Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided for producing an improved panoramic image. A three-dimensional point cloud image is generated from an optical distancing system. Additionally, at least one two-dimensional image is generated from at least one camera. The three-dimensional point cloud image is colorized with the at least one two-dimensional image, thereby forming a colorized three-dimensional point cloud image. An equal area projection panoramic image is synthesized from the colorized three-dimensional point cloud, wherein the panoramic image comprises a plurality of pixels, and each pixel in the plurality of pixels represents a same amount of area.