We look at stories from across the industry on scan-to-BIM workflows, laser scanning artwork and a UAV show heading to Europe.
Reality capture, or more broadly the idea of using laser scanners and/or photography to create accurate 3D models of real-life assets, is a fascinating space both because of how new it is and because of the wide range of applications. We are constantly seeing new innovations in the space, such as recent advances in NeRFs and Gaussian Splats, which make the creation of these models much less labor intensive, as well as new industries taking advantage of this. We see the technology being used all the time in areas we would expect, such as on construction sites and around facilities and utilities for inspections, as well as some places that wouldn’t immediately come to mind. Interspersed throughout these implementations, we also see new ways of gathering the data needed to create models.
Today, when we look at stories related to 3D technology from friends in the industry, we see both ends of the spectrum of use cases for reality capture. In our first story, we look at a more typical (for lack of a better word) laser scanning use case: Scan-to-BIM, but we still look at how modern innovation can be applied in the space. We then move on to a less conventional use case, with laser scanners used in the art world. Finally, we’re looking at a new show venue that focuses on commercial drone applications, which of course includes reality capture. Find the full stories below.
Automate scan-to-BIM workflows for faster and more accurate model creation
Lidar news
We begin with a look at how advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) can benefit Scan-to-BIM workflows. Implementing these types of workflows in BIM projects is a big plus for those who take the plunge, but it’s also a time-consuming and sometimes tedious process that requires analyzing vast amounts of data. In other words, this is exactly the type of workflow that would benefit from AI and ML. This article highlights how this app can help industry professionals and links to a longer report for more information on the topic.
Read the full article here >>
‘Almost a clone’: How 3D printing can reproduce multimillion-dollar masterpieces stroke by stroke
Oscar Holland, CNN
We are now moving from the “conventional” use case of AEC workflows to a less conventional application of laser scanning in the art world. This is a slightly older CNN feature from late last year, but Holland details how the art community is using laser scanning and 3D printing to make access to high-quality artwork more affordable. There’s nothing quite like owning an original work, of course, but this article outlines how laser scanners have been used to collect, in great detail, every aspect of a painting down to individual brushstrokes, to then recreate paintings using 3D print.
Read the full article here >>
Amsterdam Drone Week announces strategic partnership with Commercial UAV Expo
Commercial UAV News
There are many different ways that professionals capture 3D data, whether with terrestrial laser scanners, mobile mapping systems that are carried, or on backpacks, or on ground robots, or on vehicles, etc. One of the most popular ways has long been to attach sensors to drones, allowing for faster and/or safer data collection from above as well. The Commercial UAV Expo, a sister show of Geo Week, covers commercial UAV applications, including this type of data collection. It was announced last week that they will be expanding their show to Europe alongside Amsterdam Drone Week starting in 2025.
Read the full article here>>
