Laser Scanning Technology
The hardware, formats and field methods behind reality capture. Terrestrial laser scanners, LiDAR, registration and control, scan resolution and point density, georeferencing, occlusion, and the file formats that move data between platforms. These articles are written for people specifying or buying scanning work rather than operating the equipment — what accuracy claims actually mean, how scanner choice affects a deliverable, and which technical decisions on site determine whether the resulting data is usable downstream.
Target vs. Targetless Registration in Laser Scanning
Jul 22
How targets and targetless (cloud-to-cloud) registration differ, and when each delivers the best accuracy.
What Is LiDAR? A Plain-English Guide
Jul 5
LiDAR measures distance with laser light to build precise 3D data — the technology behind 3D laser scanning.
Georeferencing & Coordinate Systems in Laser Scanning
Jul 5
Georeferencing ties a laser scan to real-world coordinates — essential for site, civil, and multi-building projects.
What Is Autodesk ReCap? A Beginner’s Guide
Jul 5
Autodesk ReCap turns raw laser scans into registered point clouds you can use in Revit and AutoCAD.
What Is a Mesh Model? Point Cloud vs. Mesh
Jul 5
A mesh turns a point cloud into a continuous surface — here is the difference and when you need each.
Understanding Scan Resolution & Point Density
Jul 5
Scan resolution and point density control how much detail a laser scan captures — and how big the files get.
Terrestrial vs. Handheld vs. Mobile Laser Scanning
Jul 5
Terrestrial, handheld, and mobile laser scanning each trade accuracy for speed — here is when to use each.
What Is Registration in 3D Laser Scanning?
Jul 5
Registration is how individual laser scans are aligned into one accurate model — the step that determines survey-grade accuracy.
Point Cloud File Formats Explained: RCP, E57, LAS, PTS and More
Jul 5
RCP, E57, LAS, PTS, PTX — what each point cloud format is, which software reads it, and how to pick the right deliverable for your workflow.