Research Facility/Centre | Reality Capture and Digitization Technology Access Centre (RCD TAC)

Institution:
Location:
St. John's

For over 20 years, College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Office of Applied Research and Innovation has been a trusted innovation partner for the provision applied research services in Newfoundland and Labrador and across the country. Over the last four years, the College’s Centre for Reality Capture and Digitization Technology Access Centre has conducted over 240 applied research projects with over 100 companies utilizing applications for our state of the art reality capture technologies. The RCD TAC is home to more than 20 expert researchers and staff to assist with partner applied research.

The RCD TAC, a NSERC funded research centre, is home to one of Canada’s most advanced reality capture technology inventories under one roof. Specializing in mobile digital mapping, the CRCD offers access to  hyperspectral + LiDAR drone systems, automomy Level IV LiDAR drones, ultra-high definition metrology scanning, a variety handheld and vehicle mounted SLAM technologies, a full-spectrum hyperspectral line scanner and topbathymetric + Lidar drone systems – all of which are designed to provide partners with rapid object and environment 3D digital models.

Recent projects have included high density point cloud LIDAR applications for aircraft dent mapping and ultra-high definition metrology scanning applications for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).

The RCD TAC’s nCore mobile hyperspectral line scanner is housed in a 8’X20’ sea container and is currently equipped with five hyperspectral cameras capable of scanning wavelengths from the VIS-NIR, SWIR, MWIR and LWIR (400–5000 nm and 8000–12000 nm ranges) and is also equipped with a RGB camera, and a 3D laser profiler.

Our hyperspectral + LiDAR drone system offers high-resolution spectral imagery and accurate topographical data for defence applications that could include target detection and identification, chemical and biological agent detection, and terrain and environmental monitoring/mapping.

RCD TAC’s autonomous LiDAR drone is equipped with advanced navigation systems and sensors that allow them to fly and capture data without human intervention. These drones can be used for large-scale mapping and surveying projects, as well as for applications such as infrastructure inspection and monitoring.

Ultra-high-definition metrology scanners provide fast, detailed measurements of complex surfaces and geometries down to the sub-millimeter level. These scanners can be deployed for inspecting critical components such as engines and infrastructure.