Scanning Technologies
There are 3 different scanning technologies:
Pulse (time-of-flight)
 Time-of-flight (TOF) scanners utilize a "pulse" of laser light. This pulse is sent to the object and the time is measured from when it was emitted to the time it returns. The time and the encoder reference angles and then compute an x, y, z point, along with a reflectance value. TOF scanners are mainly used for long-range (100m +) measurement applications like topographic surveys. Click here for techsheet.
Phase based
 Phase-based (PB) scanners utilize a "continuous wave" of laser light. System brands vary, but in general, the light is emitted at varying frequencies in a steady stream vs. a pulse. The different frequencies help the scanner cover different distances; a low frequency travels long distances and short frequencies serve well for close range, very similar to sound waves. The scanner receives the return waves and measures the "phase-shift" of the wave compared to when it returned. This shift calculates the distance from the scanner and, along with encoder references and inclinometer, calculates an x, y, and z value along with reflectance.
The main differences between PB and TOF systems are speed and range. Phase-based scanners are primarily used for indoor or piping scans (< 50m) where detailed scans are needed; scans are typically 3.5 minutes long. Click here for techsheet.
Mobile Scanning
 MoDaC Mobile Data Collection® is the latest technology in McKim & Creed's surveying and mapping services.
Software
Point Cloud Processing:
Leica-HDS Cyclone
This is a comprehensive software platform for post-processing laser scan data to produce 3D models, topographic surveys and a vast array of analysis tools, from DTMs to fly-through animations. Click here for techsheet.
Leica-HDS CloudWorx for AutoCAD
AutoCAD users can work directly and efficiently with large point clouds using AutoCAD tools and commands! The CloudWorx application adds simple tools for viewing and working with slices of point cloud data to speed up 2-D drawing creation. Powerful new modeling tools enable as-built piping models and other 3D constructions to be created from point cloud data in the AutoCAD environment.
Rapiform XOR
The only 3G (third-generation) reverse engineering software, Rapidform XOR is a complete software application for creating CAD models from 3D scan data. With Rapidform XOR, you can open data from any 3D scanner and quickly create editable, parametric solid models of virtually any physical object. These models can be transferred from XOR into popular CAD applications, including SolidWorks®, Siemens NX™ and Pro/ENGINEER®, with complete feature trees intact. This means that, unlike second generation reverse engineering software, the models from XOR are editable just like any other part designed in CAD. And XOR can save models as Parasolid®, STP, IGS and STL for use in any CAD/CAM/CAE application.
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Point-Cloud/Panoramic Viewer
Leica-HDS TruView
TruView converts point cloud data for web-based sharing and viewing, allowing access from anywhere in the world. Using the FREE Leica TruView panoramic point cloud viewer, users can view, zoom in, or pan over point clouds naturally and intuitively. Using a simple “panoramic” or “bubble” viewer approach, you see point clouds on the computer screen just as if you were standing right where the laser scanner captured the scan data. You can make comments and markups, change dimension, and export any markup to an xml format and simply e-mail to colleagues and clients, along with the link to TruView. In this way, you can share your ideas and illustrate your thoughts in a simple way.
Download the latest version of TruView.
TruView Examples:
Animations
PoinTools View Pro
This is the software McKim & Creed uses to create high-definition point cloud animations. Rendered animations can be used for walk-throughs or fly-throughs of scanned environments, giving the viewer a real sense of “being there” in virtual reality. The software is state of the art in producing and editing camera paths, lighting and display modes, and can even make polarized 3D movies for use with special 3D glasses like those used in theatres.
Color Camera Kit
For projects requiring colorized point clouds, such as theme parks and historical preservation, McKim & Creed has an external camera kit. This kit consists of a digital SLR camera and fish eye lens, along with a custom pano bracket that takes up to 7 images to create a panoramic "bubble" image of the environment. This is similar to what you see on hotel sites or real estate virtual tours. This pano image is then converted to a "cube map" that is texture-mapped onto our point cloud data in Leica-HDS Cyclone software. In the end, we have a dense, colorized and highly detailed point cloud showing a true representation of the environment that was scanned.
Deliverables
Each project has a clearly defined scope and explanation of the deliverables. This may be a CAD drawing in Microstation or AutoCAD format. Our technicians have workflows to output to about any CAD software imaginable, including Revit, AutoPlant, PDS, PDMS, Siemens NX / UGS, Catia, Pro/E, Solidworks, 3DS Max, Maya, ArchiCAD, and even other point cloud post-processing applications like Trimble Realworks / 3Dipsos, LFM, Faro Scene, Faro Cloud, Geomagic, Polyworks, Reconstructor, etc.
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