to 50 cm increase of beam width per 1000 m distance
4) Accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured 8) Practically limited only by the maximum data rate allowed for the RIEGL Data Recorder
quantity to its actual (true) value. 9) Up to 60° with 90% of maximum measurement range
5) Precision, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the 10) Minimum angle step width increasing linearly to 0.008° @ 50000 Hz laser pulse repetition rate
degree to which further measurements show the same result.

Intensity Measurement
For each echo signal, high-resolution 16-bit intensity information is provided
which can be used for target discrimination and/or identification/classification.

Data Interfaces
Configuration TCP/IP Ethernet (10/100 MBit), RS232 (19.2 kBd)
Monitoring Data Output TCP/IP Ethernet (10/100 MBit)
Digitized Data Output high speed serial data link to RIEGL Data Recorder
GPS-System serial RS232 interface, TTL input for 1pps synchronization pulse,
accepts different data formats for GPS-time information
General Technical Data
Power Supply 18 - 32 VDC
Current Consumption approx. 5 A @ 24 VDC
Main Dimensions (L x W x H) 420 x 212 x 228 mm
Weight 16 kg
Protection Class IP54
Max. Flight Altitude (operating) 16 500 ft (5 000 m) above MSL
Max. Flight Altitude ( not operating) 18 000 ft (5 500 m) above MSL
Temperature Range 0°C up to +40°C (operation) / -15°C up to +50°C (storage)
Mounting of IMU-Sensor steel thread inserts on the top and on the sides of the laser scanner,
rigidly connected to the inner structure of the scanning mechanism

® RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH, 3580 Horn, Austria

LASER MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
Tel.: +43-2982-4211, Fax: +43-2982-4210, E-mail: office@riegl.co.at
RIEGL USA Inc., Orlando, Florida 32819, USA
Tel.: +1-407-248-9927, Fax: +1-407-248-2636, E-mail: info@rieglusa.com
RIEGL Japan Ltd., Tokyo 1640013, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-3382-7340, Fax: +81-3-3382-5843, E-mail: info@riegl-japan.co.jp

www.riegl.com
Information contained herein is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility Data sheet LMS-Q560, 20/09/2010
is assumed by RIEGL for its use. Technical data are subject to change without notice.