Best Practices for Deploying 3D Laser Scanning and its Applications

As the evolution of technology continues to impact across the industry sector, numerous traditional processes are increasingly becoming redundant. 3D laser scanning is gaining immense popularity within the AEC industry to streamline processes and operations more efficiently.


Laser scanning technology is now becoming a norm in the AEC industry. The global laser scanning market is expected to grow to $6.3 billion by 2025. If you’re not utilizing this promising technology, it’s high time to take note and start your research.





Are you using laser scanning on your projects or still exploring the potential of this technology? It is for sure that every AEC professionals would benefit from learning something innovative when it comes to 3D laser scanning. It enables engineers to reduce risks, cut costs and speed up the design and development of large volumes of projects with a high degree of accuracy.

How does 3D Laser Scanning Works?


Now you probably would be thinking that the laser scanning process is complicated, but on the contrary, it has become quite simple due to advances in technology. The 3D laser scanners are securely deployed to capture the detail of the objects in space. It accurately captures the object’s shape and geometries with pinpoint precisions known as point clouds and digitally transforms them into a 3D (three-dimensional) model. These models can now be saved, edited and duplicated using 3D printers.


It is unlike traditional methods that only capture individual points one at a time. The 3D laser scanner uses laser beams that record approximately 100,000 points per second to capture rich detail of the entire physical space quickly.

Applications of 3D Laser Scanning


The 3D laser scanning is used in diverse fields by primarily focusing on the following aspects:

  • Architecture

It has immense potential to aid the architectural design process from the inspection stage of site documentation and conceptualization, to monitor construction projects and verify as-built documentation accuracy. Also, implementing 3D laser scanning creates a smooth Building Information Modeling (BIM)) workflow.

  • Construction

Laser scanning plays a vital role in the success of a construction project. It is becoming accessible for mapping existing site conditions in renovating projects, validating proper design execution, evaluate & measure progress throughout the life of the project and creating 3D building models.

  • Facility Management

Users rely on engineering and construction services for expansion and capital improvements of industrial and facility assets. The 3D laser scanning model delivers improved visibility and clarity to facility managers to enhance productivity.

3D Laser Scanning Benefits


  1. Risk Mitigation: AEC engineers are often involved in hazardous work. So it is necessary to take careful measures to ensure their safety. However, there are always unexpected risks involved when working on site. A comprehensive 3D laser scanning technology helps engineers to identify vulnerable and unsafe areas quickly to prevent the number of severe accidents and injuries on-site.
  2. Cost-Effective: As the laser scanner scans the object and provides accurate results, it reduces errors caused due to manual intervention. Hence, less labor and time are being spent on measurement acquisition and design iteration steps. 3D laser scanning probes to be substantially more cost-effective compared to other measuring technologies.
  3. High Precision: Depending on the specifics of the 3D laser scanner, it can produce a high level of accuracy measurements owing to the 3D point cloud data. It ensures that the correct dimensions are used in the first time calculation itself and less time gets spent on subsequent design and production steps.

Conclusion


With the evident benefits of this technology, now is the right time for engineers to invest time and money in 3D laser scanning technology. However, you might need a highly experienced team to convert the point cloud to CAD model and assist you in your AEC project.