3D scanning is the process of capturing an existing environment or object, such as a building, in high detail using a terrestrial laser scanner. This process involves a technician coming to the site and typically performing multiple scans in order to capture the site or item. Once the scans have been performed, the technician then correlates the data into a point cloud file to be used in applications like CAD and 3D Visualisation workflows, BIM CAD models, analysis and other digital scene reconstruction purposes. At Next Level CAD, we use a Leica P30 3D laser scanner, which scans and captures data with near-milimetre precision for faster, more accurate visuals.

Depending on the scan settings, a 3D scan can be performed in as little as a minute as long as 2 hours. The average time between locations is 6 to 20 minutes for most jobs, meaning very large areas can be covered in as little as a couple of hours, or entire sites in a day or two.

How many scans it takes to produce a 3D simulation depends on the individual site. If the job only requires the locations of floors, walls and ceilings, it may only take 1 scan per room, typically 1 in the doorway between rooms, depending on the site layout and the scanning process used.

The price of 3D scanning depends on the number of scans required, if colour scan data is required, the difficulty of producing scans and the site locations. Most small scan jobs, such as offices, houses and partial production facilities cost between $1,000 to $2,500, plus GST. Scans on top of platforms with limited access or locations that are difficult to traverse, or site locations interstate or international may be higher.

Almost anything can be scanned using a 3D laser scanner, including large areas and even multiple levels, provided there is a way to traverse around the site doing scans in locations with common lines of sight. For multiple levels, there must be at least one stairwell to traverse between levels. It’s often preferred to have at least 2 stairways — one on either side of the building or a line of sight to a common point through an open door or window from each level. 

The only limitations are highly reflective items, such as mirrors, highly polished surfaces, transparent items like glass and liquids, and items that refract and reflect light, like number plates and hi-vis clothing reflective panels. However, some things, such as a car paint job or stainless steel will often give a result, just not from every angle, so may require additional scans to get enough information.

A point cloud can be delivered within as little as 24 to 48 hours after a 3D scan and the technician has returned to the office. Large jobs may take longer. This is something we discuss in detail before the job to ensure full transparency.

A 3D laser scanner works by sending out a laser beam, which then reflects and returns to the scanner’s sensor. The scanner then uses its onboard computer to work out where in space the return came from, and creates an X, Y, Z coordinate relative to the centre of the scanner for each return. It can do this up to 1,000,000 times a second, resulting in a point cloud.

The laser itself cannot detect colour, but the scanner has a built in camera for taking colour images once the laser scan has been done. Once the job is completed and the data is taken back to the office, our software lines up the laser scan and the 360 degree photos from each scan location. Where a point and a pixel align, the software assigns an RGB (Red Green Blue) colour value to that point. The software then uses this information to display the final point cloud in colour, meaning you get a 3D colour point cloud of the scan location.

Typically scanners refer to the level of detail they capture by way of point spacing at 10 meters from the centre of the scanner. The Leica P30 scanner is capable of scanning at settings from 50mm – 0.8mm at 10 meters. Most jobs will use the settings of either 6.2mm @ 10m or 3.1mm @10m depending on the job. This means if there were a sphere with a radius of exactly 10m (20m diameter) centred around the scanner, the resulting point cloud would show as a spherical grid with a point every 6.2mm or 3.1mm.Due to the way the scanner works the closer something is to the scanner the more points it gets on it and vice versa. This means in most cases the scanner is picking up ultra fine detail due to the proximity of objects to the scanner. However the Leica P30 scanner Complete 3D Concepts uses is capable of getting returns from up to 120m away. If necessary, it is also possible to do small areas of a scan in finer detail to keep the scanning times to a minimum, but still get all the detail required.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a couple of thousand words;

Truck that was parked in the middle of a scan job.