3DScans

3D scans are digital representations of real-world objects, scenes, or environments produced by capturing geometric and often texture information with specialized hardware. The resulting data can be used to visualize, measure, analyze, or reproduce the scanned subject.

Common 3D scanning technologies include laser scanning (also called LiDAR or time-of-flight), structured light, and photogrammetry. Laser scanning uses laser beams to measure surface distance; structured light projects patterns to recover depth; photogrammetry derives 3D structure from overlapping photographs.

Scan data typically comprises point clouds, which are sets of 3D coordinates, and may be converted into meshes and textures. Outputs often include formats such as OBJ, STL, PLY, or LAS, depending on use and hardware.

A typical workflow involves planning, capturing multiple scans from different viewpoints, aligning and registering scans, creating a unified mesh, textures, and cleanup to remove noise and fill gaps. Some pipelines include decimation or retopology to reduce file size.

Applications span architecture and heritage preservation, manufacturing and reverse engineering, virtual reality and gaming, medical imaging, film production, and robotics. In archaeology and museums, 3D scans help document fragile artifacts for study and display.

Accuracy and resolution depend on the technique, equipment, and scanning distance. Sub-millimeter detail is possible with high-end scanners, while broader surveys may reach centimeter-level precision. Data size and processing time can be substantial.

Ethical and legal considerations include consent for scanning people, privacy concerns when recording private or sensitive locations, and proper attribution and licensing of scanned assets.

History and standards: 3D scanning emerged in the late 20th century with laser-based systems. Since the 2000s, photogrammetry and consumer-grade scanners have broadened access. Common formats and calibration practices support interoperability across platforms.