XYGO, based in Santiago, Chile, is using Topcon Positioning Systems' (TPS) IP-S2 to map all of central Chile's main cities with LiDAR.

The IP-S2 is a vehicle-mounted system with three laser scanners and a multi-lens digital camera. Data collection can be performed at normal roadway travel speeds as the system collects millions of LiDAR points and 360° spherical images.

Topcon's processing and analysis software fuses the two data products together into an immersive 3D view of the mapped areas.

Formerly know as Dmapas, XYGO is the leading provider of digital map data, GIS solutions, and street address databases for Chile, Argentina, and Peru. The company's existing databases cover more than 93 percent of the population areas in Chile. Mapping the selected cities with LiDAR is another step the company is taking to provide clients with the most complete and dynamic data, organized in a geo-spatial environment to help them on their business management.

Earlier this year, XYGO purchased the IP-S2 mobile mapping system for a special project in southern Chile. An existing customer needed street cross sections for water line routing. Previously XYGO used conventional data collection methods and vehicles with camera-only mapping systems. A system with laser scanners was needed to produce the required deliverables.

"The IP-S2 enables XYGO to supply the added value of LiDAR data to our clients," said Patricio Escobar, development and services manager for Latin America. "We are constantly implementing new technologies to meet the changing needs of data consumers."

TPS's mobile mapping system has greatly improved XYGO's productivity. Escobar expects to complete the extensive city mapping project in record time. Using old methodology, it would take months to map one city. With the IP-S2, XYGO mapped three complete cities in a 120-mile radius in 12 days for their customer in Punta Arenas.

"The IP-S2 significantly decreases the amount of time to complete projects. Bottom line is we can produce more data with a higher level of information," Escobar said.