3D Laser Scanner Drone Uses & Terminology
By combining the latest drone & 3D laser technology, a business can get interactive 3D models of their sites or equipment with a 3D laser scanner drone. Before explaining the benefits, let’s unpack some industry terminology:
Terminology Explanation
Drones
An unmanned (i.e. no pilot) aerial (flying) vehicle (UAV) a.k.a. a drone that is operated by a ground-based controller (certified drone pilot). The drone and controller send information to each other via radio signals.
Drones can have different types of cameras placed onboard for gathering massive amounts of data photography and video.
Photogrammetry
This is an image stitching methodology that joins drone-captured images to produce a continuous map or 3D model with embedded data.
Data Points
The X, Y, and Z coordinates are key elements of the scanning and mapping. They are calculated off of a fixed reference location
3D Laser Scanning
A laser and a camera are set at fixed positions for the purpose of capturing data points of structures to produce a point cloud. There are handheld types of 3D scanners, tripod-based scanners with rotation functionality and scanners that combine traditional survey methods and laser. The latter is called total station scanning.
Point Clouds
This is the “pot” of data that your 3d laser scanner drone captures. Each point cloud can be translated into a 3D model with specialist modelling software. It has been used for road design (e.g. city councils), architecture (e.g. Frank Gehry architects), volumetric analysis (e.g. forestry companies) or measurements (all industries).
3D Laser Scanner Drone Usage
3D laser scanner drones help with structural inspections, interior space mapping to plan a renovation or scanning mechanical spaces to assess appropriate new equipment sizes.
The list of uses is infinite when a drone is equipped with a camera and a scanner. There are hundreds of industries that will the benefits of:
Time savings - Days and weeks of ground-based mapping is replaced by hours and, at maximum, days of mapping. Shorter deadlines, lower costs and increased profits - a triple win.
Versatility - A drone can go where it is very difficult or complicated for a human to go. Go underneath bridge superstructures and do close up inspections instead of hanging dangerously from cables or standing on a bobbing barge.
More and more - You get more data that is more accurate. The accuracy is very precise and a vast amount of data is collected.
Safety - The safety factor is worth millions to industry and insurance institutions as well as being the obvious ethical choice versus putting staff at risk. Nobody needs to access high-risk areas anymore - send a drone.
Industry reports and forecasts project a continued increase in 3D laser scanner drone usage as the benefits give a return on investment within days.
Book a 3D laser scanner drone demonstration today for your business. Ph 0800 732669