How does ScanLook differ from other systems?
- System portability – Being small and light (under 10 pounds), ScanLook can be easily dismounted and secured safely in a vehicle, hotel, or office (without loss of calibration or bore sight).
- Mounting – Our choice for mounting was driven by easy on/easy off and universality.We also needed to be able to securely fasten to almost any platform without leaving a trace we were there. As a result we now use vacuum cups and ratchet straps for most of our mounting. It's quick, easy, easy to transport, and affordable. Moving between vehicle with lots of different configurations is also easy. Click here to view mount info.
- Coverage/Minimal Shadowing – To maximize coverage and avoid shadowing we use the Velodyne HD32 with the 40° FOV along with the extra height from our mount for ditches, etc. Passing vehicles leave almost no shadows/gaps.
- Scan Quality – Being primarily concerned with engineering grade survey work this was paramount in our design. Fortunately, the FARO FOCUS 3D arrived just in time to save the day! The FOCUS provides superior scan quality for hard surfaces (roadways, bridges, rails, buildings).
- Accuracy – Great scans are worthless without accuracy. Hence, using NovAtel hardware and software ScanLook is able to provide the only hardware-coupled GPS-IMU-Wheel sensor system. Additionally, the Inertial Explorer software is unparalleled for post processing.
- Imagery – Indeed pictures are very important for understanding the data captured. Using 1080p High Definition (HD) video cameras we have complete coverage using GoLook at 30fps in 7 highly overlapping views. Higher definition HDR cameras are also possible but come at the cost of huge amounts of data. Consider that GoLook captures 7x6.5GB per hour in continuous operation. That's more than the LiDAR data from 2 or even 3 scanners. Of course, in post processing the imagery can easily be thinned to a regular distance interval and thereby reduce the data tremendously.
- Dual Purpose – ScanLook shines here providing static and mobile scanning with a single system. Dismount the FOCUS from ScanLook, place on a tripod, and scan or do a static scan directly from ScanLook (e.g. in a warehouse). If you don’t need high accuracy, purchase the system without the FOCUS (it can always be added later), and use the Velodyne scanner. More cameras and scanners can be added.
- Power – Normally we use a standalone car battery (deep cell) for a full days operation. There are many possibilities including smaller batteries, directly using the vehicle (properly protected), or using a cigarette lighter. The power requirement is driven largely by the number of laser scanners and type of scanners.
- Data storage – Most of the data is stored directly to SD cards which are both small and very affordable. The data can be easily downloaded by several means quite quickly. There is no RAID system, no desktop computer, nothing big in the system.
- Huge files – Worried about having huge data files? This isn't a problem with ScanLook. The data is stored in segmented files of manageable size, typically 100MB. This lessens the need for post-processing the data into tiles for use in 3rd party software for data extraction.
- Bore sight – The bore sight solution is performed only once with the possible exception of the cameras. If the cameras are moved for a different view angle then only the cameras require a bore sight update - and this is pretty simple and can be done before or after data collection.
- Data Rate – Survey grade details are captured at 976,000 pts/second (0.5 to 2mm) with the FARO FOCUS 3D and GIS details at 700,000 pts/second (2cm) with the Velodyne HD32.
- Computers – ScanLook 2.0 Snoopy is generally controlled via a laptop tethered to Snoopy. It is also possible to use a dedicated mini-computer per ScanLook 1.0 and also as implemented for UAV's.
- Price! – We definitely can’t forget this. It’s a BIG differentiator.
MMS Comparison
In the table below we try to show some of the more relevant characteristics of the various systems. It’s hard to stay current with everything so this can become rapidly dated. The table was created in January 2012. Some parameters had to be generalized just a bit.
| ScanLook Mobile | Competing Systems | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scanner | FOCUS | Velodyne | High-end | Mid-range | Low-end |
| Data Rate | 976Khz | 700Khz | 500Khz | 1333KHz | 36Khz |
| Scan Freq | 100hz | 10/15/20hz | 200hz | 10/15/20hz | 30hz |
| FOV(°) | 305 | 360 | 360 | 360 | 360 |
| Range | 120/330+m | 70m | 200+m | 100m | 150+m |
| Precision | 2mm | ~2cm | 5 – 8mm | >2cm | 3 to 5cm |
| Accuracy | 2mm | 2cm | 5 – 8mm | >2cm | 5cm |
| #Returns | 1 | 1(???) | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple |
| Lasers | Phase | 32 TOF | 2 TOF | 64 TOF | 1,2,3 TOF |
| Cameras | |||||
| Number | 7 per 360 | Up to 6 | LadyBug3 | 3 | |
| FPS | 30 | Up to 5 | 15 | 30 | |
| Resolution | 1080p / 5 or 9MP | 2 or 5MP | Six 2MP | 1080p | |
| FOV | 160° diag WVGA@120°, 720p@60° 960p@48°, 1080p@30° | 80x60° to 57x47°, system dependent | 80%of 360° sphere | 55° | |
| System | |||||
| Mounting | Anywhere | Rooftop | Truck bed | Very flexible | |
| Portability | Very easy | Not very | Not very | Very easy | |
| Weight | 10–50 lbs. | 150 to 300 lbs. | 140+lbs. | 30 lbs. | |
| Size | Small | Large | Large | Very compact | |
| Security | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
| Shipping Ease | 1 or more carry–on sized cases | Crate | Crate | Carry-on case | |
| Control box in vehicle | Wireless browser i/f. | Fair sized box (50 lbs). Laptop | Fair sized box. Laptop | Small box. Laptop | |
| Env. Resistance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Temp Range C | -10 to 40 | -10 to 40 | -10 to 40 | -20 to 60 | |
| Calibration | Factory | On-site | Factory | Factory | |
| Static/Tripod | Yes, dual purpose | No | No | No | |
| Power | |||||
| Input Voltage | 6 to 34 VDC | 11-15VDC | 11-15VDC | 11-15VDC | |
| Power Consumption | 50W &ndash 250W Max | 400W (600W Max) | 300W | 30W | |
| Prices (US$K) | Under 80 and up | 750+ | 300 to 400 | 100 to 200 | |
Compare Dynascan to ScanLook.
Compare "Top-end-systems" to ScanLook.
For details on competing systems click here for Optech, Riegl, Trimble, Streetmapper, Topcon and MDL.
