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How mobile LiDAR transformed and expanded a small business

Location

Washington State, USA

Scan time

5-15 minutes per scan

Size

Various interior and exterior sizes

Scanned

A range of large environments

Industry

Surveying

Scout Aerial Solutions is a US-based drone and geospatial service provider. The company helps construction businesses, land surveyors, and engineers capture data faster, provide deliverables efficiently, and increase project productivity. Scout Aerial Solutions use drones, alongside mobile LiDAR, and other Multimedia Collection methods so its clients do not have any informational gaps in their data.

This case study explores the applications Scout Aerial Solutions use mobile LiDAR for and how it benefits data capture and clients’ projects.

Mobile LiDAR’s use in adverse weather conditions

Scout Aerial Solutions is based in Washington State, USA, and primarily used photogrammetry alongside drones as its main data collection method. However, the team have found that during the winter months, adverse weather conditions make scanning from the air more difficult. As a result, they decided to adopt a new data-capturing method, handheld mapping, to use alongside drones.

After considering the options, Scout Aerial Solutions opted to work with GeoSLAM’s mobile LiDAR scanners and acquired a ZEB Horizon, alongside the ZEB Vision and Car Mount accessories. Since acquiring the laser scanner, it has proved beneficial for the team and their projects. As an additional collection resource, it allows Scout Aerial Solutions to scan on the ground and inside buildings during the snowy months.

Using the ZEB Horizon for a variety of applications

The scanner’s capabilities have continued to impress Scout Aerial Solutions and they now use it for a range of solutions. Over the course of 6 months, the team has completed 72 scans, testing for different applications and customer projects. Each scan, lasting approximately 5-15 minutes, contributes to the growing tally of uses with GeoSLAM’s mobile LiDAR scanner. This includes training with the ZEB Horizon to understand how to best suit the customers’ needs and minimise errors on the job site.

As Scout Aerial Solutions capture data from interior and exterior environments the size of scans varies from project to project. However, the largest area they have scanned internally is a 400,000 sq/ft parking garage and externally, around 68 acres, captured with a drone.

How Scout Aerial Solutions use mobile LiDAR

Additionally, Scout Aerial Solutions provide testing, training, and demos to its clients demonstrating the potential of handheld laser scanners.

University of Idaho: Centre for Forest Nursery and Seedling Research

The biggest project that Scout Aerial Solutions are working on is collaborating with one of its clients to scan forestry nurseries, using the ZEB Horizon. The aim of this scan is to be able to scan forest plots more easily to measure sapling growth and ID trees on site.

Although Scout Aerial Solutions is a company initially set up to service the AEC sector, mobile LiDAR has proven to be an asset in other sectors, helping them to branch out into forestry.

Camber detection

Scout Aerial Solutions carried out a scan using mobile LiDAR for a company that needed to detect the camber of concrete beams over several thousand sq. ft. Previously, the only data collection method available to the company was a total station, alongside already existing model calculations from before a floor pour. However, they wanted to evaluate whether mobile LiDAR can more effectively measure the beams. With the ZEB Horizon, Scout Aerial Solutions proved to their client that mobile LiDAR is a more efficient method of data capture.

Scout Aerial Solution’s growing use of mobile LiDAR

Scout Aerial Solutions are continuing to introduce mobile LiDAR to its clients, including in the environmental and archaeological sectors, that have produced very promising results.

Furthermore, the company has found that GeoSLAM Draw is beneficial for its construction clients as it is possible for clients to integrate deliverables into regularly used third-party software, such as Bluebeam, via an array of export options.

As Scout Aerial Solutions use mobile LiDAR more and discover the full capacity of the ZEB Horizon and accessories, their productivity and client fulfilment will also increase. The ZEB Horizon is designed with accessories in mind, which means adding required accessories to the scanner for future uses is cost-effective. Additionally, unlike other methods of capture which might demand several units, the ZEB Horizon has the capability to be an all-in-one solution.

Scout Aerial Solutions are currently trialing usage of the new carry-case backpack to see how it will benefit their projects.

Exploring narrow passageways and underground spaces in Belfast

Location

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Scan time

5-17 minutes per scan

Size

1km2 block

Scanned

Belfast City Centre

Industry

Surveying

The threat of flooding has become more prominent for coastal cities and centres as sea levels continue to rise. To mitigate the risk to these areas, research by the UrbanArk project intends to improve the resilience and preparedness of urban centres and communities. The project focuses on underground spaces including car parks, storage areas and public facilities, as priority risk areas during a flood. Typically, these underground areas are not considered in flood models, which makes UrbanArk’s work even more important. To gain a better understanding of these spaces and how best to prepare them for risk, UrbanArk aims to create flood inundation models. The models track the severity and rate of the flood as well as the path that the water will travel as the flood occurs.


Research for UrbanArk’s project took place across three universities: Queen’s University Belfast, University College Dublin, and New York University. Dr. Aaron Miller completed his PhD thesis as part of this project at Queen’s University. His goal was to focus on the collection and analysis of required data ahead of the model’s creation. In Belfast specifically, there is a considerable amount of subsurface parking and below-grade office space, which Dr. Miller also planned to scan from street level.

Comparing different methods of LiDAR scanning

For his thesis, Dr. Miller analysed the benefits of handheld LiDAR for mapping underground spaces in Belfast. In particular, he aimed to survey basements as well as the streets of Belfast to assess where basements and underground spaces may exist. When deciding on the methodology for his thesis, Dr. Miller compared multiple LiDAR data collection methods. This included reviewing previously collected data of an area of Belfast, using the FARO Focus.


Whilst static data was more accurate, UrbanARK’s project required a scanning method that was cost-efficient, repeatable and specifically capable of capturing street-level and underground, as well as transitioning easily. Furthermore, as the project specialised in underground spaces and the surrounding narrow streets of Belfast, they required a versatile scanner to capture these hard-to-access areas.

Scanning Belfast city centre with the ZEB Horizon

Consequently, Dr. Miller opted to use GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon as its maneuverability and speed of capture were invaluable for his work. During his comparison, the ZEB Horizon had high enough accuracy for the needs of his thesis and UrbanARK’s project.


Dr. Miller’s data collection spanned a 1 km2 area around Belfast, split into several blocks, which covered most of the city centre. He scanned each block separately, georeferencing and merging them into one final point cloud. Dr. Miller georeferenced by identifying features within the point cloud and matching them to their real-life location. These areas in Belfast include tight passageways and streets, which the ZEB Horizon’s handheld capabilities provided easy and quick access with little disruption. Additionally, the speed of capture of the ZEB Horizon meant data collection was efficient, with 50 scans carried out, lasting 7-15 minutes each.


Georeferencing the data was vital for UrbanArk as it means they can scan certain blocks again, as often as required and merge the new data into the existing point cloud. The repeatability of the scans allows for updated information as the environment inevitably changes over time.

Understanding flood patterns with GeoSLAM data

Dr. Miller used GeoSLAM software to process the ZEB Horizon data and merge the individual datasets into one coherent point cloud. He also used third-party software, Cloud Compare, to analyse the point cloud and collect the required data.


With this data, UrbanArk calculates information on potential flood heights and rates to share as 2D maps and VR walkthroughs within communities. Educating communities contributes to UrbanArk’s aim to increase the resilience and preparedness of urban centres in the event of a flood.


Dr. Miller also explored the volumes of basements and parking lots to understand the amount of water they would hold in the event of a flood. Additionally, the inclusion of underground spaces and small street features have proven to impact the inundation rates and floodwater flow within the output flood models.

The GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon proved itself to be an efficient tool for urban mapping, due to its combination of manoeuvrability and accuracy. The user-friendly nature of the scanner promotes widespread use, from novice to expert level surveyors.

To find out more about UrbanArk and their project, visit: A Joint Research Project under the US-Ireland Research and Development Programme (urbanark-project.org)

This work was supported by a research grant from the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland under the US-Ireland R&R Partnership Programme.

Accelerating Processes and Streamlining Fieldwork at Cabot Survey Partnership

Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Scan time

Approx. 10 minutes per scan

Size

Range from 400m2 to 20ha

Scanned

Large exterior spaces

Industry

Surveying

Cabot Survey Partnership is a leading South African surveying company that provides civil and structural surveys, and CAD services, to a range of clients in the AEC and mining industries. To stay ahead of the competition, Cabot is always looking to innovate, implementing technology that can help deliver accurate and comprehensive results faster.

In this case study, we’ll explore Cabot’s use of handheld LiDAR scanners to speed up processes and reduce fieldwork.

The decision to use handheld LiDAR

Traditional methods for surveying

Cabot originally used static-based LiDAR solutions to carry out surveys and collect data for their clients. While this method is highly accurate, they realised that they needed to produce similarly accurate results faster, to reduce overall fieldwork. They required a solution that could easily and efficiently capture large spaces ranging from 400m2 to 20ha.

Transforming a small business

As a small business, balancing workload with capacity is vital for Cabot Survey Partnership.

To stay competitive, Cabot invested in handheld LiDAR technology, that would have a direct and positive impact on their business by:

  • Streamlining their workflows and completing jobs faster, allowing them to take on more projects
  • Understanding their customer needs and diversifying business offerings accordingly
  • Requiring fewer resources to complete projects

Gustav Fick, Segment Manager at OPTRON (Pty) Ltd, the local supplier of GeoSLAM technology in South Africa, understood Cabot’s business requirements and recommended a GeoSLAM solution to help their business expand. Consequently, Cabot made the switch to handheld LiDAR, resulting in streamlined projects and enhanced time efficiency.

How Cabot use the ZEB Horizon

In 2019, Cabot acquired a ZEB Horizon and became the first private surveying company in South Africa to use the technology. The ZEB Horizon’s ease of use and lightweight nature help Cabot deliver accurate and comprehensive results faster, with only one person needed onsite to capture data. This allows Cabot to cover multiple sites simultaneously, reducing the overall time spent collecting data.

The laser scanner’s adaptability to the range of solutions Cabot offers means they can carry out 50-60 scans per month, with most scans taking under 10 minutes, depending on the particular solution and scanning environment.  

Clients have commented on the quality of the scan deliverables, stating that they can now visualise the data points better. They are also impressed with the overall results of the project.

Solutions

Cabot uses the ZEB Horizon for a variety of applications resulting in reduced fieldwork, by roughly 80%. The laser scanner now works across three primary surveying solutions.

Stockpile measurements

They carry out 10-15 scans of stockpiles per client, each month. The walk-and-scan method of GeoSLAM technology is vital for scanning stockpiles, especially those inside buildings or in between multiple structures. Within an hour of processing the data, Cabot begin calculating measurements of the stockpile, delivering a fast end-to-end solution.

According to Arnold Bothma, Managing Director of Cabot Survey Partnership, surveying a concentrated area in a platinum processing plant used to take about two hours with a robotic total station. However, with the ZEB Horizon, the process now takes about eight minutes, and the actual model takes around 30-40 minutes, resulting in significant time savings for the team. This increased efficiency allows them to spend more time analysing the data rather than capturing it.

Infrastructure applications

Cabot utilises the ZEB Horizon to determine the precise distance of cable racks, which are structures designed to organise long distances of cables or wires, across large areas. The accuracy of these measurements is critical, especially in cases where the cables are one-piece, and the lead time for ordering a new cable is as long as six months. With the ZEB Horizon, they were able to obtain the necessary data promptly, and provide clients with the exact measurements required for cable orders. Thanks to the scanner, clients were able to order cables with confidence, knowing that their measurements were precise and accurate.

Cabot create their deliverables, including stockpile calculations and topographical detail contour plans, using Trimble Business Centre.

Conclusion

The speed, accuracy, and flexibility of the ZEB Horizon have been extremely beneficial for Cabot Survey Partnership. The laser scanner’s capabilities have reduced their time onsite, increased productivity, and expanded the total amount of projects they can undertake. The speed of capture has led to safer data collection for surveyors, and clients receive deliverables faster. Using GeoSLAM technology, Cabot has carried out approximately 1000 scans, and this number continues to grow.

With handheld LiDAR technology, Cabot Survey Partnership is setting the bar for efficiency and accuracy in the survey industry.

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    Digitising 163 apartments in the heart of Hamburg

    Location

    Hamburg, Germany

    Scan time

    25 minutes per scan

    Size

    163 apartments and 13 staircases

    Scanned

    Apartment Building

    Industry

    Surveying

    Danish-based digital modelling company, Eseebase, works to digitise building assets globally. They collect relevant, accurate data and information, with the aim to make the maintenance of buildings more effective. During the lifespan of the company, they’ve created digital assets for more than 9 million square meters of space and over 400,000 flats within the housing sector.

    This case study will dive into a recent project, that required the need for fast and accurate data capture, using GeoSLAM handheld scanners.

    Mapping a residential apartment block in Hamburg

    SAGA, controlled by the State-City of Hamburg, is Germany’s 3rd largest housing company and has nearly 140,000 residential units. They required up-to-date information and measurements of a large apartment building. Upcoming renovations to the apartment block meant that the information needed to be accurate and returned in a timely manner.

    SAGA tasked Eseebase to capture the data. The team’s goal was to create up-to-date CAD drawings and a 3D model (BIM) of the apartment block.

    The residential building has 163 apartments and 13 staircases that span across 7 floors. Furthermore, residents currently live in the apartments, so speed and professionalism were a priority. To limit disruption, the team had a few hours per day to scan the building. As a result, a requirement for an accurate and time-efficient method of data capture was essential.

    Finding an effective solution in handheld LiDAR

    Eseebase opted to work with GeoSLAM technology, as they are familiar with the solutions and workflows. For this project, the team obtained a ZEB Horizon scanner. They also made use of the ZEB Vision camera claiming the bubble walk-through feature from the 360o panoramic images were a useful reference when modelling.

    The ZEB Horizon’s walk and scan method was a simple way of capturing an environment without any difficult setups. It also was a less intrusive way of obtaining data, benefitting the residents in the apartment blocks.

    Additionally, the laser scanner transitioned well between apartments to hallways and stairwells, as well as from indoors to outdoors. The ZEB Horizon’s ease of use meant training was minimal, and there was a reduction in time spent in the apartment block.

    The ZEB Horizon’s speed of capture also allowed Eseebase to scan the building’s interior in under three days, carrying out 7-10 scans per day that lasted 25 minutes each.

    With the interior captured, the team focused on the exterior of the building. A close-up walk around the building gathered the necessary data, and a wider loop helped to capture the roof. A large body of water surrounds one side of the building, therefore Eseebase had to get creative and scan from a small boat they hired. The mobility of the scanner overcame this problem, whereas other mapping solutions would struggle due to their cumbersome nature.

    Essebase used GeoSLAM Connect to process the final point clouds and they automatically merged the 23 individual datasets into one large point cloud.

    Autodesk ReCAP produced RCP files from the point cloud, which was then imported into Revit where the CAD Drawings and 3D model was created.

    Conclusion

    In just three weeks Eseebase had presented the final deliverables back to SAGA. The speed of capture the ZEB Horizon provided cut down the overall delivery time, and the mobility saw that the process didn’t largely affect the residents.

    Eseebase found GeoSLAM’s technology so efficient and beneficial that they have recently acquired the ZEB Horizon RT. They plan to use it, with the ZEB Vision, for future projects in Germany following similar workflows.

    Ernst Koppensteiner, Head of Data Registration and Quality Assurance at Essebase, says “Capturing a building of this size comes with its difficulties, especially when scanning multiple staircases and rooms over several floors. The ZEB Horizon allows us to easily capture the necessary data quickly and with no issues”.

    The ZEB Horizon is the most versatile scanning device we have found when it comes to using one system for Outdoor scanning, Indoor scanning and scanning in very confined spaces like cellars and attics”
    – Ernst Koppensteiner, Head of Data Registration and Quality Assurance, at Eseebase

    Using LiDAR for site documentation

    Location

    Rovinj, Croatia

    Scan time

    20 minutes per scan

    Size

    1110m x 700m

    Scanned

    Campsite

    Industry

    Surveying

    Whether you are cruising down the Adriatic coast, visiting the famous Game of Thrones filmsets in Dubrovnik or experiencing some of Croatia’s famous cities; with visitors to Croatia more than doubling since 2010, tourism has become an important part of the Croatian economy.


    In the North sits the Istrian peninsula, a place known for its beauty, history, amazing food, and a place tourists flock to year on year both domestically and internationally. A sharp increase in visitors has meant that tourism sector has needed to adapt to the exponential growth.


    The Maistra group is one of Croatia’s leading tourist companies. They manage 18 hotels, 11 tourist villages and 6 campsites in sought out destinations such as Rovinj, Vrsar, Zagreb and Dubrovnik. With so much property to manage, they need quick and efficient ways to keep their site documentation up to date. In early 2021 they approached GeoSLAMs Croatian dealer, Geocentar, requesting a scan of one of their campsites in Rovinj on the Istrian peninsula.

    Working with the ZEB Horizon in Rovinj

    Due to the size of the site, 1100m x 700m, the team at Geo-Centar opted to tackle the scan using GeoSLAMs ZEB Horizon, plus aerial photogrammetry. The aim of the survey was to create up to date campsite documentation in the form of 2D vector maps, high resolution 2D raster maps, georeferenced imagery, and a digital terrain model with contours. As a result of the campsites age and need to modernisation, the documentation will serve as a reference for design purposes.


    Combining both high resolution orthophotos of the area with the point cloud from the ZEB Horizon, the team were able to capture data quickly, accurately and without disruption. By utilising the walk-and-scan method of capturing data, they were able to make light work of the task.

    Being able to walk and scan is a true blessing in such situations since any other scanning method is either much slower or much more expensive.

    In total, 10 scans were conducted which mainly focused on buildings, terrain covered with vegetation and other objects that would be tough to capture with aerial photography. Each scan took approximately 20 minutes, so the team were able to cover the entire 1100m x 700m in just over 3 hours. Using the scans, the team were able to extract roads, sports fields, fences, stairs buildings and roads.

    Post Scan

    During the scan, the team used a survey grade GNSS receiver to georeference the data. The team used GeoSLAM software to accurately georeference the scans which enabled them to correct any trajectory drifts that may have occurred during the scan. This further ensured that accurate and quality data was delivered to the client.

    In addition, the team were able to georeference images taken alongside the scan and open them in GeoSLAM Draw. The software was then used to export the web version (HTML) of the top view layout containing the location of the images. This HTML was easily shared with investors and engineers working on the same project, providing a visual impression.

    The pointcloud data was exported to 3rd party software, where the team were able to create the documentation and maps for their client.

    Results

    The team were successfully able to map the campsite and extract the data needed to create high quality survey maps, a digital terrain model and contours, which will now be used to modernise the campsite.

    Get in touch

    If you’d like to learn more about how GeoSLAM solutions can help you, submit the form below.





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      The role of LiDAR in bringing ‘Industry 4.0’ to Norwegian forestry

      Location

      Ås,
      Norway

      Scan time

      Approx. 10-20 minutes per scan

      Size

      250 Sq/m plots

      Scanned

      Norwegian forests

      Industry

      Forestry

      SFI SmartForest and LiDAR in Norwegian forestry

      The SFI SmartForest is a part of the Centres for Research-based Innovation scheme of the Research Council of Norway. It aims to position Norway’s forestry sector at the forefront of digitisation by 2028. The primary goal of the 8-year research centre is to improve the efficiency of the Norwegian forestry sector by enabling a digital transformation, using innovative technologies, such as LiDAR. They aim to increase productivity, reduce environmental impacts, and review other significant climate benefits.

      SmartForest are focusing on silviculture, forest operations, wood supply, and the overall digital information flow. The hope is to bring industry 4.0 to the Norwegian forestry sector by having a free flow of information and real-time communication, through innovative and enabling technologies.

      The interconnectivity of data and technology will not only result in the long-term success of the forestry sector in Norway but also contribute to limiting potential environmental impacts.

      LiDAR is one of the enabling technologies that will help them collect accurate data for ground truthing. The point cloud is forming a basis for deep learning models that can eventually apply to much larger mapped areas.

      Why is mobile LiDAR required?

      The forest is dense with trees, the floor is often rough terrain, and it is usually hidden beneath a thick canopy of vegetation. To capture 3D models of the forest, SmartForest need a mobile LiDAR solution that can map from the ground and a UAV-based LiDAR solution to capture properties of the tree canopy.

      Data acquisition is only one part of a larger workflow that can include segmentation algorithms, allowing for further exploration of the physical attributes of individual trees such as tree height and distribution. It’s important for the data to be precise, to ensure accurate monitoring of the forest.

      An obvious solution was a static-based terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), however, despite the accuracy levels being incredibly high, the speed of capture was impeded by the need for several scans in one area. As the project progresses and the need for scanning larger areas increases, TLS becomes a less likely option.

      Another choice was a UAV-based solution that can capture large areas in a short period of time. Though SmartForest works with UAV to capture the forest canopy, it’s less effective at penetrating thick vegetation to collect forest floor and trunk data than it is from the ground.

      After looking around the market, they opted to try mobile laser scanning as a solution that could quickly capture ground data to an accuracy high enough for their needs.

      Vegetation, trunks and terrain

      Trunks and terrain

      Terrain

      Working with GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon

      SmartForest chose GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon scanner for its speed of capture, ease of use, and mobility. Projecting 300,000 laser points per second with a range of up to 100 meters, the scanner produces dense point clouds of large areas, in a short period of time. The accurate point cloud includes the forest floor, debris, tree trunks, and thick vegetation.

      Frequent data acquisition is a key part of SmartForests plans and GeoSLAM’s handheld LiDAR scanner, alongside UAV data capture help to achieve this. The ZEB Horizon’s ease of use makes data acquisitions a repeatable task and the high accuracy of data provides a foundation for deep learning models.

      The point clouds are processed in GeoSLAM’s software package and imported in 3rd party solutions, where sophisticated algorithms are applied to segment the data. Automatic segmentation of the tree trunks allows for easier tree counts and tree segmentation provides precise forest inventory, down to the individual tree. The digital separation of trees will lead to the extraction of features such as wood quality, biomass, and other ecologically relevant variables.

      Scanning with the ZEB Horizon is a very efficient way to collect ground truth. Eventually, we want to use it for large-scale mapping applications.

      Conclusion

      The long-term plan for the SFI SmartForest is to bring industry 4.0 to the Norwegian forestry industry, using emerging and enabling technologies. Handheld LiDAR scanning has been identified as an efficient way to map the forest from the ground, providing accurate point clouds which serve as the basis for deep learning research opportunities.

      They hope to use GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon for other applications in the future, having seen the versatility of the scanner.




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        Providing innovative solutions using UAVs

        and LiDAR scanners

        Location

        Savannah,
        USA

        Scan time

        From 10-30 minutes

        Size

        Varies depending on scan

        Scanned

        Large exterior spaces

        Industry

        Surveying

        Delivering accurate representations of built environments

        Shamrock+, based in Savannah Georgia, provides creative and visual solutions to individuals and businesses through photography and 3D data collection services. Using UAVs, cameras, sensors and software, Shamrock+ delivers accurate representations of built environments for their clients.

        Shamrock+ largely works within Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), however, they also assist professionals with projects in the Real Estate sector. Their solutions include photography, progress documentation, creating 3D data visualisations, and as-built.

        Shamrock+ originally used a static-based LiDAR solution to produce their 3D point clouds. Though highly accurate, they needed a faster solution for collecting data. Additionally, they needed a versatile scanner that can be mounted to UAVs and cars to capture larger areas.

        As a result, Shamrock+ chose to work with GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon scanner.

        What used to take hours to scan, is now taking us significantly less time to cover more areas.

        Using the ZEB Horizon laser scanner on UAVs

        The ZEB Horizon has significantly reduced the time needed to scan, whilst simultaneously delivering accurate data. The easy-to-use solution and simple setup mean the team could immediately begin scanning.

        Many of the areas Shamrock+ capture are large exterior spaces, and the 100m range of the ZEB Horizon make it the ideal solution. The team carried out an architectural scan of an approximately 10,000 sq. ft Community Bible Church (CBC) in Savannah, GA. This project consisted of 3 individual scans of the interior building and its surrounding area, with the scan time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes.

        Shamrock+ uses the ZEB Horizon laser scanner on UAVs, handheld and with GeoSLAM’s car mount accessories. The versatile solution provides Shamrock+ with the ability to switch from air based data capture to scanning large areas in a very short amount of time.

        Creating 3D BIM files, floorplans and more with GeoSLAM technology

        Shamrock+ has completed more than a dozen projects to date, each with its own challenges. From scanning building interiors for renovation, to mapping acres of land for topographical data, the ZEB Horizon has proven to be a tool that can overcome the challenges it has faced so far.

        Shamrock+ processes the ZEB Horizon’s data using GeoSLAM Connect. They also internally integrate the point clouds into other software platforms to create 3D BIM files, floorplans, elevations, contours, and much more.

        By using GeoSLAM’s technology, Shamrock+ can capture large acres of land in a short period of time. This speeds up their data collection process without sacrificing accuracy, which allows them to spend more time on creating high quality visual solutions for their clients.

        If you’d like to learn more about how GeoSLAM solutions can help you, submit the form below.





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          Surveying Interior and Exterior Environmental Features

          Location

          Kansas,

          USA

          Scan time

          Approx. 20 minutes per scan

          Size

          Over 1 million sq/ft per year

          Scanned

          Buildings and Underground Oil Tanks

          Industry

          Surveying

          Collecting Accurate Measurements of Buildings for the Military

          The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department coordinates resources for local, state, and federal use. They also develop internal use documents for the military, including surveying building interiors to create up-to-date and accurate floorplans for military members within Kansas.  

          They have about 35 sites throughout the state, with some locations 100s of miles away from the headquarters. Further, the Adjutant General’s Department manages approximately 250 buildings state-wide, totaling around 2 million sq. ft. of interior space. These factors have led to some difficulties in keeping up with projects, and any changes to the buildings and layouts.

          The team found that when remodelling buildings, they were having issues getting as-builts completed in time. As-builts are documents that are used to compare a building’s design plan versus its final measurements. They also provide accurate blueprints of the building, and the surrounding land, as actually constructed at the end of the project.

          Being able to have one person go out to capture all of the data and have the most current floorplans, along with the accuracy of the scanners is a gamechanger

          Kansas Adjutant General’s Department Use of the ZEB Revo

          Scanning Properties to Keep on Top of Changes Made

          To tackle these issues, the team decided to adopt LiDAR laser scanning technology to aid them in their projects and found GeoSLAM’s ZEB Revo to be the best option. By acquiring GeoSLAM’s technology, the Kansas Adjutant General’s Departments’ goal was to scan over half of their 2 million sq. ft. of interior space every year.

          The ZEB Revo is handheld, accurate and fast, providing the team with a perfect tool. In addition, the simplicity and ease of use means only one team member needs to travel to a site, when necessary. Previous methods of data capture were not as quick or accurate. The ZEB Revo data capture leads to a faster return on projects, higher levels of accuracy, and a high return on investment.

          By using the ZEB Revo, the Kansas Adjutant General’s Department have updated over 1 million sq. ft. of interior space, achieving their overall goal, with just one technician visiting half of the sites per year. The speed of capture of the ZEB means that the average time it takes the team to carry out a scan is just 20 minutes. By collecting accurate measurements, they can now regularly update their GIS database, which provides up to date floorplans throughout the state.

          Data from the ZEB Revo is also used to create ‘X-Ray’ views of their properties for future plans and layouts.

          team member collecting accurate measurements with the ZEB Revo

          Collecting Accurate Measurements with the ZEB Horizon

          Recently, they have expanded their use of handheld LiDAR technology by acquiring a ZEB Horizon, which they use for a variety of reasons. The increased range and data capture points make the ZEB Horizon a great option for large exterior scanning. This is important to the Adjutant General’s Department as they cover land of up to 50 acres.

          Scanning Environmental Features to Work out Contour Lines

          The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department also have tanks that contain hazardous material which they need to track carefully. Using the ZEB Horizon, they scan exterior environmental factors to figure out contour lines within their complex. This helps them work out where any spillages of hazardous material would be, should one occur.

          Using the ZEB Horizon to Ensure Current Asset Management

          With the ZEB Horizon, the team also carry out exterior scans for asset management. Due to the scanners ease-of-use, one engineer can attach it to a truck and drive around their complex. This enables Kansas Adjutant General’s Department to scan their entire site and keep on top of their buildings and resources.

          The team are also looking to expand this by attaching the ZEB Horizon to a UAV in the future.

          Collecting Accurate Measurements of Underground Oil Tanks

          The ZEB Horizon’s time saving, and accurate scans have proven to be a cost-effective method of data capture. For example, scans of underground empty oil storage tanks showed that the Kansas Adjutant General’s Department had been over estimating the tanks collection capacity, leading to an adjustment of the servicing contract.

          Processing Data into Point Clouds and Third Party Integration

          Since The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department acquired GeoSLAM’s technology four years ago, they have carried out approximately 2000 scans, and this number continues to rise.

          Further, the contractors and architects that create as-builts are now using The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department to quality check their work for accuracy. Using GeoSLAM laser scanners, they help find errors in specifications and relay that information to the contractors.

          floorplans created after collecting accurate measurements

          With the help of Seiler Geospatial Division, Kansas Adjutant General’s Department have been able to significantly improve their workflow. To find out more about Seiler, click here.

          seiler logo

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            ZIEN24 use GeoSLAM scanners to create measurement reports for the Real Estate Market

            Location

            Netherlands

            Scan time

            Approx. 15 minutes per scan

            Size

            Varies per scan

            Scanned

            Residential & commercial properties

            Industry

            Real Estate

            Real Estate in the Netherlands

            Real Estate is a fast-moving and highly competitive market. Companies are reliant on good customer relationships based on trust. They realise the importance of providing accurate measurements and specifications of the properties they are advertising. Buildings incorrectly measured could be under or overvalued, which could result in complaints, invalidate a sale, or damage their reputation.

            This is particularly pertinent in the Netherlands, as they have placed a high level of importance on delivering accurate floorplans when advertising a property. In fact, a new regulation was introduced in 2010 after properties in Amsterdam were sold at a higher cost, after being overvalued due to incorrect floorplan measurements. The regulation, BBMI, requires businesses advertising properties to provide accurate floorplans or face potentially heavy fines.

            This required businesses to think differently about how they could quickly and accurately assess the properties they were advertising.

            How ZIEN24 create Measurement Reports for Real Estate

            Rotterdam based media and marketing company, ZIEN24, realised they needed to modernise how they measure properties in light of the regulations. ZIEN24 produces content and digital floorplans for estate agents, covering all types of residential and commercial properties.

            The company began measuring properties using laser rangefinders, which were not only time-consuming but also not cost-effective. The company received complaints when properties were not measured within the limits of the regulation, and the team had to occasionally return to properties to re-measure them. In addition, ZIEN24 was sending both photographers and surveyors to properties, which was not cost-effective or ideal for their clients.

            Having worked with point clouds previously, ZIEN24s co-owner, Boy Van Houten, thought that they could be the solution for accuracy. However, they needed a setup that was quick and effective, so static-based systems were not an option. After researching different scanner options, they decided to try GeoSLAM’s ZEB Revo RT with the ZEB Pano accessory.

            Why ZIEN24 chose to work with the ZEB Revo RT

            The ZEB Revo RT is highly accurate, fast, and easy to use. As it requires minimal training, ZIEN24 taught their photographers to scan properties when they’re on location taking marketing photos. This negated the need for a surveyor, saving ZIEN24 money which could be passed on to their clients. The scanners accuracy largely removes the risk of human error, and ZIEN24 have not received any complaints since starting to use GeoSLAM scanners back in 2019.

            The addition of the ZEB Pano allows them to take informative 360 degree panoramic photography, at a much quicker pace, during a scan. The ZEB Pano stores the exact location of each panoramic image within the scan, enabling more accurate and less intrusive property surveys. This is vital for ZIEN24, as the popularity of virtual house tours increases within the real estate industry.

            The GeoSLAM scanner not only gives us confidence in the end product but gives our clients peace of mind knowing that our fully-automated measurements are highly accurate.

            How the ZEB Revo RT has helped ZIEN24 with their Real Estate services

            As the scanner captures in real-time, the photographers can easily ensure that they are capturing every room, as they walk around. Furthermore, the speed of capture, 200m2 in 15 minutes, means that more properties can be assigned to photographers per day. The data is then processed in their offices in China, and accurate floorplan reports are typically turned around within 24 hours.


            The ZEB Revo RT has also helped them to expand into other markets, and they now offer scanning services to support BIM models.




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              Surveying Avalanches in the French Alps

              Location

              Savoie Region, France

              Scan time

              2 hours

              Size

              3000 sq/m

              Scanned

              Avalanches and Snowpacks

              Industry

              Education

              Assessing Levels of Energy Radiation through Differing Conditions

              Climate Change is often attributed to greenhouse gases, however, there are also other factors that affect the Earth’s climate. One example of this is the ‘Earth’s radiation budget’. Earth’s radiation budget is energy that enters the earth’s atmosphere that is reflected, absorbed, or emitted by our planet. If the budget becomes out of balance, it can cause temperature increases or decreases in the Earth’s atmosphere.

              A team from the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), a world-renowned geosciences organisation, have conducted research in this field. Their research focuses on how differences in surface roughness effect the amount of microwave radiation picked up by satellites.

              Comparing Surface Roughness of Snowpacks and Avalanches in the Vanoise Massif Mountain Range

              For their research, the team have been concentrating on snowpacks and avalanches in the Vanoise Massif Mountain range. They aim to compare the two satellite observations to assess the effect of the change in roughness when avalanches form using radiative transfer modeling. This is the process that measures radiation from the Sun into and out of the Earth. High levels of sun radiation can cause snow to melt which, in turn, can cause avalanches.

              The Vanoise Massif Mountain range is in the Granian Alps, in the Savoie region of France. It is the third highest massif in France, sitting at 3,885 meters at the summit Grande Casse. The range is the location of France’s first National Park, the Vanoise National Park.

              The Mountain Range’s Dangerous and Difficult to Access Environments

              To collect data from the snowpacks and avalanches, the team needed an accurate 3D model of the area. Vanoise National Park is a no-fly zone which meant that UAVs were not an option. Additionally, the team did not want to spend extended periods of time on the mountain due to the risk of avalanches. This ruled out more time-consuming methods of scanning, like terrestrial laser scanners.

              As a result, the team needed a more efficient way of mapping the difficult area. They decided SLAM was their best option and chose to use GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon with the backpack solution.

              We were looking for a portable, versatile and affordable LiDAR scanner solution and GeoSLAM allows us to meet all our constraints.

              Using ZEB Horizon to Safely Map Avalanches in the Vanoise Massif Mountain Range

              The walk and scan method and versatility of the ZEB Horizon stood out to the team from IPGP.  The specificity of the environment meant they needed to use technology that was easily movable and durable. In addition, the backpack solution was essential because it meant that the person carrying out the scan had their hands free to help them navigate the rough terrain.

              Furthermore, the ZEB Horizon’s speed of capture meant the team were able to scan the 3000 sq/m area in approximately 2 hours. This ensured that they did not spend too long in the hazardous mountain range, whilst capturing the accurate data they needed.

              Creating Accurate Data to be used in IPGP’s Research

              The scan was processed using GeoSLAM’s software package. The resulting point cloud is being integrated in IPGP’s research analysis and modelling.

              The ZEB Horizon’s ease of use and accuracy means the scan data can be compared with the data collected from the satellite observations. This is known as ground truth analysis and helps with clarity within the research. The scan data also aids with data calibration which allows for atmospheric effects and obstructions to be considered when analysing the final data.

              The positive outcome of the data has encouraged the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris to plan additional surveys in this area.

              Monitoring environmental changes are just one of the ways GeoSLAM customers are using their mobile mapping devices, alongside more common everyday uses like measuring buildings or construction sites.

              Thanks to the team at Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris for sharing their story with us.




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                How LiDAR Can Help Detect Change at a Community Micro Hydro Power Generation Site

                Location

                Congleton, UK

                Scan time

                25 Minutes

                Size

                100m x 100m Area

                Scanned

                Micro Hydro System

                Industry

                Surveying

                Discussions around climate change, and how we can lessen our environmental impact, have become increasingly more relevant in recent years. This has driven some companies and communities to explore different ways of producing renewable technologies, to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. One method for gathering renewable energy is by using Micro Hydro power generation.

                Hydroelectric power generation relies on a constant water cycle. Nature is perpetually replenishing this, making it a good clean source of energy. This method of producing electricity using hydroelectric power generation is what the Congleton Hydro Project has set out to achieve.

                Dane Valley Community Energy Ltd (DVCE), a non-profit community benefit society, developed and constructed the project. DVCE is a volunteer led organisation, run by a small team of volunteer directors, who have all worked within Engineering and Management Companies. Funded by the community of Congleton, the project aims to generate enough carbon-free electricity, using hydroelectric power generation, to power 60 homes within this local area.

                Utilising an Archimedean Screw for Micro Hydro Power Generation

                For this project, the team set up a Micro-Hydro System, including an Archimedean Screw. The hydroelectric energy is generated by the nearby Havannah Weir River. The energy is extracted by using the water flow to turn the Archimedean Screw, which is connected to an electrical generator.  Having constructed the whole system in just 12 months, DVCE were able to produce their first load of electricity in a relatively short space of time.

                The area surrounding the Archimedean Screw required significant and extensive ground works, together with a substantial walkway, powerhouse, and piped water inlet system. Whilst designing the project, it became apparent that a core worry would be movement of the terrain, due to weather and time. As a result, they decided they needed to frequently monitor this surrounding area.

                The Archimedean Screw has a life expectancy of 40 years, and the team hope to make returns on their investments in the next 20 years. In addition to generating clean energy, a core objective is to generate an annual surplus, which will fund the local community. It is therefore essential that any change in land stability does not impact the planned generation. The team decided that a monitoring system would help identify any movement so that timely corrective action could be taken.

                Tracking Changes in the Land and Facilities Management

                Via a family member (Dr Jonathan Owen), the team acquired a 3D handheld laser scanner, GeoSLAM’s ZEB Go. The handheld nature of the scanner will mean they can track land movement and vegetation rates over time. In addition, they can map the on-site building to help with facility management and storage.

                GeoSLAM Connect’s Stop and Go Alignment can help the team align these scans, as it would give them a more accurate view of the exterior and interior areas together.

                GeoSLAM technology is ideal for this type of work, due to the uneven terrain. The mobile device can map an area by simply walking around, whereas systems that require a more complicated setup would struggle to scan the area promptly.

                The Benefits of GeoSLAMs Technology

                The ZEB Go’s speed of capture enables DVCE to carry out scans of the 100m x 100m area surrounding the Micro-Hydro System in just 25 minutes. As the team are detecting change in the ground movements and vegetation, they can frequently scan the area to track any issues that may arise. A great way to document the area, as frequently as DVCE need.

                The ZEB Go’s ease of use means the team would not need to be survey trained for the scan, unlike more complicated to use scanning hardware. Further, the ZEB Go’s capabilities save all the team from having to repeatedly return to the site, as just one individual is needed.

                The team were impressed with the ease that the ZEB Go was used to survey the complete site, with no tripods being needed and no complicated set up.

                Creating Accurate Georeferenced Point Clouds

                Whilst capturing the data, the team laid down control points using a GNSS receiver. This allowed the team to georeference the data using GeoSLAM’s software. Now the surveying pins are in place, the team can simply georeference the data for each scan they conduct.

                Implementing control points was important for DVCE as it allows for clear comparisons between multiple scans of the same area. Georeferenced data places the scan in the real world and makes the data even more accurate. This will benefit the team as they continue to scan the Micro-Hydro System’s surrounding areas in the future and detect any gradual change.

                The ZEB Go delivered an accurate 3D replica of the area that continues to help DVCE in their project.  The versatility of the ZEB Go and resulting point cloud means the team can look into new ways to interpret the data – protecting this vital equipment for both the environment and local community.

                Jonathon was the lucky winner of our ‘Win a ZEB Go Competition’ at GeoBusiness 2021.

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                  3D Mapping Informal Settlements in Bengaluru, India

                  Location

                  Bengaluru, India

                  Scan time

                  25-27 minutes per scan

                  Size

                  40 acres

                  Scanned

                  Informal Settlements

                  Industry

                  Surveying

                  Accurately Mapping Informal Settlements in Bengaluru, India

                  The informal settlements in Bengaluru, India, house roughly 16% of the city’s population and there are around 500 recognised in this area.

                  Currently, Bengaluru is going through a period of modernisation and urbanisation which has caused the city limits to expand. As a result, the local government must provide documents of every house, detailing accurate measurements of its structure, such as boundary lines and roof heights.

                  The government has plans to formally declare ownership of the settlements to the people living in them, which means a map of the whole area was needed.

                  The Informal Settlements Narrow Lanes and Changing Environments

                  A team from a reputed geospatial company appointed by government, surveyed the area and collected this data. This involved mapping the informal settlements in Bengaluru with their complex layouts. The task was challenging as they include many narrow lanes that are difficult to access. Additionally, people were going about their daily activities.

                  Furthermore, some parts of the settlements are in dark and cramped areas whereas others are in direct sunlight. Consequently, the team needed to find adaptable solutions and technology that could handle these difficult environments, as well as deliver on the task in hand.

                  The area in question is a no-fly zone, which meant that drones were not an option. However, other methods for capturing data such as static scanning wouldn’t be feasible because of the busyness of the area. The cramped streets also meant the team would struggle to use a backpack solution either.

                  Scanning Difficult to Access Areas with ZEB Horizon

                  A fast and effective way to map the informal settlements was to walk through the complex passages, and a handheld laser scanner was the most suitable option. The geospatial company chose GeoSLAM’s ZEB Horizon scanner, due to its quick method of capturing accurate data and ease of use. The lightweight solution means that only one person is required to scan an area at any one time. This is less disruptive to the surveying team, which in turn is cost effective for them and their client.

                  The extensive maze of restricted passages and dead ends did not affect the versatile SLAM technology. By using the ZEB Horizon, the team were able to scan 40-45 different areas of the settlements. The team captured smaller areas of the informal settlements in a single scan ranging from 25-27 minutes. The team mapped larger areas over multiple scans, sending them to the client individually.

                  The ZEB Horizon provided good quality data and allowed us to scan difficult to access areas accurately and efficiently.

                  Creating accurate point clouds for the client

                  The final scans were imported into GeoSLAM Draw where orthophotos were automatically created. As a result, the engineers could make accurate measurements in a timely manner. In addition, the point clouds were exported to Terra Solid, where further information was extracted for the final report.

                  The final data delivered on their client’s accuracy goals. They were able to smoothly extract the boundaries and roofs of every single house in the informal settlements.

                  GeoSLAM’s technology in use elsewhere

                  This is not the first time that GeoSLAM technology has been used to map informal settlements in India. The ZEB Revo was used to accurately scan the settlements of Mumbai in 2017. The resulting 3D point cloud helped to extract information about the elevations and sections of each house frontage.




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