What is 3D Laser Scanning?

What is 3D Laser Scanning?

By | Nov 25, 2014 | 3D Services, Blog, Featured

As I began to think about what to write for this blog, my mind started going in many directions. There are so many topics I’d like to write about: social media, marketing, international conferences, networking, building a team, and specific techniques. Before I write about those topics, I want to update you on DeWalt Corporation’s 3D Services.

 What is 3D Laser Scanning and how does it work?

A 3D Laser scanner uses a beam of laser light to analyze a real-world object or environment, collecting millions of individual 3D data points on its shape and its appearance. Multiple scans are then registered together to create an accurate 3D Point Cloud. Some scanners also take photographs from the same position as the scan, then extract the color from the pixels of the image, and apply them to the point data measured from the same location. The result of this process is colorized point cloud.

Over the next few months we will be writing case studies, project reviews, and even creating a few videos. Stay connected with DeWalt Corporation’s 3D Services department to see all of the exciting projects and news, and follow our YouTube video posts at www.youtube.com/dewalt3dservice.

Also, for those of you that attend Autodesk University, I have 2 classes this year in the “Reality Computing” section. Please feel free to connect with me if you plan to be there! mbyrd@dewaltcorp.com

The 3D Services department is very excited about our new projects, clients, and industries.

3D colorized Point Cloud
3D colorized Point Cloud
Top view of Point Cloud
Top view of Point Cloud
Panoramic walk-through with accurate measuring
Panoramic walk-through with accurate measuring
Stock pile volume calculations
Stock pile volume calculations

So the Point Cloud is created….. Now what?

After scanning and registering the files together, we now we have an accurate Point Cloud. The following are potential uses:

  • Site/equipment inspection
  • Accident documentation & reconstruction​
  • Stockpile/volume calculations
  • Deformation and subsidence monitoring
  • Mechanical electrical plumbing as-built
  • Site change detection
  • Structural as-built documentation
  • Routine structural monitoring
  • Catastrophic event mapping
  • Hazardous area/non-contact surveying
  • 3D project videos
  • Site recreation for a courtroom case/expert witness
  • Site/equipment inspection
  • Accident documentation & reconstruction​
  • Stockpile/volume calculations
  • Deformation and subsidence monitoring
  • Mechanical electrical plumbing as-built
  • Site change detection
  • Structural as-built documentation
  • Routine structural monitoring
  • Catastrophic event mapping
  • Hazardous area/non-contact surveying
  • 3D project videos
  • Site recreation for a courtroom case/expert witness