1. Plan the scan
Plan a route that forms closed loops and revisits key areas. Place or identify control points if you need absolute accuracy. Note lighting (visual SLAM needs it) and avoid long featureless corridors without a way to loop back. Good planning is the cheapest accuracy you will ever buy.
2. Scanning technique
- Walk at a steady pace; slow at corners and doorways.
- Keep overlap between passes so shared features are always visible.
- Close every loop — finish where you started, and cross earlier paths.
- Avoid moving people and reflective surfaces where possible.
3. Processing & registration
Back in the office, the software optimises the trajectory and applies loop closure to remove drift. If you captured several sessions, registration aligns them into one cloud. You can inspect and clean the result in our CloudScope viewer before delivery.
4. Georeference & export
To place the cloud on a real coordinate system, georeference it against control points or a GNSS measurement. Then export the format your pipeline needs:
| Format | Use |
|---|---|
| E57 | Vendor-neutral exchange, most CAD/BIM tools |
| LAS / LAZ | GIS, large clouds (LAZ = compressed) |
| RCP / RCS | Autodesk ReCap → Revit/Civil 3D |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SLAM scanning workflow?
Plan a looped route, scan with steady overlapping passes, close your loops, process and register the data, georeference it against control, then export to E57, LAS/LAZ or RCP for CAD/BIM.
What is registration in SLAM scanning?
Registration aligns multiple scan sessions into one coherent point cloud. With SLAM, loop closure handles alignment within a session; registration ties separate sessions together.
How do I georeference a SLAM point cloud?
Measure surveyed control points or a GNSS position in the scanned area, then align the cloud to those known coordinates in your processing software so it sits on your coordinate system.
Which export format should I use for BIM?
E57 is the safest vendor-neutral choice for most BIM tools; use RCP/RCS for the Autodesk ReCap → Revit pipeline, and LAS/LAZ for GIS or very large clouds.