"Laser Scanning Takes Too Long – We Don’t Have Time for That.”

This myth likely originates from the early days of laser scanning, when setting up a scanner and processing data was indeed a time-consuming affair. Some folks imagine that adding a scanning step will bog down their fast-paced project. The reality today is the opposite: laser scanning can save time, sometimes dramatically, and new workflows have made it faster than ever to go from field to finish.

First, consider field time. Modern terrestrial scanners are extremely fast. Many can capture a million or more points per second, and in just a few minutes they can scan an entire room or facade. For example, a typical high-density 360° scan might take on the order of 1-2 minutes with today’s units. Even if you do multiple setups, you can often scan a whole building interior in an hour or two.

In contrast, manual measurements or total station setups to achieve similar coverage would take much longer. Real-world experiences confirm this: one contractor noted that using a scanner to capture needed measurements took only 4 hours, versus 3×8-hour days using manual . That’s a huge time savings in the field. Likewise, for topographic surveys, a scanner on a tripod or a mobile scanner like the RS10 can traverse the site quickly, collecting data continuously – no need to stop at each grid point.

What about processing time? Older workflows required manual registration of scans (aligning multiple scans together) and lengthy desktop processing to clean and export point clouds. This fed the perception that after fieldwork you had days of office work. Not so anymore.

 Today’s TLS solutions often have automated or real-time processing. For instance, the CHCNAV RS10 can do real-time SLAM processing, meaning it is stitching the point cloud together on the fly in the . By the time you’re done scanning, much of the heavy lifting is already handled. Even for tripod scanners, software improvements allow for one-click registrations and cloud processing. Technicians can begin examining scans on a tablet while still on site, verifying coverage and even starting initial processing.

One myth is that “scans take too long to process,” but with today’s connectivity and software, drafters can literally start drafting CAD models while the scanning team is wrapping up on. This concurrent workflow compresses the total project time.

In fact, rather than adding time, laser scanning often saves time on complex projects. It reduces the need for re-surveying and RFIs (requests for information) during construction because you already have the data. And when unexpected issues arise, having the point cloud can resolve them faster than scrambling a survey crew.

Many project managers have come to see laser scanning as a way to stay on schedule by foreseeing problems and providing accurate info to all teams quickly.

Contact us now at enquiries@pqstech.co.uk for more information on how we can help you with your next project.