The FARO Laser Scanner Focus3D is the world’s most compact and affordable laser scanner for recording data from buildings and building sites. Its latest generation is shown from FARO at BAU 2013. Working on scanning projects is simplified by the Focus3D as well as by new features in the SCENE scan processing software.
Korntal-Münchingen, October 2012. 3D documentation with modern laser scanners such as the FARO Laser Scanner Focus3D offers numerous advantages over conventional procedures. The compact Focus3D is lightweight and robust. Therefore, it can be easily transported to any construction site. It can also be set up in minutes and operated using a user-friendly touch screen. Especially on large construction sites and when scanning several rooms, its mobility becomes a decisive advantage. The Focus3D can now even be remotely controlled using Wi-Fi. This facilitates the usage particularly in places difficult to access. Within a very short time, the laser scanner generates an extremely precise three-dimensional image of existing buildings and shells as well as building sites. The 3D scan data can be imported into all commonly used software solutions for architecture, engineering and facility management and then processed further.
The sensors that FARO – as a specialist for portable measurement technology – has integrated into the new Focus3D further simplify and accelerate the reworking of the scan data. The individual scans of a project can thus be converted almost automatically into complete and accurate 3D building documentation. This saves time and money. Without additional effort, the data is already assigned to an elevation reading during scanning – this simplifies the subsequent positioning of the scans when recording several floors, for example. Furthermore, the built-in electronic compass provides orientation to each scan and supports the subsequent joining of the data.
The new version 5.1 of the FARO SCENE scan processing software continues the rapid automatic positioning of the individual scans in a project. This is provided by improved level detection and the new integrated automatic determination of the main scan direction. The automatic correspondence search, which looks for natural markers in scans, takes only about half as long in SCENE 5.1 as in the previous version.
Furthermore, the latest SCENE version supports users in the management and processing of large scanning projects. For example, the new Clipping Box can create order in no time. Using this tool, the focus can be placed specifically on those areas in the scan material that are relevant for planning. With a few clicks, the interesting areas in the data material can be selected, cut and highlighted – irrelevant areas are not shown. As a result, specific detail views can be generated, visualised, and assigned a name, which makes it easier to find these views at a later time. This not only makes things more organised; it also reduces the amount of data when exporting to CAD software, as only the required selected data are transferred.
In addition, a new feature in the software makes it possible to perform measurements even if the user’s CAD software cannot read scans, i.e. point clouds. To do this, the orthophotos can be saved as TIFF files prior to export from SCENE; these can then be used to make all the measurements in the CAD software. The files can also be used as the basis for drawings.
You can find FARO at BAU 2013 in Hall C3, booth 510.
About FARO
FARO develops and markets computer-aided measurement systems and software worldwide. The portable coordinate measuring devices from FARO®, together with their industry-specific software solutions, allow high-precision 3D measurements and 3D comparisons of parts and complex systems directly in assembly production. These solutions are ideal for numerous applications in various industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, architecture, construction, energy and forensics. Today, more than 15,000 customers worldwide with more than 30,000 installations have put their trust in FARO measurement systems. The main products include the FaroArm® (the world’s best-selling portable measuring arm), the FARO® ScanArm, the FARO® Gage, the FARO® Laser Tracker, the FARO® Laser Scanner, the FARO® 3D Imager and the CAM2, with its advanced CAD-based measuring and evaluation software. FARO is certified with ISO-9001 and ISO-17025. For more information, please visit www.faro.com.