Mobile Mapping Lidar: Mosaic Meridian Meets Ranger

Mobile Mapping Lidar: Mosaic Meridian Meets Ranger for Efficient 3D Data

Mosaic and New Compass Solutions are making the capture and extraction of lidar mobile mapping data easier than ever through the integration of the Mosaic Meridian Mobile Mapping System with Ranger and Pathfinder, allowing quick insights from lidar and panoramic imagery.

In this article:

• How Mosaic Meridian delivers efficient, high-quality mobile mapping
• How Ranger and Pathfinder simplify cloud-based extraction workflows
• Why sensor-agnostic tools future-proof your data
• What it means for surveying, utilities, and infrastructure teams

The New Mosaic Meridian and New Compass Integration

For years, mobile mapping teams have faced a familiar set of challenges — disconnected workflows, slow data transfers, and software tied to specific hardware. The new integration between Mosaic and New Compass aims to change that.

Now, data captured with the Mosaic Meridian Mobile Mapping System is fully compatible with Ranger, New Compass’s cloud-based extraction platform, and Pathfinder, its browser-based visualization tool.

For professionals in surveying, utilities, transportation, and infrastructure mapping, that means processed Meridian data can be extracted quickly with highly customizable tools in an incredibly user-friendly platform. 

In simple terms: capture with Meridian, extract in Ranger, view in Pathfinder – an easy workflow that reduces friction and accelerates results.

How the Mosaic Meridian System Simplifies Mobile Mapping

Mobile mapping has always been powerful, but often heavy, complex, and costly to deploy. The Mosaic Meridian was designed to change that.

It combines Mosaic’s global-shutter camera with the Phoenix Scout-M2X lidar to create a single, calibrated unit capable of capturing crisp imagery and dense, colorized point clouds in one pass.

• Sharp, undistorted imagery at highway speeds with global shutter sensors
• Survey-grade accuracy: 2–3 cm vertical, 2–4 cm horizontal

Meridian strikes a balance between data richness and efficiency. It captures point clouds that are detailed enough for precise extraction but streamlined for faster uploads and lighter storage needs.

Mosaic also designed Meridian to overcome three long-standing challenges:

• Integration: Components are factory-calibrated and ready to use out of the box.
• Usability: Setup takes minutes, not days of training.
• Cost: Delivers professional results at a fraction of traditional system prices.

Together, these features make high-quality mobile mapping more accessible to organizations that need speed, precision, and reliability in the field.

How Ranger Handles Lidar Extraction at Scale

Most lidar extraction platforms were built for desktop workflows. They require massive local downloads, complex file management, and expensive hardware. Ranger takes a different approach.

Ranger is a cloud-native lidar extraction platform designed to handle even the largest datasets in real time. Users stream data directly from secure AWS cloud storage — eliminating the need for file transfers or specialized local software.

Data stays protected in a controlled cloud environment, enabling secure collaboration across distributed teams. Extractors can work simultaneously on the same datasets, classifying and validating results from anywhere.

Ranger’s modular structure lets organizations build exactly what they need:

• Basic Module: Upload, manage, and organize projects; create custom data dictionaries; export GIS-ready results.
• Audit Module: Automatically validates results using statistical defect sampling for 95% confidence quality scores.
• Classification Module: Uses machine learning to sort point clouds into categories like ground, vegetation, poles, buildings, and wires.
• Vegetation Encroachment Module: Detects trees, measures wire clearance, and analyzes fall-risk zones for vegetation management programs.

By blending automation with expert review, Ranger keeps extraction workflows fast, accurate, and consistent – turning raw lidar into actionable infrastructure data.

How Pathfinder Makes Visualization and Collaboration Easier

Complex geospatial data shouldn’t require high-end workstations or specialized software. Pathfinder makes it accessible in any modern web browser.

The interface synchronizes panoramic imagery, lidar point clouds, and extracted assets in a single 3D view. Users can take precise measurements of distance, area, or elevation directly within the scene.

Pathfinder also supports layered data for deeper analysis, including:

• GIS and asset management databases
• Maintenance records
• Planning and inspection documents

These layers transform Pathfinder from a viewer into a collaborative hub for teams and stakeholders. Users can save key locations, share links, and exchange notes in real time — ensuring everyone works from the same visual context without transferring files.

Why Sensor-Agnostic Design Matters

In an industry where hardware evolves quickly, flexibility is everything. New Compass Solutions built Ranger and Pathfinder to be fully sensor-agnostic — meaning they accept data from any mobile mapping system, not just one manufacturer.

Whether your data comes from Mosaic Meridian, Riegl, Leica, or Optech, the workflow stays the same. This open approach:

• Removes vendor lock-in
• Simplifies multi-vendor projects
• Protects long-term software investments

If your organization upgrades hardware or works with multiple contractors, there’s no need to change tools, retrain teams, or rebuild processes. Ranger and Pathfinder adapt — not the other way around.

What This Means for the Future of Mobile Mapping

The integration of Mosaic Meridian data into Ranger and Pathfinder reflects a shared vision: making professional-grade geospatial tools more open, flexible, and usable.

Mosaic delivers accessible, high-accuracy mobile mapping hardware.
New Compass provides the cloud-based infrastructure to extract and visualize that data efficiently.

Together, they form a complete, end-to-end workflow – from capture to extraction to visualization – that’s faster, lighter, and more collaborative than traditional systems.

Whether you’re already using Mosaic Meridian, exploring mobile mapping options, or managing data from multiple lidar sources, New Compass Solutions provides the software foundation to make your geospatial data work harder.

About New Compass Solutions

New Compass Solutions is a Northern Virginia–based geospatial intelligence company specializing in cloud-native lidar and imagery platforms.

• Ranger: Scalable, sensor-agnostic platform for 3D data extraction and analysis.
• Pathfinder: Web-based visualization tool for lidar, panoramic imagery, and extracted assets.

New Compass serves municipal, utility, transportation, and telecommunications clients with comprehensive, collaborative infrastructure intelligence solutions.

About Mosaic

Mosaic is a leader in 360° camera and mobile mapping technology, offering high-resolution, high-speed imaging systems for mapping, surveying, and infrastructure management. Its products are built for reliability, ease of use, and seamless integration into modern geospatial workflows.

For More Information

To learn more about integrating Mosaic Meridian data with Ranger and Pathfinder, or to schedule a demonstration, contact New Compass Solutions at info@newcompass.com.

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