All posts by Geoffrey Jacobs
The Early Days of 3D Scanning, Part 2: Cyra Technologies
In the 1990s I was very fortunate to get in on the ground floor of 3D laser scanning technology with a startup often credited with pioneering the technology: Cyra Technologies. Featured image: Prior to co-founding Cyra Technologies to develop 3D laser scanning, Ben Kacyra’s AEC company, Cygna, provided seismic retrofit engineering services for California’s nuclear...
The Early Days of 3D Scanning
When I first came across Cyra Technologies Inc., a start-up that was developing 3D laser scanning, I was working at Trimble Navigation in Sunnyvale, California, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area’s “Silicon Valley.” I consider myself lucky. I had the good fortune to be deeply involved in the very beginning of 3D...
Navigating the World of Point Cloud Software
Here’s advice on how to understand various functions that point cloud software may need to perform, keys to look for in each, and sourcing options. When you’re working with laser scanning, choosing point cloud software can be challenging. Challenges For newbies, the challenge is determining the best software to start with. Your existing CAD or...
Trends in Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Within the domain of lidar/remote sensing technologies, terrestrial laser scanning is currently the most widely adopted. Mapping drones have quickly become popular, but terrestrial laser scanning is used for more types of mapping and as-built survey applications. Other airborne (photogrammetry and lidar) and vehicle-mounted mobile scanning/mapping systems are also widely used, but there are far...
Walkaround Mobile Scanning Part 2
Above: A backpack type of walkaround mobile scanning system was used to capture this site for a standard topo survey. Credit: Wantman Group Inc. Part 2: Applications and addressing challenges In Part 1 of this two-part article, I noted that walkaround mobile scanning is being rapidly adopted by the market. I described it in general...
Walkaround Mobile Scanning Part 1
Above: Walkaround mobile scanning is being increasingly used as a go-to tool for as-built surveys of residential properties as an input to remodel design. Credit: Precision Property Measurements. Part 1: Basic types, differences, and advantages. Walkaround mobile scanning includes “backpack,” “push-cart,” “hand-carry,” and “handheld,” but whatever you call it, it’s gaining real momentum in the...
