What is 3D Laser Scanning?
Why use 3D Laser Scanners?
What is 3D Laser Scanning?
3D Laser scanning provides a way to very accurately and quickly capture detailed 3D dimensional information of complex environments. Historically measured surveys would be carried out using single point measurements and a total station or theodolite. 3D Scanning has superseded this allowing millions of measurements to be captured in minutes with millimetre accuracy. The results are an incredibly detailed and accurate 3D site survey and a dated source of information for future use.
How Does it Work?
To carry out the scan the surveyor will come to site and place the scanner at key vantage points around the facility. Scanning works via line of site so the more complex the factory the more scans will be required. Once a scan is started it fires out a laser, for every surface the laser hits it records a point in space (x,y,z) value, an intensity value (the reflectivity of the service) and if the scan is in colour then it will also take 360 degree photos and use this to add an RGB value.
Projects can range from just a few scan to hundreds or even thousands. The surveyor will then process this data to register all the scans together into a complete dataset called a point cloud.
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Survey/Scan
Stitch Using Real View
1. Safety
Scanners can scan data accurately up to 130 metres away, this means that you can negate the need for working at height, near edges or in areas which are regarded as unsafe. Why take the risk when there is no need?
2. Saves Time in the Design Stage
Although it takes time for the initial gathering & processing of data, Once that data is gathered, you have an "As Built" virtual replica of your project area. This means you can virtually re-visit your site as many times as you like without the time & expense of being there in person. This in turn saves a vast amount of time, no need to go through pages and pages of existing survey data when its all in once place.
3. Makes the Feasibility Process Faster
Creating an accurate & feasible project often requires multiple attempts. Thanks to 3D structured scanning, this process can be expedited. In fact, 3D scanning may reduce the number of feasibility options during the design process.
4. Fast and Comprehensive Quality Control
3D scan projects can be updated and saved at any time during the construction process, therefor, if phased work is required, the site could be visited at the end of each phase updating the scan project with an "as built" representation, which is effectively live.
5. As Built & Dilapidation Information
Sometimes it is necessary for clients to have a site scanned with no intention of any works being carried out, For Example; Landlords may want a piece of land/site or building scanned prior to leasing. This way there is a time stamped true view of the site prior to a tenant moving in. This can form part of official documentation which is proof of the conditions at that time.
Indexed Point Cloud Data
Reverse Engineering
What is Reverse Engineering?
Reverse engineering enables the duplication of an existing part by capturing the component’s physical dimensions, features, and material properties. There are a wide range of reasons for reverse engineering an object, including:
Legacy Components – For many components that were designed and manufactured years ago, there are no existing 2D drawings or 3D CAD data from which to reproduce the object. Here, reverse engineering is a vital means to gain the information to recreate the product.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) issues – If the OEM is no longer trading or has lost design measurements, then Reverse Engineering will supply the vital product information to continue manufacturing of that object.
Design Development, Part Testing & Analysis – Through reverse engineering, a 3D product can be quickly captured in digital form and remodelled or analysed in order to achieve improved design iterations.
Competitor Analysis – Any organisation can analyse competitor products through reverse engineering.
Bespoke and Ancient objects – Where there is no information about the dimensions of an object except for the physical item itself, the quickest and most reliable way to reproduce it will be by reverse engineering. Where a product is organic in shape (not a standard geometry such as cuboid or cylindrical), designing in CAD may be challenging as it can be difficult to ensure that the CAD model will be acceptably close to the sculpted model. Reverse engineering avoids this problem as the physical model is the source of the information for the CAD model.
Modern manufacturing – methods such as Additive Manufacturing rely on reverse engineering.
Digital Archiving – Museum pieces and historic artefacts can be captured through 3D scanning, then reverse engineered and the resulting CAD data can be held in case of any future damage to the object or any need to reproduce parts of the item.
