Scanstrategie

A scanstrategie, or scan strategy, describes the plan for how a sensor or instrument traverses a scene or samples a signal to collect data. It specifies the order, spacing, and path of sampling points, and may include adaptive changes based on the measurements obtained. The aim is to balance spatial resolution, coverage, acquisition time, and data quality.

The concept is relevant across several fields. In scanning probe techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) or scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), common strategies include raster (lawnmower) patterns, serpentine paths, and spiral scans. In medical imaging, MRI and CT rely on sampling strategies in k-space or projection views to optimize image quality and scan duration. In robotics and remote sensing, lidar and camera systems use scan strategies to survey a scene for navigation, mapping, or target detection. The choice of strategy can influence imaging artifacts, motion tolerance, and energy or time efficiency.

Common scan strategies include raster/lawnmower, serpentine, spiral, boustrophedon, and random or stochastic sampling. Adaptive or hierarchical strategies adjust sampling density based on prior measurements, noise levels, or detected features. Trade-offs are central: uniform coverage versus rapid acquisition, resolution versus noise sensitivity, and computational complexity of planning and processing.

Overall, the scanstrategie is a key design parameter that shapes data quality, speed, and robustness in any system that gathers spatially distributed information.