3D scanning just keeps getting better (but not cheaper!).

A post from Engadget: Topcon's IP-S2 Lite (~$300K) creates panoramic maps in 3D, spots every bump in the road (video) http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/topcons-ip-s2-lite-creates-panoramic-maps-in-3d-spots-every-bu/.

More from Topcon:

http://www.topconpositioning.com/products/mobile-mapping/ip-s2

http://global.topcon.com/news/20091204-4285.html

In China recently, we had the good fortune to collaborate in using a wonderful new ground-based (terrestrial) LiDAR scanner (TLS) from Riegl: The VZ-400, which fuzes LiDAR scans with images acquired from a digital camera (~$140K). Pictured at left- graduate students of the Chinese Academy of Forestry with us in the field- literally!