There is an acknowledgment in the mapping and scanning industry that mobile mapping
systems increase point cloud coverage and scanning speed as compared to terrestrial laser scanners. It can result in the reduction of time on site, which also helps in the lowering of cost for any service provider, and it is also true for building equipment and building interiors.
The question also arises why isn't everyone thinking of switching from terrestrial laser scanners to mobile mapping system? The answer lies in the fact that there is still lots of confusion about the data quality which mobile systems are capable of achieving, and there is also uncertainty about running smoothly of Scan to Bim or scan to CAD, which comes out as a result of the mobile systems.
Drafting of 2D for as-built conditions in CAD
The way to create 2D floors and elevations of any structure is by using vertical and horizontal slices with thickness of decimeters which will be used as blueprints. Elevations and floor plans can get drafted at a scale of 1:100 or it can also be at a scale of 1:50, and this can be done by using Navvis point cloud data.
3D modeling of as-built conditions
There has been a growing demand for building information modeling, and governmental
mandates are increasing, and many owners from the large corporate fields are asking for the deliverables of BIM for their private projects. There is also the use of Autodesk Revit, which helps a lot as far as keeping and importing of data is concerned, which comes out as a result of scanning the particular site or a structure or building.
Once the import is completed, the modeling process begins which happens by structuring the point cloud which will be according to the levels of the building or the structure. Structuring the point cloud also helps in modeling the building floor or displaying any points of the structure which can be relevant.
Simulation and visualization with point clouds
There are industries limited to oil, gas, and chemical industries where point clouds are used for representing the as-is condition of any facility as far as any 3D model is concerned without even remodeling of any conditions which already exist. In all such conditions, the point cloud is not used where there is a requirement of equipment to be DE installed and at a place where any equipment is modeled with either Bim elements or CAD elements.
There is also a new technology of Navvis which also helps in accurately and quickly scanning because Navvis point cloud data is very much suitable for large industrial spaces. The data which comes out from the result which is with high realistic texture and low noise, makes it possible for visualization or production equipment which can include machines and charge carriers.
Object extraction in 3D modeling for the sake of efficiency
Tracing processes and manual modeling which are based on point clouds are in great use as far as the requirement of as-built BIM documentation is concerned, but it’s also important to be kept in mind that depending upon the requirement of LOD, such kind of processes which are manual can be expensive and time-consuming. As far as one clear scan to the Bim process is concerned, it still seems very futuristic vision because it gives fully automatic, very impressive steps which can be followed by the people who are involved in the ongoing projects.
There has been the use of automatic or semi-automatic object extraction with tools such as Edge Wise software and the automatic generation of building components such as ceilings, walls, levels which happen from point clouds. Another prominent application is the extraction through semi-automatic process which can be structural elements and pipes which happen from the point cloud. The software does its job automatically when a user selects a particular region in the point cloud.
Details of Navvis data quality
Accuracy and relevance: As far as drift is concerned, Navvis reduces it to a great extent
because of its propriety SLAM algorithms, while on the other hand, mobile mapping system with all-SLAM-based faces a great challenge with the drift. There is also great optimization in accuracy and relevance through the Navvis post-processing software.
The noise of point cloud: As far as mobile mapping system is concerned, the data which comes out from it normally has a higher noise level, but if we talk about the filtering algorithms in Navvis, then its post-processing software helps a lot in the reduction of the noise and makes it very minimum which makes it possible for straight lines and sharp lines in the sections.
Resolving the fine details: As far as preservation of geometric details is concerned, the post - processing software through the Navvis does its job greatly to ensure this thing.
Resolution and texture: In the mobile mapping system, we can find fuzziness and streakiness in 3D while Navvis post-processing algorithms have the ability to create point grid with great resolution and texture.
Applicability and data compatibility: Navvis supports formats and industry standards such as E57 point cloud format, and it also collaborates very well with various leading software vendors for the purpose of object extraction and vectorization.