3D Laser Scanning Services Used With Drone-Based Scans

Skydio 3D Scan is a company that develops 3D scanning software for drone pilots. 3D scanned models are used in many industries, including architecture, construction, and engineering. 3D laser scanning services have been around since the 1980s, but Skydio 3D Scan’s new 3D laser scanning software makes it easier to prepare 3D scans for use in real-world contexts. Based on feedback from customers, though, the Skydio team realized something critical: Sometimes only a two-dimensional model is required from 3D scanning service providers for certain applications.

How do drone-based 3D laser scanning services work?

3D scanning technology uses 3D sensors to collect 3D data and then processes this data into a 3D model. This technique can be used with a 3D scanner, a 3D camera, or a GPS-aided 3D scanning system. When attached to a drone, 3D scanning technology can even capture 3D models from the air. 

This is useful for 3D models that cannot be captured by simply walking around a site. Drone 3D scanning combines aerial photography and 3D modeling to produce detailed 3D models. 3D scanning services take these 3D models and use them for various applications, including making 3D printed objects or creating 3D visualizations.

Comparing 2D and 3D scans

The difference between 2D drone scans and 3D drone scans is simple. 3D scans capture 3D information, while a drone-based two-dimensional model captures just the top layer of an object. A 3D scan shows additional data about an object’s shape and texture that isn’t visible from a distance. 

Sometimes, though, this information is not relevant to the project at hand, making the extra work of scanning all the faces and angles of the subject unnecessary. A 2D scan, by comparison, captures all the necessary data for 3D models without wasting time on irrelevant measurements. This saves companies interested in using 3D scanning services money and time.

Drone-based 2D scanning simplifies the data capture process

The new product from Skydio 3D Scan is 2D GPS Capture which produces models of buildings with only two dimensions. This can be useful when you need to make a model of something but don’t have the time or budget for the full 3-dimensional scan. Drone pilots can fly closer to the subjects of these scans because the technology is also better suited for the application, enabling higher precision and better modeling. 

3D scanning services that use the Skydio 3D Scan software do not need to manually create a 3D model from the scan data. This reduces mistakes and saves time for everyone involved in 3D scanning projects, which can be useful anywhere there is even slightly complicated geometry (like any structure with intricate decorative features).

The 3D scanning service providers can plan and scan with ease, knowing that their models will be more accurate. Skydio 3D Scan is also willing to help any business or organization get set up with the technology they need to provide 3D scanning services of this kind on a larger scale than ever before. 

While some companies might still prefer manual 3D scanning, Skydio 3D Scan helps to expand the possibilities of 3-dimensional modeling by removing unnecessary steps from 3D scanning projects.