COST

First, let’s discuss cost. When putting together cost estimates for laser scanning projects, one of the first questions typically asked is: RGB, or no RGB? RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) is an acronym that is utilized to indicate whether or not color photographs are to be included in the data collection process. Ok, great… so what does this have to do with cost? If RGB is to be included, this means that the field technicians will utilize the “Scan with color” option on the 3D laser scanners, at each scan position. Color photographs will then be captured by the onboard camera, adding an average of 4 minutes per scan position (this can vary based on lighting conditions). As the old adage states, “Time is money”. Let’s review this idea in the table below. For simplicity, it has been assumed that a single scan takes 6 minutes.

As evident in the chart, choosing to include RGB color information can have a significant impact on the time aspect of 3D laser scanning, which relates directly to cost. So why include RGB color information?

DOWNSTREAM CONSIDERATIONS

Considering the multitude of uses for 3D laser scan data, the ability to include RGB color information is an important consideration when analyzing how this data can and will be utilized throughout its lifespan. Who will use this data? For example:

If the 3D laser scan data is only to be utilized for its highly accurate measurements (reference for 3D modeling/BIM, measurement analysis), RGB color information may not be necessary.

If the 3D laser scan data is to be utilized to show how an environment or object looks in real life (realistic animations and visual presentations), RGB color information can be invaluable in helping a viewer understand this “captured reality”.

Following is a quick comparison of RGB-mapped 3D laser scan data, and data which contains no RGB information (Intensity Display):

RGB Color Display

Intensity Display

Jon W. Adams, Director of Architectural & Heritage Services with DJS Associates can be reached via email at [email protected] or via phone at 215-659-2010.

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Last week I attended the SPAR 2015 conference in Houston, TX. SPAR International is a conference & exhibition focused on end-to-end business and technology considerations for 3D measurement and imaging for industrial facilities; building, architecture and construction; forensic and security.

Below is a brief summary of the conference.

Market:

• Market studies from ARC Advisory Group are showing that laser scanning industry continues to be on the rise, with the three major market being Automotive, Engineering & Business Services, and Government. High Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) expected through 2018. Key differentiators among competitors to include ease-of-use, and additional software improvements to allow for automatic processing of data.

Technology Trends:

• UAV/UAS (unmanned aerial vehicles/systems) continue to see growth, with a portion of the exhibit floor being dedicated to this technology. FAA regulations are actively being refined, and once these new regulations are put in place, I expect an explosion of related services to become available in short order.
• AR (augmented reality) also seems to growing by leaps and bounds. We are nearing being able to interact with digital information in ways that were previously only seen in science fiction movies (Minority Report, Iron Man).

Products:

• New Leica (P16, P30, P40) Scanners, these are a combination of the best features of the C10 and P20 scanners, capable of collecting 1 million pts/second. They also have onboard HDR imaging capabilities, leading to better RGB coloring of point clouds. A test data set that I saw from the P40 had 6 mm spacing at approximately 150 ft, in a scan that took only 30 seconds! You do still need to add in time for photos. In this case, it was approximately 8 minutes for photos.
  These new scanner also have an IP54 rating, meaning that they are Dust Protected, and Splashing Water protected. This means they can scan in very harsh conditions.
• New Leica Software: Leica will be pushing out an update to their Cloudworx line of products in the next few months, which will showcase a much improved ability to show massive amounts of point in real-time, with little to no waiting for points to refresh. A similar update is slated to be introduced into Cyclone later this year, which will also feature a hardware/software update that allow for automatic filtering of data that is abnormal or erroneous, such as rain and snow. This means you could scan in rain and snow, and it will have little to no effect on the data!
• Augmented Reality hardware/software seems to be advancing quite well. Impressive options include the DAQRI Smart Helmet, and the Atheer Air Platform. This is very interesting!
• New Point Meshing Tool from Thinkbox Software, Sequoia.
• New meshing/data viewing options from Euclideon, offering very high levels of detail.
• NewSpin is now live. They offer a solution for sharing point cloud data with clients over the web, with no need to install any plugins.

Workflows:

• Begin Incorporating USIBD documents as part of the proposal process to ensure we and the client have good communication regarding project requirements/deliverables.

There are of course other things that went on at SPAR, but these are just some of the key areas I wanted to share with everyone.

Did you attend SPAR 2015 conference in Houston, TX? What were your main takeaways? Let us know in the comments below.

To Your Success,

Jon Adams
Director of Architectural and Heritage Services at DJS Associates, Inc.
http://www.djsscans.com

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Quality measurements are desired, but the thought of painstakingly recording them one point at a time increases concerns about the documentation efforts. And what if something is missed? Additional visits to the area to collect additional measurements that were missed the first time around are also undesired.

The construction industry wants quality measurements,they want them fast, and they want them to be as accurate as possible. Does this sound familiar? Over the past 10-20 years, hardware and software engineers have been hard at work developing tools to suit these needs. 3D laser scanning has emerged as a tool and process that meets the demands of quality, comprehensive, and accurate measurements for these professionals. Through a combination of hardware, software, and methodology, 3D laser scanning now allows us to tackle the issues of precision and coverage with relative ease, and in a timely manner.

Software manufacturers are also beginning to take notice, with companies like CAD giant Autodesk and others making a conscious effort to accommodate laser scan, or “point cloud” data, in their major software packages. Engineers, architects, and contractors now have the ability to work directly with point cloud data inside applications such as AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, Bentley Microstation, and even Google Sketchup. The ability to edit and manipulate the measurement data directly inside your application of choice has many benefits, including clash detection analysis, and virtual site management.

Laser scan data proved invaluable when we recently partnered with the National Park Service (NPS), the federal agency administering many parks throughout the country, and CyArk, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the world’s heritage sites through digital preservation. As part of this partnership, the NPS selected the Lincoln Memorial to be a pilot project in its broader goal of digitally documenting the National Mall in its entirety. The scan data collected will be used for a variety of purposes, among them structural integrity evaluations, site management and maintenance, as well as providing additional value to the existing education programs offered by the NPS. Similar to construction projects, the initial measurements will be used as a foundation upon which many important decisions will be made for years to come.

THE PROJECT SCOPE

The project assignment was to utilize 3D scanners to digitally document all aspects of the the Lincoln Memorial. The time frame to perform the Lincoln Memorial documentation was five business days, working within the typical permit hours of 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. The extent of the project included everything on the outside of the site, and within the Lincoln Memorial Circle; the roadway that surrounds the monument. On the interior, the project called for data collection on the top portions of the Lincoln Statue in the main chamber, as well as thorough documentation of the attic, roof, and basement areas. Like any construction project, the unique features of the Lincoln Memorial presented their own distinct challenges for documentation. Areas such as the attic, roof, and basement required special consideration. In the attic area, the versatility of the 3D laser scanner, and its comprehensive field of view, allowed for accurate data collection while adhering to OSHA regulations. Specifically, specially trained personnel were able to easily move and operate the laser scanner, while utilizing a ropes and harness system to ensure their safety.

Because of the limited amount of time for data collection (50 hours), special care was taken when defining the the variables for this project, including data density and determining which portions of the site needed to have color information (photographs) included with measurement data. By addressing these issues prior to the implementation of the project, the time on-site was utilized efficiently, and the quality and quantity of data collected was maximized.

As with many construction projects one must utilize the appropriate tool for the appropriate job. In this case, the different areas that required documentation dictated the use of different types of scanners in order to maximize the efficiency of time and quality of the data. In total, 4 laser scanners were utilized, each controlled by its own operator. Two Leica C10 laser scanners were utilized to complete the exterior documentation, as well as the documentation in the main chamber area of the monument. The reasoning behind using these particular laser scanners is that the time-of-flight technology they employ tends to be well-suited for long-range, low noise data collection. On the roof, attic, and basement levels of the memorial, two Faro Focus 3D scanners were utilized. With their fast phase-based scanning technology, these scanners were perfectly suited at collecting hundreds of scans in the basement area, over a short time period. In addition to this, the small form factor of the Faro Focus 3D scanners made them an ideal choice for the work that took place on the upper levels.

Other critical considerations in the project (and with any project) included defining the extent of the area that needed to be documented, point cloud density, and point representation. Point density, or scan resolution, is important because this value determines the number of measurement points collected during the scanning process. If objects/areas of interest have small, intricate features, higher resolution scans will better describe these areas, but will also take longer to collect. If more general measurements are needed, perhaps lower resolution scans will suffice. Point representation has to do with how the data will be viewed or utilized down the line. If the data is to be used in visualizations, color data (i.e,. photographs) collected with the measurements can add tremendous value, though it will add additional time to both data collection and data processing. If the goal is merely to collect quick measurements for verification or as-builts, color data may not be necessary.

The Lincoln Memorial project is just one small example of the power of 3D laser scanning. In the construction industry, the site is a dynamic, ever-changing, living, breathing location. 3D laser scanning can be utilized at any point in the process, whether for the basic, initial survey at the beginning of the project prior to breaking ground, as well as during the construction process to verify that the intended design is being closely adhered to.

Once the final piece is in place, 3D laser scanning is the ideal starting point in generating an accurate, comprehensive BIM model for owners, contractors, and architects.

Though laser scanning can and will be a tremendous addition to existing workflows, the key is knowing how to apply it effectively to accomplish your goals. The next time you find yourself needing fast, accurate measurements, give laser scanning a shot. You’ll be glad you did.

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