SSI CSL-90 Lidar Scanner Gets an Upgrade
SSI's flagship lidar scanner is more powerful than ever

CSL-90 Lidar Scanner Details
The SSI CSL-90 lidar scanning system uses a solid state lidar that captures more than 1-million points per second. This lidar unit is built different. No rotating parts while it captures frames of data that are only pavement facing. With a width of 13-feet (4m) and the high frame rate, the CSL-90 captures a 1″x1″ grid at 75 mph. Requiring only one pass per lane. Collecting all necessary data for ride quality, cross-slope, and survey.
The accuracy of the sensor is tuned to a specific range to yield a vertical accuracy of 0.5mm. SSI’s INS unit and GPS post-processing software gives the CSL-90 survey grade capability.
The CSL-90 can be paired with an inertial profiler or Zero-Speed system to collect DOT certified smoothness profiles.
Highly portable or fixed mounting options are available using the same head assembly, electronics, and computer.
What is Proven
The CSL-90 can collect profile data that rivals the quality of the inertial profiler. This has been trialed at multiple DOT certification tracks where the IRI values being returned by the lidar are very close to the inertial profiler. The key difference is that the lidar data can extract any line within the lane. Not just the wheelpaths.
Data collected by the CSL-90 can be used to extract profile data (IRI, MRI, PRI), cross-slope, rutting. The raw data can be stitched together to create detailed point cloud surfaces.
The SSI CSL-90 improves on the SSI CS9500 Survey Profiler by:
- A single, portable scanning head
- Can be moved from vehicle to vehicle
- Factory calibrated. No in field calibrations
- Higher resolution. More points. More detail
What is New
SSI software has made improvements in 2025 to process the lidar point clouds data with a 2.5x rate on a laptop. This means for every minute you collect you can process the data into profiles or a point cloud in 2.5 minutes on the collection laptop. No high powered desktop or data upload to the cloud is required.
Most of the changes to the CSL-90 interface are targeted for contractors needing to collect the existing condition of a project. All to decrease the labor and effort to get a machine control model onto a mill or paver.
The SSI software can access John Deere Operations Center to upload models directly the Wirtgen milling machines outfitted with the Smart Level Pro system.