An Investigation into the Accuracy of LiDAR Technology for In-Home
Rehabilitation Planning: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Abstract
Effective home-based rehabilitation depends on accurate assessment. This
study evaluates the accuracy of LiDAR technology for home measurements
and has significant implications for the future of home-based
rehabilitation. Three researchers from different professional
backgrounds—a healthcare professional, a public health researcher, and
an engineer with expertise in the LiDAR system—scanned the interior of
a typical UK house using LiDAR-equipped devices (iPhone-13-ProMax,
iPad-Pro 11-inch, and Leica_BLK360-G1). Room dimensions were also
measured using tape as a reference standard with an accuracy of ±0.1 cm.
The environmental light level in each room was measured with a LUX-light
meter app (Google-Pixel3a). The reliability of the measurements from the
LiDAR devices was assessed against the tape measure, which served as the
reference standard, using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)
for absolute agreement. The environmental light ranged from 54 to 1051
LUX. All three devices demonstrated high reliability in measuring room
dimensions: iPad Pro (ICC =0.989 to 1.000), iPhone (ICC =0.967 to
0.999), and Leica (ICC =0.998 to 1.000). However, the Leica device
showed limitations under low-light conditions. These findings support
using LiDAR technology by healthcare professionals to accurately assess
patients’ home environments, facilitate sustainable rehabilitation
services, and potentially reduce the need for home visits.