Combining Reality Capture Methods to Boost Value

Combining Reality Capture Methods to Boost Value

Did you have a recent project you thought reality capture was the best solution but believed you couldn’t afford it? Did you think your project was too big, and laser scanning would be too expensive?   

The truth is you can’t afford NOT to use laser scanning, especially today! Laser scanning and other reality capture methods, like other technologies, are becoming more affordable for all types of projects. Advances in scanning technology along with increased processing speeds and greater memory capacity in computers is making the scanning process much more efficient. There is a wide range of reality capture options available, with varying levels of accuracy and cost. The key is working with your service provider to find the best solution for your project’s accuracy needs and budget. Here’s an example of that.  

Multiple Reality Capture Methods Customized for Client’s Needs  

TrueScan, an Ohio based reality capture services company, customizes clients’ projects to save them time and money by combining different forms of reality capture without sacrificing quality. Most commonly, they combine laser scanning, UAV flights, and traditional surveying practices to document large sites in a fraction of the time it takes to use laser scanning alone.   

This is done by first setting survey control throughout the site using traditional surveying methods and a robotic total station. Next, the exterior facades of the buildings and other key areas are scanned with a terrestrial laser scanner. Finally, the site is flown with a UAV to pick up data on the building rooftops and additional site information. 

Brendan Welsh, Group Leader for TrueScan, says, “This approach has really helped us be much more efficient for our clients, all while maintaining project quality. TrueScan’s background as surveyors gives us a significant advantage of using this method. The scans are inherently more accurate. This survey control allows us to tie the UAV data together with the scans and remain confident in the accuracy we’re providing. The UAV picks up so much detail that helps fill in the gaps that laser scanning alone might miss.” He goes on to say, “We recently documented a healthcare campus with 90 acres and approximately 40 buildings on the site. By combining scanning and drone services on the project, the exterior reality capture work was completed in just three days. It would have taken around three weeks using only the scanner. We achieved huge time savings, adding the drone, which resulted in dollars saved for our client with minimal sacrifice of accuracy.”   

Laser Scanning Costs Minimized  

Another contributor to laser scanning being more affordable is technology. Laser scanning equipment is becoming faster and more advanced, almost daily. Kevin Foster, Business Development Manager for TrueScan, says, “Just a couple of years ago our crews could do 70 to 80 scan setups on a good day with one scanner. Now a good day for them is over 200 scans. That’s how quickly it’s changing.” That speed, coupled with faster computers and more memory, has rapidly decreased the cost of traditional scanning work. It’s making it more affordable on design and construction projects. 

What this means is your project CAN afford all the benefits reality capture offers: speed, accuracy, detail, and quality.

Find out more about TrueScan and their service offerings here

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