*2.4. Application of 'Fit' Algorithm*

As an alternative to the RANSAC segmentation pipeline, another possible way of segmenting the pavement was utilizing the fit algorithm within the CloudCompare suite. The fit tool creates a plane based on the points within the point cloud. It, therefore, considers the entire point cloud under analysis. To do this the process utilizes a standard least square fitting methodology of the points within the point cloud. This is based directly on the eigenvalues and vectors of the covariance matrix of the cloud so it can be considered as an efficient process.

Once this tool is applied, the distance of this plane from the point cloud can again be utilized to create a profile of the measured differences which will generate a depth map to understand the conditions of the pavement section. The depth maps generated from this simple methodology were compared to those from the RANSAC.
