Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Please post any tips or advice you have in general relating to laser scanning either whilst onsite or office based.
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Kevin
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Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by Kevin »

Here are the 8 field collection best practices that are mentioned in the new report called 33 Expert Tips, Tactics & Best Practices for As-Built BIM Project Success (You can download a copy here:http://bit.ly/2fpUdQC)

I kept the numbering of the tips as they appear in the report to avoid confusion.

# 9: Always Have 2-3 Measuring Devices for
“Control”
#10: Focus in Field on Quality Control
#11 Divide Your Project Into Manageable Sections
#12: Stabilize Your Equipment with Quality Gear
#13: Run Multiple Scanners if Possible
#14: Use Proper Scanner Settings, Based on the
Deliverable Type and Details
#15: SCAN DATA: Better to Have Too Much,
Than Not Enough!
#16: Target-less, Targets, or Survey Control? It Depends!

As I said in an earlier post, the report has an audio track of the interviews and presentations from Mark Hanna, Larry Kleinkemper, Greg Hale, Matt Byrd and Mike Pfaff—a ton of additional data and real world examples. Here’s the link again: http://bit.ly/2fpUdQC

--Kevin
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by JeffT »

I have really butted heads with #15: SCAN DATA: Better to Have Too Much, Than Not Enough!

In the past it wasn't really a big thing, but with the newer Leica P30-40 every 3:30 scan you do is about 140 million points. A couple hundred scans and you reach terabyte levels real quick. I think we've switched to doing a few more 1:49 minute scans at 35 million points on all interiors instead.
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by SAttaya »

Mostly we just do "optional"/"it might be nice" scans from more locations, be that
moving the tripod or changing it's height (plant & equipment) to get different
angles. just my 2¢s.
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by Kevin »

Sattaya is correct...the key is more set ups not necessarily higher density. As with most things, it is a balancing act between the two.
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by SAttaya »

and sometimes you have to take more time and scan at a higher "quality",
if that is something the scanner you are using allows you to change (Faro Focus series does,
I don't think surphasers do (but they already have GREAT quality).

run your own experiements on what you are going to be scanning, both area being scanned
and target distances.
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by Kevin »

Agree...knowing the capabilities go your scanner is critically important. There's just no substitute for field experience. Some pundits talk about the democratization of scanning but this is still a skills/experience-based activity. Any other Laser Scanning Best Practices?
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by richard_m »

Interesting.

Can't really argue with the quoted "best" practices other than to say there's no one-size-fits-all methodology.

Agreed, I'd always rather have more scans than higher resolution scans. Almost.

I struggle to educate new scan-monkeys in the finer points of how to approach a scan project in the field, it really is experience based, also helps to give these people at least some experience of actually registering the scans in the office so they can better understand the reasons for particular scan placement and overlap etc. For instance inexperienced operators HAVE to have a defined scan resolution in their work instruction, whereas I will typically use 3 different resolutions on a days scanning depending on the nature of the target. If I want a scan under a piece of plant to pickup a few hidden details etc I'll put the scanner on the ground an run off a 1min scan because my max range is probably 10m, normally I'll run 2-3 mins per scan but if I can acquire a lofty perch with great overview of my project area then I could run for several minutes with the addition of a range filter to chop out the millions of unwanted points of handrails etc too close to the scanner.

On of the greatest rules I can give new users is simply "look up, and down - not just around"

Will have a look at this guide, thanks for posting.

Richard.
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by Rikore »

I always look at the deliverable. If the client wants a fly through made of good quality, then we scan at high resolution to have a point cloud that is "wow" to the client. If just for modeling, then I agree more shorter scans in more places. So I think item 14 & 15 are at the top of my list.
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by Kevin »

I didn't even think about the fly-through as a deliverable...that's begs the question...should that be a "best practice" even if the client doesn't request it. Delivering a "wow" fly-through especially to a client new to scanning really can "sell" the benefits. Does anyone do this as part of their regular deliverable?
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Re: Here are 8 Laser Scanning Best Practices--any thoughts?

Post by greg_at_ppm »

#33 is a bit out of date. According to AutoDesk, Revit has been using multiple cores since at least 2011. That was when they lifted the 4 core limit on rendering (implying it was able to use up to 4 to render in 2011):

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/ ... ssors.html
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