TLS-Defo: Advanced Monitoring of Infrastructure

This summer school is designed to get insights in using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) for deformation analyses. Participants will gain expertise in several stages of the process chain — from data acquisition and quality assessment to deformation quantification and interpretation.

About the Summer School

Monitoring of critical infrastructure to detect structural damages at an early stage to prevent catastrophes is a key task in engineering geodesy and related disciplines. Increasingly, LiDAR technology and especially terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is used for surface-based measurements. This Summer School provides participants with insights into data acquisition, processing, and interpretation of such spatially comprehensive datasets.

When: September 7-11, 2026
Duration: 5 days full-time
Where: University of Bonn, Germany
Fee: 700€ covering accommodation, breakfast and lunch. Dinner will be provided on three days. In exceptional cases (valid justification needed), participants can apply for a scholarschip via Email  to: tls.defo.summer-school@uni-bonn.de

Target Group 

Eligible are MSc or PhD students with a background in Engineering Geodesy, Geomatics, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Earth Science and Structural and Civil Engineering with basic knowlegde in Terrestrial Laser Scanning. 

Objectives 

The Summer School aims to introduce participants to surface-based deformation analysis using point clouds, with a focus on critical infrastructure. Participants will gain practical knowledge in data acquisition, quality assurance, and various analysis methods for reliable interpretation of surface-based monitoring data. 

Teaching Methods

The program emphasizes hands-on workshops lasting half or full days. At summer school, each participant will attend at three workshops (one full day, two half day). Assignment of participants to workshop is based on indicated preferences. Confirmation will be provided in due time to allow for adequate preparation. Each workshop begins with introductory lectures, followed by practical sessions where participants independently acquire, analyze, interpret, and present data. We will offer the following workshops:

• Generating High-End Points Clouds – From Data Acquisition to Quality Assurance (full-day)
• Point Cloud Based Deformation Analysis - Standard Procedures and Advanced Methods (full-day)
• Freeform Surface Representation From TLS-Point Clouds (half-day)
• Learning Geometry - A Practical Introduction to Neural Distance Fields (half-day)
• Low-Cost LiDAR for Geodetic Monitoring: Errors, Limitations and Capabilities (half-day)
• Analysis of Deformation of Cylindrical Objects Based on the Expansion of Point Clouds Onto a Plane (half-day)

Keynote lectures by experts will complement the program.

Poster Session

Participants will present their current research in a poster session, fostering discussion and exchange.

Venue

The Summer School will mainly take place at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation on the Poppelsdorf campus of the University of Bonn. Accommodation will be provided within the city of Bonn with convenient access to the campus. Additional activities will be held at the Campus Klein-Altendorf, with transportation arranged. 

Excursion

The summer school includes a technical excursion with a geodetic focus, where participants will explore various calibration and testing facilities for terrestrial laser scanners. A non-technical excursion will provide opportunities for networking.