Everything you think you know about 3D laser scanning services deserves a closer look. The hearsay is old talk, flat — two-dimensional! Below, we deconstruct the 3D laser scanning myths you’ve been believing for far too long.

1.  MYTH: IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE

REALITY: IT REDUCES MARGIN OF ERROR AND CAN BE AFFORDABLE

One change order can exceed the cost of the 3D laser scanning. You’re probably thinking that getting a 3D laser scan is an unneeded luxury, but the cost of not scanning your building/project can lead to design mistakes, replacements, and other unexpected incurred costs during construction.

A 3D laser scanning quote can be a pretty intimidating number up front. By opting out of a 3D laser scan, you lend yourself susceptible to an increased margin of error and accumulating costs over time stemming from poor as-builts. The potential for all of this could outweigh the cost of the entire scanning service. Ultimately, architects can create a design in BIM software using unreliable, outdated record drawings, but a scan is important for existing-conditions representation and precision in design.

A 3D laser scan takes accurate measurements for BIMs at a margin of the cost it would take to employ a team of people with tape measures, pen, and paper — and without the heightened potential for error. With the variety of high-tech hardware available now, 3D laser scanning requires less people to execute a scan, meaning less people to pay for better work.

Scanning hardware consists of a variety between tripods, drones, and wearable backpacks.

A 3D laser scanning service like PrecisionPoint’s RapidScan uses a wearable backpack that can scan an area 30x faster than traditional tripod scanners, be less disruptive to the building occupants, and deliver data with centimeter accuracy.

2.  MYTH: WE CAN JUST DO IT OURSELVES

REALITY: 3D LASER SCANNING REQUIRES SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT TO DO CORRECTLY

You can buy a hammer and nails, but can you build a house? 3D laser scanning takes thorough attention and a unique set of skills. Scanning service employees receive training on multiple pieces of equipment, learn how to tie scans to georeference survey control points, and understand what combination of equipment to use per every client’s standards.

With the recent integration of multi-sensor mobile scanning systems, the skill set required for data capture, post processing, and aligning point cloud sets require a higher degree of specialized skills to execute successfully. True scanning professionals are United States Institute of Building Documentation LOA (Level of Accuracy) certified and can define and interpret the scope of work and hardware needed for a scan. They then align these calculations with the intended use of the scan data. Simply, this is where DIYers fall short.

Yes, you can buy entry-level market 3D laser scanners, but none will compare to the speed, accuracy, and precision of professional grade scanners. Consumer grade scanners might prove beneficial for a single room, but not an entire building spanning hundreds of thousands of square feet. It takes a combination of scanners to document a site correctly, quickly, and accurately.

Professional service providers are also experienced in strategizing the right hardware and time it takes to scan buildings efficiently. If you were to do it yourself, you may be contracting out more people than necessary for lower-quality, less-efficient results.