It doesn’t matter where you stand right now, whether you’re an engineer or you’re a homeowner, many people can benefit from it and use the data long term working on your project. Is that your only project, or you’re doing ten of them every year, We will walk you through the understanding of its technology, multiple benefits, and best practices to use it.

Long story short, 3D laser scanning is a futuristic tool for capturing data about the object such as size, shape, color, position, and so on, 3D scanning is the process of data collection, but let’s learn more about it.

What is 3D Laser Scanning?

Application of 3D Scanning

The application of 3D laser scanners spans across various industries, proving to be a versatile and invaluable technology for capturing real-world data with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. Beyond its widespread use in construction and engineering, 3D scanning is also applicable in a diverse range of fields, revolutionizing processes and enhancing decision-making across industries.

Of course, there are many more fields where 3D scanning technology is used, and it will be getting more and more utilized, as it is an unparalleled solution for the progressive world to capture unusual sizes and shapes quickly and precisely.

Benefits of 3D Laser Scanning

The benefits of high-definition scanning are hard to underestimate in the architectural field. It has been used for a decade now and keeps progressing in terms of quality and speed, finding more areas of its use, and developing better solutions and techniques. Here are some of the primary advantages that laser 3D scanners bring to our work:

1. Speed. While it takes hours and days to correctly measure the structure, the scan data that we receive from a camera is gathered very quickly. Sometimes the scan process might look very time-consuming, however, if we take into account that it collects the information on x, y, and z coordinates, it actually collects more information in a shorter period of time. And, you only need to come once to the site to scan objects, without a need for multiple revisits.

2. Accuracy. Since the 3D scanning process is very complex, the scanners measure all disciplines at the same time, meaning that we not only have the dimensions of the items scanned, but we also accurately understand their relations to each other. There is no space for human mistakes like writing a wrong dimension, confusing somebody's writing, or forgetting to measure some objects. The errors still may occur during the BIM modeling stage, but they are easily detectable thanks to 3D data gathered during the survey.

3. Accessibility. You might not want to have your property scanned because you only need a regular floor plan now, but let's look at it in perspective. It is for a reason that you need this floor plan, and scanning is a technology that allows you to come back to the point cloud and work again with laser dots or lines, meaning that you can add more detailing to your project as you go. The best part is that once your property was hit by the laser beams and the point cloud was processed, you can keep on adding more details like ceiling information, door and window schedule, roof plans, lighting devices and so much more.

4. Ease of use. You will need 3D modeling software in order to work with the laser-scanned point cloud, and it is not easy to do without a specific skill set and software package, although, your team of professionals will benefit from using it widely. You can create the design and reconstruction and see how it fits within the digital 3D model.

Types of 3D scanning devices

Laser scanners progress quickly and we can see more and more scanners using different technologies on the market every year. Let's look into some most popular and most used scanner types:

The are two major types of 3D scanners:

LiDAR aka Light Detection and Ranging. The camera creates a laser pulse that projects laser light onto the object, and by receiving the reflection by the laser range finder of pulses of light the scanner understands the distances between the obstacles. The time-of-flight scanners also fall under the same type of equipment. LiDAR 3D scanners can be used to capture larger projects, like forests, archeology, and larger buildings, although they're good for smaller projects too. 

SLAM stands for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping. Most of the mobile scanners will be using this scanning system. SLAM 3D scanning is useful on time-sensitive or larger projects. How does it work? The latest 3D technology, where the scanner not only uses the laser for dimensions but also understands the location of the camera, evaluating the speed of movement and relocation of it.  These scanners will work best in environments where time is of the essence, like large warehouses, factories, schools, etc. 

How to choose the best 3D scanner?

Since nowadays we use a 3D scanner more often than ever before, we need to understand what camera to select and which of various software packages we need to prioritize to create a 3D model-twin of a real-life object.

The key point to remember is that scanning is a process of collecting the information in order to create a 3D model, therefore, we need to go from our needs and focus points when choosing a service or a camera.

We will not mention any names, because time is changing fast, but we will share some tips and what to consider when choosing the best camera.

Pretty much all 3D scanners work similarly, it will depend on your goals:

1. Is that speed or is that accuracy?

2. What is your budget frame?

3. Will you be using 3D modeling software?

Please consider your load of projects and potential use of 3D scanning devices before investing in a camera that will be outdated in a year or two. 

Now, understanding the different types of technologies of the different 3D scanning devices, you will be able to make a well-informed decision.

To produce a 3D model of high quality we also recommend combining the machines. Let's say you can scan the factory with the SLAM device because it will be way faster than the time of flight 3D scanners, but leave the structural areas on the attic and foundation for the LiDAR stationary camera, where the laser beam is projected onto each structural component. We will also want to use cameras with photogrammetry 3D scanning technology if we want to pick up textures and colors during data acquisition. 

Laser scanning technology is used to create a 3D digital cloud of points to use in BIM modeling to create a 3D CAD model. Combining all these professional tools and software with the proper skillset we can guarantee the quality result. While we are talking mostly about the architectural field, 3D laser scanning is used in many other aspects of life. For better results, we need to use a 3D laser scanning device according to its instructions and purpose.