The Categories of Three dimensional Laser Scanning

3D scanning translates actual objects or environments directly into electronic, three-dimensional models. It's objective is in the surveying after which creating geometric examples on areas of the subject, and these precise points are used to represent the subject. Once this process is done, the photography helps the laser to include color. Provided the precision, duplication of information is one of the top selling factors of this technology.

In the electronic acquiring of geometric designs, there are two types of classifications: contact and non-contact scanners. Non-contact scanners may further be categorized in to active and passive.

Contact Scanning Devices

Contact three dimensional scanning devices use physical contact to analyze the subject, and are mostly used to produce products. One of the most widely used examples of a contact three-dimensional scanning device is a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). The drawback of this technology, is that it, depends on the contact with the item, as a simple act of scanning an item may damage it. This particular unfortunate situation is particularly important when scanning historic items. These types of CMM's are fairly sluggish compared to laser scanning devices, as the second option may run from ten to 500 kHz, in comparison to contact 3D scanners' several 100.

Non-contact Active Scanning Devices: 2 of The Most Widely Used Examples:

Time-of-flight

This kind of three dimensional scanning utilizes laser light to interpret the subject. A time-of-flight rangefinder ordinarily calculates for the distance of a surface through calculating the time it takes for the pulse of light to come back. This pulse of light emanates from a laser and the amount of time it requires for the mirrored light to be seen is actually noted down too. Considering the fact that the range finder of these scanners just establishes the range of some point in the direction of view, the scanner may tend to scan the field one point at a time. The scan will change the direction of the view to a new and different point through revolving the range finder on it's own, or through mirrors. The benefit of this method is in the ability to operate over lengthy distances, which makes it ideal for buildings or landscaping. The primary disadvantage, nevertheless, is accuracy. Provided the speed of light, timing the total journey is tough and the range measurement may not be accurate once the laser strikes the edge of an object. Info will be delivered back from 2 different places for only one pulse.

Triangulation

These scanners, comparable to the prior example, also use lasers to gather data from the surroundings. This gets the digital camera to look for the area of the point. Depending on the distance from the laser to the surface, the point appears at different places in the camera's field of view. In this process, both the angle of the laser emitter corner and the angle of the distance between the digital camera and the emitter are established. The angle of the digital camera corner can be established by taking a look at where the laser point is in the digital camera's field of view. These three pieces of info figure out the shape and size of the triangle and offer the exact place of the laser point of the system.

Non-Contact Passive

These scanning devices don't give off rays themselves, but rely on detecting background radiation that is readily available, such as infrared. This method could be cheap, given that in the majority of cases merely a easy camera is used. Good examples of this classification consist of stereo methods (two cameras, 1 scene), photometric systems (one camera, numerous moments in different lighting), and outline techniques (outlines made from the sequence of photographs around the three-dimensional object).

About the Author

While conducting research for this article, I learned about laser scanning company and 3d laser scanning companies at www.LandAirSurveying.com.