Laser Scanning

High resolution 3D scanning is quickly becoming the standard in the plant design industry today. It offers the designer an opportunity to work in a detailed and accurate virtual space. In the past, engineers and designers relied on out-dated drawings, potentially inaccurate information, as well as a limited number of field measurements to accomplish their tasks. Today, though, the three dimensional space is conveniently recorded by the laser scanner, and the designer is easily assured of the accuracy of his or her work.

Critical design areas are typically found in difficult to access locations (i.e. elevated pipe racks and towers). This often leads to unsafe scenarios that require significant and unnecessary expenses, such as scaffolding, and added risk every time there's a need to revisit the site. This results in work ineffeciencies and costly mistakes, which can have dramatic effects on the project timescale and profitability. A single mistake, such as mis-routing a pipe through or too near an existing physical object, can cause severe financial repercussions at the fabrication stage, delay delivery, halt installation, force a redesign and lead to modifications required on site.

With high-resolution 3D laser scanning, detailed 3D measurements can easily be obtained with just a click of the mouse. It's safe, quick, and elimnates any need to revisit the site.

Why Laser Scan?

Conventional Survey

-A person or group of people must MANUALY check all dimensions, leaving some critical dimensions subject to one's judgement.
-Conventional surveys are time consuming, and can eat a budget very quickly.
-Incomplete surveys can require several return trips to the site.
-Accuracy is sometimes sacrificed for the sake of speed.

Laser Scan Survey

-Information is accurate within millimeters, and is completely gathered the first time
-Surveys completed 3x - 4x faster and captures more information than the intended scope. Scanners don't "forget" what they see.
-Additional survey for missed information rarely required.
-Survey Data is stored in a database indefinitely for future projects.
-3D Models created directly from scan data allow for near exact As-Built Documentation.
-Models are produced faster than with conventional methods.
-The scan data can be used with CAD software for detailed design and reverse engineering.

Scan Data Accuracy

-Accuracy: +/- 2mm at 25m
-Range: 0.6m - 76m
-Data Collection Rate: 120,000 points a second
-Up to 700 million points per scan