Abstract: A system for measuring the displacement of a surface in a material handling system relative to a base reference is provided. The system includes scanning means to generate point cloud data of the surface relative to a reference point to define a three-dimensional image of the surface, storage means to store base reference data in respect of the base reference, and processing means to process the point cloud data and the base reference data to determine the relative displacement of the surface with respect to the base reference. The processing means includes a referencing means to orientate the point cloud data relative to key reference data of the base surface and transforming the point cloud data and the base reference data into a common co-ordinate system, and displacement processing means to calculate the displacement between the surface and the base reference using both sets of data in the co-ordinate system.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the displacement of a surface relative to a base reference, as well as for mapping the displacement of the surface relative to the base reference. A laser scanner generates point cloud data in respect of a measure of the spatial orientation of a distal surface relative to a reference point to define a three-dimensional image of the surface. Reference data is stored in respect of the spatial orientation of a base reference relative to the surface. processing means to process said point cloud data and said base reference data to determine the relative displacement of said surface with respect to said base reference.