Introduction to mobile mapping with portable systems

Portable mobile mapping systems (PMMSs) are an emerging technology, increasingly employed in different application fields. Their distinctive feature is the ability to acquire 3D information on-the-move, and, unlike vehicle-based MMSs, the possibility to efficiently document narrow, indoor and confined environments. The present chapter provides an overview of PMMSs, with a taxonomy of the available platforms and a description of hardware components and data processing algorithms. A review about 3D quality assessment and typical applications is also reported, with the aim of providing readers with the basic knowledge and understanding of potentialities and challenges of this promising technology.