Laser scanning point density settings

For cloud to cloud registration and bulk coverage, I typically go for 12mm @10m or 25mm @ 10m, with heaps of positions, just moving it a short distance, press button, move again, press button and stay close to targets of interest. These are less than a minute per scan.   I'll typically do this with the level compensator switched off.   I'll perform some control scans with accurate position and level, so that cloud to cloud registration can be performed in clusters without accumulating error over distance.   The control scans are performed on a survey tripod, while free scans are performed using a carbon fibre tripod.   I'll typically use short range settings for the free scans.

No decimation is required and with heaps of overlap, there's never a problem with registration in environments with man-made features.

I use high resolution for long range window or polygon scans.   I also use road mode, which has a low horizontal resolution (25mm) and high vertical resolution (1.5mm) for bulk ground coverage, or coverage up the side of a tall building.

In environments subject to vibration, we'll use a slam scanner.

I think @pfirmst nailed it with the 'low density for coverage, high density for control' strategy. It’s so easy to get caught up in capturing millions of points you’ll never use, but keeping the bulk scans under a minute is such a huge time-saver in the field. Efficiency is definitely king when you're dealing with massive sites.