3D Laser Scanning
for real-world decisions.
3D scanning that delivers field-verified geometry of buildings, structure, equipment, and the space between them.
From site conditions
to a confident next step.
Terrestrial laser scanning is the core of our 3D scan service. A tripod-mounted scanner takes millions of measurements per setup, and we move it through the space until every surface that matters has been seen from at least two positions. Overlap is what makes registration reliable, so scan planning is really occlusion planning: what is hidden behind that tank, above that ceiling grid, or under that mezzanine?
In live facilities we work around production. That means planning setups between shifts, staging around forklift traffic, and treating escorts and permits as part of the schedule rather than an afterthought. Most of our industrial projects never require a shutdown; when one is genuinely needed we say so during scoping, not on day two of the field work.
The output is a registered point cloud tied to your control — plant grid, state plane, or a project-local system. From there the same data can feed a 2D as-built set, a Revit model, clash review, or a clearance study without going back to site.
- Millimeter-class terrestrial LiDAR
- Typical ±2–6 mm field accuracy
- Registration + control + QA
- Usually captured around operations
- Registered point cloud
- E57 / RCS / RCP
- Web viewer
- Optional CAD or BIM
Also called
Different teams ask for this work under different names. These all land on the same scope conversation.
Where the scanner goes
The field method does not change with the postcode. What changes is the access story — the loading dock window, the escort, the shift pattern — and that is worked out before mobilization rather than on site.
In New York that covers terrestrial scanning in Schenectady, occupied-building capture in Smithtown, plant laser scanning in Southampton, and night and weekend field work in Staten Island. New Jersey coverage includes occupied-building capture in Clifton, plant laser scanning in East Brunswick, night and weekend field work in East Orange, and terrestrial scanning in Edison. On the Connecticut side it takes in plant laser scanning in Greenwich, night and weekend field work in Groton, terrestrial scanning in Hamden, and occupied-building capture in Hartford.
3D Laser Scanning questions
What is 3D laser scanning and how does it actually work?
3D laser scanning uses a terrestrial scanner to measure millions of points per setup, recording the exact distance and angle to every visible surface in a space. A technician moves the scanner through a planned sequence of positions so every surface is captured from more than one angle, then the individual scans are registered together into one coordinate system. The result is a dense, measured point cloud of the building, structure, or equipment as it actually exists, not as a drawing says it should exist.
How accurate is a 3D laser scan?
Typical terrestrial laser scanning field accuracy is in the ±2–6 mm range, depending on range, incidence angle, surface, control, and registration quality. Rather than quoting a single number up front, every project ships with a registration and QA report stating measured residuals, the control network used, and any area that could not be captured, so your engineer can judge whether the data supports the tolerance the job needs.
Do you need to shut down our facility to run a 3D scan?
In most cases, no. Terrestrial scanning is a quiet, tripod-based process that works around production, foot traffic, and equipment rather than stopping it, and a lot of our field work happens at night, on weekends, or during a planned maintenance window when access is simplest. Access rules, escorts, and any areas that need temporary exclusion get worked out in the scoping conversation before the crew shows up.
What do we actually receive after a 3D laser scanning project?
The baseline deliverable is a registered point cloud in E57, LAS/LAZ, or RCS/RCP format, along with a registration and QA report documenting accuracy and control. From there we can produce whatever the project actually needs — 2D as-built drawings in DWG and PDF, a Revit or IFC model, or a combination — so you are not paying for a modeling scope you will not use.
Can you scan congested areas with a lot of pipe, ductwork, or equipment?
Yes, though dense, cluttered spaces need more scanner setups per square foot than an open floor, since every surface has to be seen from at least two positions to register reliably. This is exactly the environment terrestrial laser scanning is built for — it is where a tape measure and a sketch fail and where the measured data earns its keep.
What software do we need to open the scan data?
That depends on the deliverable. A registered point cloud opens in Autodesk ReCap, CloudCompare, or most major CAD and BIM packages; a Revit or IFC model opens in Revit, Navisworks, or any IFC-compatible viewer; DWG and PDF drawings open in whatever your team already uses. We scope the file formats against the software your downstream team actually runs before the project starts.
Make the invisible
measurable.
Tell us what is inside, outside, and on the line. We will help you scope the capture and the handoff — in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
Talk to a scanner