OVERPLANSTUDIO overplanstudio, Author at OVERPLANSTUDIO

What are the point cloud survey techniques?

May 30, 2022

To carry out any building project one of the fundamental phases is that of the reliefs, especially if you work with BIM methodology. The point cloud allows you to create a digital model of the building, let's see what they are survey techniques to obtain it with a focus on the most advanced ones.

What is Point Cloud?

There point cloud is the result of the survey, a file viewable through specific software that contains the information about the scanned object, such as size, position, materials used, color, etc.

The point cloud allows you to:

Make a BIM model of the building;
Get a mesh model from the union of the points;
Put to comparison different models;
Do measurements directly on the digital model.

Modern surveying techniques to obtain a point cloud

Among the techniques for point cloud detection we find:

There photogrammetry, which obtains building data through the use of photos and images;
The use of drones, which allow for realistic and precise photogrammetry from above;
The laser scanner, a fixed scanner that obtains data about the building by emitting laser beams.

In addition to these, one of the most advanced techniques for obtaining the point cloud is that of laser scanner with SLAM technology, which unlike the classic laser scanner allows you to scan even on the move, both manually and with the support of drones or vehicles.

With this technology, in fact, it is not necessary to fix specific points to carry out the scans, but it is the scanner that locates itself in space, speeding up times even in very large spaces.

The Evolution of Scanning to BIM

As we mentioned, the point cloud allows you to create the BIM model of the building or scanned object, that is, obtaining a 3D model that is not a simple drawing, but a model rich in information and data regarding the building/object.

Thanks to technological evolution today the data contained in the BIM model obtained from the point cloud are related not only to the position, but also to materials used, according to the type of components used (windows, doors, etc.) and also to stages of the building's life, from its design to its dismantling.

This offers a Project overview, more complete and with a reduced margin of error both in the design phase and on site, as well as in the maintenance phases.

The scan to BIM It is especially essential when it comes to building restorations historians and in the creation of Digital Twin, a digital replica of the building that combines the BIM or 3D model of the structure with the building itself, in which IoT systems are installed.

How Overplan studio can help you

Overplan studio always has at his disposal up-to-date instruments equipped with the latest technologies.

Our multidisciplinary team, characterized by a range of professional figures specialized in the sector, competent and able to satisfy every need, offers customers the maximum support and a professional and complete service, from data collection to point cloud processing.

What is a laser scanner and what is it used for?

The laser scanner is a technology that allows you to quickly create a highly realistic 2D or 3D digital model of complex objects and buildings.

The scanner works through a laser beam emitter connected to a PC and specific software. The rays hit the object in millions of points and come back with the data relating to the x, y and z coordinates of the building compared to the scanner.

The scan result is a point cloud, or a grouping of points obtained by the laser that contains a lot of information about the object, such as size, position, materials used, color, etc.

The higher the number of scanned points, the closer the scan will be to reality, for this reason To obtain a more detailed point cloud, multiple scans may be necessary, which will be automatically merged by the software into a single image.

This technology finds infinite applications in various sectors, including:

Design;

Engineering;

Facility management;

Protection of cultural heritage.

Advantages of Laser Scanner

Why choose to use the laser scanner? Compared to other technologies for topographic surveys, the laser scanner survey has several advantages advantages:

It's more fast, efficient and precise do-it-yourself surveys and photogrammetric surveys, particularly on vertical buildings, complex or difficult-to-access structures;

It guarantees a high level of detail in the acquired image thanks to thehigh amount of data that gets;

The detected points have a different color based on the scanned material;

Can be combined with working methodologies such as the BIM for creating 3D objects.

Even in the results obtained from scanning, the laser offers numerous advantages, in fact it allows:

Analyze the state of conservation and degradation of the materials;

Process all the Project Phases;

Simulate interventions and any changes to the project;

Create defined presentations and show clients the different phases of the project, from the progress of the works to the final stages of the work;

Manage the different phases more effectively, minimising errors and saving time and money.

Rely on Overplan Studio for laser scanner surveys

To carry out a complete and quality laser scanner survey, it is necessary rely on industry experts, which can offer the right skills and tools to best manage the data obtained from scanning and carry out any project.

Overplan study it is an advanced technical study that carries out surveys in all sectors, from design to the materialization of design elements.

Our multidisciplinary team guarantees a complete service, from data collection to point cloud processing, offering a complete and elaborate analysis without handing over the project management to third parties.

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