Structure survey & Scanning

A high end scanner like a Riegl vz400i, Leica P40 or Z&f 5016 is needed for those kind of jobs. 

To me, it looks like a job for a Trimble SX-12 and the Access software.

Scan to design and scan(pressure) to scan(rest) comparison in the field.

To me, it looks like a job for a Trimble SX-12 and the Access software.

Scan to design and scan(pressure) to scan(rest) comparison in the field.

Yes, SX12 looks to be the one. But Any particular reason why the Access software? Just received proposal from Trimble Reps , but they proposed 'Siteworks' and not Access..The last time we used Trimble gear was during the 4000SSE era, so not quite up to date. How crucial is Access for general surveying works and scanning such as this? Or is Siteworks essentially the same thing? Will ask the reps tomorrow, but appreciate feedbacks from the users..
P.S . Also what would be the preferred data collector for the unit that we should go for?   
Thanks 

@rahimi

Siteworks is simple and basic, for the construction industry. It holds your hand all along the way, but the workflows are restricted. Great for setout. Don't know how good its scan comparisons are (if it has them)

Access is designed by surveyors for surveyors. Complex, very fully featured. Lots of workflows and options. You are free to use it in many ways (including making your own mistakes 🙂 Gets the best out of your SX12.

If you are using an SX10 or 12 you would want the TSC7 controller, or maybe one of the tablet based controllers (T100).

Know also that that I do work for Trimble on the Access team, so I might be a bit biased

Photogrammetry is often used for deformation studies as well (like you describe). 

I believe that PhotoModeler used to have a module for just that sort of thing. I would also expect  Photometrix would have solution. 

The equipment costs might be less for that approach. The best approach would be be to determine scope and the precision needed to answer the engineer's questions, or to provide useful data for them to analyze. Then, check with the vendor to determine the approach needed to accomplish useful measurements. 

Photogrammetry is often used for deformation studies as well (like you describe). 

Genuine question...

What sort of accuracy can you achieve?

Could you get to +/- 1mm on the pressure vessel in Rahimi's example?

I figure that's about what is needed here. That is hard to achieve even with really tight survey technique, and especially so when it needs to be repeatable.

Photogrammetry is often used for deformation studies as well (like you describe). 

I believe that PhotoModeler used to have a module for just that sort of thing. I would also expect  Photometrix would have solution. 

The equipment costs might be less for that approach. The best approach would be be to determine scope and the precision needed to answer the engineer's questions, or to provide useful data for them to analyze. Then, check with the vendor to determine the approach needed to accomplish useful measurements. 

Thank you..
Yes..this is something that we also considered. The plan was, to stick as many sticker targets as possible, measure them with a refelectorless TS & work from there. The problem is, the structure is such that it is not quite possible to stick enough stickers that we would like. We are also expecting 'noisy' results because of the surface and not meeting the expected accuracy.  Nonetheless, this is something that we would also attempt alongside laser scanning just for the sake of it as it is fairly easy to do, just orbit it with a drone. 🙂

I have used and tested the SX10 for surveys and we conducted test against laser trackers scanners for specific purposes not necessarily this scenario but to reverse engineer things and as built to design. I am talking around on purpose have to. But Would have to agree with John above that the sx12 would be a good tool for this scenario.  As you will be able to establish your ground control like any other robot or total station for traversing and then have the scanning capabilities. So those little targets will not be needed. Now i don’t know what accuracy and or precision and at what confidence level is needed you would need to read the specs. What i can say is I personally aligned a 300 ft pipe if you will that was done prior with a laser tracker very tight.  The sx10 maintained the requirements and through redundancy and good field procedures exceeded the manufacturer specs.  Using the laser tracker as the bases of truth. If you need to be sub millimeter i would be going the laser tracker route and using smr and spatial analyzer but I think sx12 if you are a surveyor and Trimble access would be a much easier learning curve. And you could be up and running quickly.