3D Laser Scanning Services in the UK

Scantech International, a 3D laser scanning company in the UK, with over 15+ years of point cloud survey experience. With a vast amount of knowledge in this industry, we will like to show you the following:

  1. Introduction into laser scanning
  2. What is 3D laser Scanning?
  3. How does laser scanning work?
  4. deliverables from 3D point cloud surveys.
  5. Case Studies
  6. Videos

Introduction to Laser Scanning

Laser scanning is a technology for quickly capturing dimensions and shapes of complex structures and features.

Laser Scanners have been available for over 20 years but the first practical and “portable” laser scanner was the Cyrax scanner in 2002. This collected 1,200 points per second, took 20 minutes per scan and covered a field of view of 40° x 40°.

3D Laser Scanner

The portable Cyrax 2500 laser scanner weighing 20kg and the battery another 15kg – now used as a doorstop!

Since 2002 there have been many technological advances resulting in the latest Leica RTC 360 laser scanner which can collect 2m points per second, takes 30 seconds per scan and can take HDR colour photographs in another 60 seconds.

Leica RTC 360 laser scanner

The latest RTC 360 laser scanner weighing just 5.35Kg and has a field of view of 360° x 300°

What is Laser Scanning?

3D Laser Scanning is a non-contact, non-destructive technology that digitally captures the shape and dimensions of physical structures and objects using a line of sight laser light. Laser scanning uses a very rapid laser beam of up to 2 million points per second to scan the environment and capture a vast quantity of data from the surface of structures and objects in the form of a pointcloud. Each point has it’s own XYZ coordinate and is referenced to a fixed datum.

In other words, a 3D laser scanning survey or a Cloud Burst Survey is a way to capture a structure or an objects exact size and shape and represent this in the computer world as a digital 3-dimensional model.

3D laser scanners measure fine details and capture free-form shapes to quickly generate highly accurate point clouds. A 3D laser scanning survey is ideally suited to the measurement and inspection of contoured surfaces and complex geometries which require massive amounts of data for their accurate description and where doing this is impractical with the use of traditional measurement methods.

How does laser scanning work?

how does laser scanning work

1) Site scanning – Numerous individual scans are taken.

2) Register all the individual scans together to create an overall pointcloud

3) Create the required deliverables from the overall point cloud.

Scantech 3D laser scanning process

As mentioned above the laser scanner sends out a laser beam at up to 2m pulses per seconds.

A spinning mirror reflects the beam onto the surface to be scanned where it is reflected back to the scanner. The RTC 360 utilises time of flight methodology.

This measures the time taken for the laser beam to reach the surface and reflect back to the scanner and using the speed of light calculates the distance. with its position in 3D space relative to the scanner datum and ultimately to any datum (i.e or geographical) set in post-processing.

Accuracy of 3D laser scanners

Accuracy of 3D scan data and the resulting deliverables is extremely important, therefor we have developed our site scanning techniques to ensure that we achieve a ±5mm accuracy which is suitable for most engineering and architectural requirements.

To ensure that we achieve this level of accuracy, control points are surveyed in a traditional manner (using an EDM) and captured in the scans to ensure the accurate registration of the individual scans and the accuracy of the completed survey

Benefits of 3D cloud burst surveys

There are many benefits from using laser scanning compared to more traditional survey methods and some of these are :

Safety
  • Can often pick up data from the ground or existing platforms
  • Can work in occupied offices/buildings/hospitals etc with minimal disruption and interaction with the public/employees
  • Fast capture of data – less time on-site where most accidents can occur
  • Panoramic or jet stream images mean fewer re-visits to site
  • Can capture ceilings without ladders or scaffolding
  • Can capture roof voids without physically going in providing access available through ceiling tiles
  • Can invert scanners down manholes etc
  • Changes view to real-time 3D
  • Our Laser Scanners are Class 1 lasers – eye safe
Speed, Accuracy and Programme
  • Accuracy of ± 5mm throughout the whole pointcloud, model and drawings
  • Speed of capture – 1 days scanning is now equivalent up to 15 -20 days manual measurement/surveying
  • Scan data available for review soon after the survey
  • The model can be produced in parallel to the scanning on-site with 1-week slippage ie the technicians in the office can start work on the previous week’s scan data.
  • Designers can have the 3D model and or 2D drawings in a much shorter time and often we can produce the deliverables in stages.
  • Do not have to wait for scaffolding to be erected as we can scan from the ground/floor and on the roof
Added Value
  • All-Weather operation – within reason
  • 24-hour working (can operate in complete darkness)
  • Minimal Disruption to client’s working staff
  • Captures all features to a high level of detail.
  • Can tie into Ordinance Survey or site grid
  • No problem with general public/traffic passing by in front of the scanner
  • Panoramic images and now also point cloud data in Leica Jetstream format that can be freely distributed utilising free viewers.
  • Data can be collected and only relevant areas modelled as required.
  • Full 3D data capture
  • Minimal assumptions/extrapolations in generating deliverables
  • As-Built 2D or 3D deliverables
  • Fly-throughs or animations using colour digital photos superimposed on point cloud or 3D model
  • The multitude of deliverable formats.
  • Point cloud data can be integrated into many 3D CAD applications, such as: Revit, AutoCAD, Teklar etc and many more for further modelling or analysis

Different Names for 3D Laser Scanning Surveys

There are a variety of “names” for 3D laser scanning surveys including :

  • Cloud Burst surveys
  • 3D surveys
  • Point Cloud Surveys
  • Laser Scanning surveys
  • 3D laser surveys
  • 3D topo surveys
  • Lidar

The Cost of 3D Laser Scanning Surveys

The cost of undertaking a 3D laser scanning survey is usually significantly less than a comparable traditional survey. The exact cost will depend on several factors including for example :

  • The size of the building/structure and number of floors
  • The complexity
  • Number and size of offices/rooms for a building
  • Access during normal working hours or out of hours working or limited time per shift eg on the railway
  • Whether ceiling voids to be surveyed
  • Is it a confined space or there are other access restrictions.
  • Does the roof need to be surveyed and is there access
  • Number of scans required to ensure the minimum amount of data voids
  • Tying into local, site or OS grid

Similarly, the cost of producing a 3D CAD model will depend on the above factors plus

  • The level of detail to be modelled
  • The format

We can often price from drawings or for simple structures such as bridges we can quote over the phone. For more complex surveys a site visit is usually preferable.

Deliverables of 3D Laser Scanning Surveys

The deliverables are the most important part of our survey. Getting the required deliverables, which the client can use has taken us years to learn and perfect.

Extracting data from a point cloud takes a lot of skill and it certainly helps to have an engineering background, which our technical office has. It requires numerous and usually very expensive pieces of software to create the required deliverable for our clients.

Here is a list of just some of the deliverables we can offer:

“If the deliverable you require isn’t on the list please get in contact and I am sure we can help”

3D Point clouds

Each scan produces a point cloud relative to the position of the scanner. Numerous scans are taken from various positions and when registered or linked together form an overall 3D pointcloud of the structure/area.

The overall 3D point cloud data can be viewed in free software or can be input into various software formats to produce further deliverables such as 3D models, topographical drawings, sections etc. An example of an overall pointcloud is shown below.

3D point cloud survey of Springfield Brewery

 

3D point cloud survey of Shaw & Compton Metro Station

3D Models

Anderton boat lift 3d revit model by Scantech International

3D models are produced from the registered 3D point clouds. A variety of software packages are available to produce the 3D models the most popular currently being Revit and AutoCAD.

The production of the 3D model is still a manual process and we have developed an expertise in this area especially with producing 3D models in Revit. This software is/was primarily a design tool for new build applications and it requires specialist applications to produce as-built 3D models of which the existing elements (walls, floors beams etc) are never quite square, straight or flat.

Topographical

topographical survey from Scantech International

Topographical surveys are one of the traditional survey types and are often carried out with just an EDM instrument. Control points are installed at various locations around/in the area to be surveyed and are often orientated to OS coordinates. As the OS no longer maintain their benchmarks. The orientation to OS is normally carried out using RTK GPS.

Topographical surveys pick up all of the features including building outlines, drains, kerbs, manholes levels etc and we always confirm with our clients the features that they need as often we just get a request for a “topo survey”.

We also now use both the laser scanners and UAVs to carry out these surveys albeit they are allied to the use of the EDM. This equipment allows for the faster capture of both larger areas as well as more inaccessible areas.

Measured Building Surveys and Floor Plans

Traditionally these surveys produced 2D plans (floor, ceiling and elevations etc). By utilising laser scanning we can produce 3D models in a number of formats including Revit. Revit is primarily a design tool for new builds and does not “like” surfaces that are not flat and/or straight.

The laser scanner picks up the true shape of these features and we have developed techniques over the last 7 years to accurately model these in Revit.

By using laser scanning again allied to control set out with an EDM, we can carry out these surveys up to 20 times faster than using an EDM alone. This is especially useful for older and dilapidated buildings where nothing tend to be straight or square.

We also utilise the UAV for capturing the roof details/features if access is not available or if it is not safe to do so. The resulting photographs can be converted to a pointcloud data and merged with the scan data to produce the overall point cloud of the building.

Measured building survey by scantech

Sections and Elevations

Sections can be produced from the registered point cloud data at any interval from 10mm to through the building/structure. These tend to be far more accurate than those obtained through surveys carried out purely with an EDM.

Similarly, building elevations are produced rapidly with the laser scanner as all of the relevant features are picked up including “swirl and twirl” type features.

For tunnel surveys, cross-sections can again be produced at any interval for gauging purposes as well as for condition monitoring. Defects and bulges are readily identified and any changes over time highlighted in subsequent surveys.

By utilising lighting and the camera feature on the new RTC scanner high resolution and definition colour images can also be produced for condition monitoring. See the Jetstream images section for more information on this.

sections and elevations by Scantech International

Clash Detection

After the structural elements of a building have been constructed we often are required to scan the area and produce a registered pointcloud. This is used by the M&E contractor who can input the point cloud into his design software and highlight any clashes from the design to the actual as-built structural elements.

This saves a significant cost associated with clashes that are only detected during the MEI construction for example when the ducting hits a column that is slightly out from the design position

The registered point cloud of an as-is process facility is often input into the design software during the design phase to highlight

  • available space for equipment
  • potential pipe routes
  • Potential cable tray routes
  • Construction planning ie how to remove redundant equipment etc

Volume and Area

We have utilised scan data on a number of jobs to measure both volume and area.

These include the following :

  • We were asked to scan a coal mound to determine the volume and amount of coal (weight wise).
  • We also calculated the volume of resin lost in a water treatment plant BAFF cells
  • For signal sighting on the railway, we had to calculate the amount of an embankment that needed to be cut away to allow the correct distance.
  • Void and hidden shafts are scanned to find the volume.

For the void and hidden shaft scanning, we use the C-ALS borehole scanner. This is inserted into a borehole and the resulting point cloud used to determine the volume of the void or shaft. This allowed the contractor to accurately order the correct amount of material to fill in the void or shaft.

For location 3D Surveys please see the following pages:

Video

What Our Clients Say

Please Contact us to see how we could help you

We have been providing 3D Laser Scanning services across a range of industry sectors since 2002, we were one of the first companies in the UK to purchase a 3D laser scanner.