laserscanning

Laserscanning, or laser scanning, is a measurement method that uses laser light to capture the three-dimensional geometry of physical environments and objects. A laser scanner emits rapid laser pulses and records either the time of flight or the phase difference between emitted and returned signals to determine distances. Each pulse yields a point with x, y, z coordinates, and many devices also record surface intensity and color, producing a dense point cloud that represents the scanned scene.

Scanning can be performed with different modalities: terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) with a fixed stand, mobile laser scanning (MLS) on vehicles or handheld units, and airborne laser scanning (ALS) from aircraft. Advanced systems combine multiple scans from different positions, which must be registered or aligned to create a coherent 3D model.

Key uses include architecture, construction and infrastructure monitoring, cultural heritage documentation, interior design, manufacturing and reverse engineering, forestry, geology, and robotics. The data generated is often processed with software to filter noise, classify surfaces, merge scans, and create meshes or BIM-compatible models.

Advantages include rapid data capture over large or complex geometries, non-contact measurement, and high accuracy with detailed surface information. Limitations involve line-of-sight requirements and occlusions, difficulties with highly reflective or transparent surfaces, weather and atmospheric effects, and substantial data size and processing effort. Cost and expertise may be limiting factors for some projects.

Standard file formats for exchanging scans include LAS/LAZ, E57, PLY and OBJ. Typical outputs are calibrated point clouds, textured meshes, or BIM-ready models. The technique has evolved since the late 20th century and is now widely used across industries for documentation, planning, and quality control.