| What are the Steps in the Laser Scanning Process? | | | | public streets and sidewalks are the only available |
| The laser scanning process has three basic stages. | | | | territory for surveying stations makes surveying late at |
| First, a scanning provider will "mark out" the entire | | | | night and early in the morning advantageous. |
| structure or environment to be scanned in order to | | | | Can a Laser Scanner Scan Through Water or Glass? |
| identify the number of scanning stations and the | | | | Due of the unreliability of the scan data, laser scanners |
| position of the scanner in each station. In the case of | | | | are not used to scan through transparent substances |
| small to midsized object scanning, the station and | | | | such as water, glass, plastic, etc. Although the |
| position of the scanner is often already obvious. Next, | | | | scanner's laser beam can pass through transparent |
| the scanning commences, which accounts for roughly | | | | and semitransparent substances, the substances |
| 80 percent of the scanning process. After the | | | | cause the beam to diffract, which results in highly |
| scanning is complete, the scanning provider will | | | | unreliable scan data. |
| download the scan data to a computer and process it | | | | Is it Possible to Laser Scan in Color? |
| according to the customer's wishes, after which it is | | | | Some scanners can be used to capture in color the |
| delivered to the customer. | | | | objects that they measure, while other laser scanners |
| How Long Does the Laser Scanning Process Take? | | | | can be used in combination with a digital camera to |
| Depending on the type of scanner used, a single shot | | | | generate color scans. However, color scans are of |
| can take anywhere from two minutes to two hours. | | | | little to no use in industry and topography, and color |
| Phase shift scanners generally take between five and | | | | scanning always results in a higher service price. One |
| ten minutes to complete a shot, whereas time of flight | | | | instance where color scanning can be beneficial and is |
| scanners can take up to two hours to complete a | | | | often preferred is in the scanning of art installations |
| shot. However, for a large project, multiple scanners | | | | before thwy open to the public. |
| can be used simultaneously to decrease the duration | | | | Is it Possible to Scan a Moving Object? |
| of the scanning process. | | | | Some scanners are designed for "dynamic scanning", |
| Is it Possible to Conduct 3D Laser Surveying at Night? | | | | which involves scanning objects that are in motion or |
| With the technology of today's laser surveying | | | | scanning still objects while the scanner is in motion (e.g. |
| equipment, it is possible to conduct 3D laser surveying | | | | mounted onto a moving vehicle). However, the value |
| at night. While it might seem unusual that laser | | | | of dynamic scanning depends completely on the |
| surveying would be conducted at night, surveying | | | | scanning accuracy and exhaustiveness that is desired. |
| buildings and objects whose surroundings mean that | | | | Tripod mounted scanner yield the highest accuracy. |