It seems that now more than ever people are talking about HDS laser scanning used in the field of land surveying. While the technology has been developing steadily, there has not been any major use of it in too many land surveying applications. It is much more known for its use in construction engineering, archaeological documentation, and perhaps deformation monitoring.
However, with all the advancements in land surveying and the development of handheld and easy-to-use scanners, we are able to see many professionals utilize these types of tools to their advantage. But to determine if you really want to use it, we figured out it is best to get acquainted with the tech and decide what it could be useful for on your end. Here is everything that you need to know about an HDS laser scanner used for surveying.
What is High Definition Surveying (HDS)?
HDS goes by many names and professionals also refer to it as Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning (3DLS) or 3D Reality Capture. It is used to measure various surfaces and objects with a laser in order to capture the area with very high accuracy. Thanks to all of the investments and the development of these tools in recent years that involved improving hardware functionality, software processing algorithms, and data acquisition speed, HDS laser scanning has been able to produce much better results.
The data acquired via a laser scanner is called a point cloud. Processing large amounts of this data you are able to create large quantities of geospatial information. HDS works best if you require detailed geospatial information or simply if the object you are scanning is out of reach. More so, 3D laser scanners are able to capture digital photography in high resolution with the help of measured point cloud data. Those images can then be overlaid onto a point cloud and that way you can get a digital representation of a physical world in digital form. This also means having to spend less time on the site and being physically separated from hazardous terrain.
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What is HDS and How it Works?
HDS is capable of capturing many points at a time. It captures a whole scene at a 360-degree angle and is basically a camera that captures the whole environment in one go. The best part about it is that the pictures taken offer precise details of each pixel taken within that photo. Those pixels can then be expanded further allowing you to go into more detail, magnifying each picture even multiple times for more clarity.
Here is how this process takes place:
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Field Work: HDS equipment is deployed on the field by a surveyor determining the orientation by optical leveling. The scanner then scans the area combining various images to present a complete view of the area, making it easy for engineers to visualise and conceptualise. The data collected is detailed to the smallest possible point collected in real-time also known as “as-built” information. HDS instruments involved have the capacity to perform monitoring surveys, pre-event planning, volumetric surveys, and forensic surveys as precisely as possible.
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Software: The collected data is then fed to software which allows us to get images of the site. Data can be converted into either 2D or 3D models, or you can take panoramic pictures for a better visual representation of the area. Also, the collected geo-referenced data makes it much easier to explain the project to the stakeholders.
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Derive Solutions: The analyzed data is viewed by engineers so as to better understand problem statements. This actually allows them to work faster, reduce both time and costs, and allow for faster planning. The delivery of the entire planning project can literally be done without having to move from the office.
Benefits of HDS Laser Scanning
Using an HDS scanner actually comes with plenty of benefits which could improve your next project and save you a lot of time and money.
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Quality and accuracy: It is very accurate as it allows your team to take things to an entirely new level.
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Offers immediate information: Scans are employed and delivered immediately, streamlining productivity and not requiring any rework.
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Cuts costs: Scans can be completed in minutes, therefore reducing the time needed to finish the job. This also means less manpower needed, ultimately saving you a lot of money.
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Reduced manual labor: The parts during a survey that require manual labor are both tedious and prone to errors. You are not only eliminating all of these things, but you are making it much easier on yourself by making one trip instead of multiple ones during fieldwork.
Challenges of Using HDS Laser Scanning
As with every emerging technology, HDS laser scanning comes with its shortcomings. There are several drawbacks that will deter some professionals from using it. But at the end of the day, it is always best to weigh both the pros and cons to come to a conclusion whether to use it or not.
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Costs: The initial costs and the possibility of implementing the technology is quite high. It will help you lower the costs down the line, but you have to be prepared to invest a lot of money at the start.
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Requires Practice: It is like any new technology, and training is needed. You have to learn how to use it and use it well. This might take a bit longer than learning to use traditional methods.
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Scope: Even though you are going to be able to produce scans fast and in greater detail, you still have to have a general idea about the area that you are surveying and would want to familiarise yourself with it if you want to get the best results.
How to Choose The Most Suitable HDS Laser Scanner for My Project?
Even though the technology brings a lot of benefits and advantages for surveyors, you still have to find the best one for a specific purpose. For instance, handheld laser scanners do sound useful, but you still need to determine if they are going to serve your main purpose.
The best way to go is to choose one based on the following:
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Modularity and scalability: When it comes to some projects scalability is of utmost importance. Expanding its application could make your project more profitable. With certain ones, you can attach different kinds of sensors and include a compass, IMU, or GNSS receivers for improvements.
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Measuring distance: Achieving excellent reality capture can be done with an ideal measuring distance. This means that the scanner has to meet the needs of your project and provide a wide capture range at a distance above 0.6 miles. At the same time, it has to be able to provide good indoor distance capture where distance is not as important.
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Level of detail: Capture capacity is another important aspect that needs to be taken into account. The higher the capture of points per second is, the more details can be stored in 3D models in clouds.
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Environmental operability: Picking a good laser capture system also depends on the weather conditions and the place it is deployed. For that reason, you should pick models that are resistant to dust, various temperature ranges, and humidity. A good way to pick is the one that functions at temperatures as low as -20ºC and as high as 50ºC.
FAQs
Take a look at some additional questions and answers about HDS scanning.
What is HDS scanning?
High Definition Scanning uses a stationary laser scanner to capture high density survey data and create accurate and very detailed images of the scanned area.
What is the most accurate laser scanner?
There are plenty of them that provide high accuracy but the 3D Laser Scanner - SPL Series is one of the most accurate ones.
What is the difference between a laser scanner and a laser tracker?
Although both tools use scanners, are very precise, and have very high working ranges, there are some notable differences between the two. A laser scanner is a tool that works without making any contact, while a tracker measures the location of a retroreflector while making contact with the part.
