Laser Scanning

Leica ScanStation C10

Has anyone heard or seen a Faro Focus being used? Seems to be a cheaper alternative to name brands, but as usual, you get what you pay for.

> Has anyone heard or seen a Faro Focus being used? Seems to be a cheaper alternative to name brands, but as usual, you get what you pay for.

I saw it at Intergeo last fall. The price is right if you're looking for a phase based scanner. Like all phase based scanners it has a pretty limited range compared to time of flight scanners (especially outdoors). For building interior work (BIM & industrial) it seems like it would work pretty well as long as it wasn't too a big space.

Also, it's not 100% eye safe; depending on the resolution you need, you have to cordon off an area around the scanner to keep people out (around 10 meters I think).

Can anyone show me concrete proof of more than a half dozen companies making a decent living doing laser scanning?

I'd like to see this as well.

Great point. The equipment is expensive & requires security, not to mention the data overload.

I know the various survey magazines or the manufacturers themselves will run a fluff piece of how awesome scanning is and how everything is "perfect". That is fine and dandy, and I take it with my grain of salt. Can anyone show there is a market big enough anywhere where if one or two survey companies already have scanners, that there is really enough work out there for a third or a fourth one? I don't think anyone can. I think many companies have gotten scanners because they convinced a client they needed it for specific job, and after that, poof, not much more work since.

I would think that laser scanning would be excellent for high-end Architecture more than anything else. Leaving these items on the highway to scan for a few hours gives me the willies. Down in Miami, the equipment would not be there long, even if you hired a trained security guard to stand over it. Providing this service in exclusive neighborhoods seems far more appropriate.

Providing this service in exclusive neighborhoods seems far more appropriate.

What kind of neighborhoods are you working in? I think that anyone that "leaves" these items on the side of a highway for a few hours is asking for whatever comes to them. I think this kind of thinking is exactly why Laser Scanning hasn't caught on. It seems as if there is a constant resistance to new technology and its capabillities.

I don't think scanning is something you would use in any kind of neighborhood. I think it's more for the heavy industrial, big energy and transportation sectors. I think factories and mills have a great need for something like this. Fortunately for us, these are our main types of clients and I think it's important for us as a company, but I also think it's important as a profession to include the latest technology and innovate to our needs. It can then, in turn, make Surveyors much more valuble, much more versatile and much more needed.

Around the NY/NJ/CT metro area, scanners are quickly becoming a standard tool of the trade.

Our firm has done scans for piping projects, for a bridge, several building interiors, and work for some levee projects. All but the last were in the NY area, and there are many firms doing interiors, as-builts and highway/bridge projects with a scanner.

The work itself is CAD intensive......the field scanning process is fairly simple.

The trick is to be able to expand your client base, and to educate existing clients about possible benefits.

If your work is primarily boundary/topo/layout, it's going to take some effort to re-position your business for scanning work.

Who's talking about leaving them? You need a martial arts expert with arms training and 3 rottweilers to fight off thievery down there.

One of the national roadway construction firms about two years ago down towards that area had whole front end loaders stolen right off their own secured property.

Not long ago, a crew down there had their equipment stolen at gunpoint. Who wants to do work with this kind of equipment in those areas? I have young children. I'm no good to them dead ...

Touche.

Whole front in loaders stolen....LOL

> If your work is primarily boundary/topo/layout, it's going to take some effort to re-position your business for scanning work.

You beat me to it. I think you have to almost look at scanning as a separate business and profit center inside the company rather than as an accessory to a traditional surveying business.

Yep. It's just another tool for a specialized purpose ...

I agree. It could certainly improve upon surveying procedures we have used in the past, especially in highly congested powerplants or manufacturing facilities. The procedures we used were accurate, but the scanning could be much more detailed, more accurate, safer and MUCH faster. Almost seems like a no-brainer.

I think using our existing client base with the survey side is an excellent way to start. I also think while we expand our client base with the scanner, maybe it can help expand our survey client base at the same time.

But, the intent of this post was to get opinions on which scanner was the most bang for its buck. The Faro was much more cost effective...but why?

Haha! I couldn't believe it either! 😀

How many laser scanning projects are you doing a year?

Anything you may say about security applies equally to total stations and other survey gear.

A typical scan session takes a few minutes of running time. You would never "leave it for a few hours". Perhaps you are confusing scanners with GPS base stations or even robotic TS's.

For really tough security situations consider mobile scanning. You don't even have to stop the truck.

Angelo

What instrument are you using?