Laser Scanning in Plant Engineering
With laser scanning, you can easily and efficiently map industrial locations, both indoors and outdoors. A laser scanner collects precise data from existing infrastructures. This method creates a digital 360° point cloud of the environment, ensuring that you can always rely on up-to-date and reliable information for both your brownfield and greenfield projects.
The Importance of Laser Scanning in the Engineering (Pre-)Design Phase
If you are planning to renovate or expand an existing factory, there’s a high chance that the available 3D models do not match the actual situation. If you base your design on these 3D models, you risk encountering problems during execution because the real situation may not align with the 3D model.
By conducting a laser scan in the initial phase of your project, you can easily and efficiently map the actual situation. The delivered digital 3D model enables virtual site visits, design revisions, renovations, and planning of new installations from a distance. Simple and highly accurate.
Point Clouds: The Advantages of Laser Scanning
Laser scanning produces a substantial amount of point cloud data. This allows you to explore a digital 360° representation of your location, both inside and out. With this photorealistic model accurately depicting dimensions, you can view the actual situation with millimeter precision. It is accessible to all project stakeholders, regardless of location, at any time.
This technology offers a range of advantages that are crucial for project owners, engineers, and plant managers. Utilizing this technology reduces the risk of errors stemming from outdated 3D models, enabling better decision-making during the pre-design phase and at the start of the design process.
Applications of Laser Scanning
In various sectors, laser scanning is a valuable tool. In the manufacturing sector, for example, laser scanning can be used to modernize piping systems and optimize production equipment. In civil engineering, it provides opportunities to map buildings, bridges, and tunnels, which is essential for maintenance and renovation. Additionally, laser scanning can help compare 3D models with reality post-installation, ensuring that you can always rely on the current situation. Finally, it can also be used to create a digital twin of a plant or equipment, laying the groundwork for further digitization and process optimization.
Improved data quality
Laser scanning reduces the risk of redesign in a later phase.
No internal capacity needed
All work is carried out by Etteplan, including multiple measurements in one site visit.
Cost reduction
Fast on-site measurements help prevent rework during installation.
Enhanced safety
With a scanning range of 130 meters, unsafe areas do not need to be personally accessed to be mapped.
Use of Laser Scanners
We conduct our scans with our own Leica RTC360 and the robotic total station Leica TS13. These scanners allow us to perform extensive and detailed measurements. This automated field data collection is highly effective and elevates point cloud processes to a new level. This means fast and therefore cost-effective results.
Features of Leica RTC360
- Measuring rate of up to 2 million points per second
- HDR quality images 360°
- Automated targetless field registration
- Automatic removal of moving objects
- Scanning range of 0.5 – 130 meters for single shot
- Continued operating temperature -5° to +40°C
- New VIS technology gives edge compared to other equipment in the market.
Features of Leica TS13
- Robotic total station
- Prism measuring 0.9 m – 3500 m
- Non-prism surface 0.9 m - 500 meters
- Angle measurement accuracy 3” (1 mgon)
- 0.73 mm @ 50 m distance
- Working temperature -20°C to +50°C
Frequently Asked Questions
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