APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAPPING SURFACES OF AN OBJECT

An apparatus and method for mapping surfaces of an object, such as a structure or vehicle, that utilizes transceivers mounted on portable support structures to orient a probe to form a local global positioning satellite (GPS) system. The probe is placed on reference points of the object and information related to the reference point is input into a data processor. The processor uses the reference points are used to identify and orient the object, and a model of the object is retrieved from memory. Additional position data of the object is gathered and processed to generate a graphical image of the object being mapped. The model is compared to the mapped image of the object and structural damage is assessed. Information relating to repair procedures is output to a workstation and the area under repair can be mapped to evaluate the success of the repair procedure.