Stage 1: POINT CLOUD SURVEY
We use the Faro Focus 3D and Photon 120 3D laser scanners. Both scanners are known as phased based systems. Phased based systems offer the fastest laser scanning solution available. The scanner looks similar to a large camera and is mounted on a tripod.
The scanner works by firing out a laser and for every surface that the laser hits, it records a 3 dimensional point in space (xyz value). This process is carried out 100,000’s of times a second generating a rich point cloud of data.
As the scanner can only scan what is in its line of sight, it can’t scan through objects (yet!) it has to be setup in multiple locations. To join all the individual scans together a control network of targets is placed around the site before the survey starts.
ADVANTAGES OF LASER SCANNING
Laser scanning is fast.
- Our scans can capture up to 900,000 points of data per second. A typical scan can take just 3.5 minutes! This means that site time is reduced dramatically.
Laser scanning is accurate.
- Within a 25m radius each scan point is accurate to +/- 2mm!
Laser scanning is detailed.
- Scan resolution can be as detailed as 1 point of data every 3mm. This means that it takes just the same time to scan a grade one listed facade adourned with intricate statues as it would any normal building, yet every single detail is picked up first time!
Laser Scanning is 3D
- The point cloud that is generated from laser scanning looks like an exact 3D replica of the site. This makes it very easy to visualise complex older buildings.