Point Cloud: Benefits | PART II

Advantages of the point cloud (Part II)

The goal of the point cloud is to make work easier for companies in the industrial sector through unobstructed data collection. By using this technology, faster and better qualityresults are achieved, with a higher level of detail and shorter project cycle times.

This translates into great advantages and benefits in carrying out any engineering project.

IDEA has extensive experience in digitalisation and industrial plant surveying projects involving this technology. In our previous post we discussed what a point cloud is? and the key point of this great digital enabler. That is why we want to explain the benefits provided by the point cloud service, as well as how we apply it to our projects.

What are the benefits of using a point cloud for the engineering process?

Data collection saving 60%

Savings in modelling 40%

Error minimisation 25%

Economic savings (€) 20%

Savings of 60% in data collection: Significant cost reduction in data collection and analysis of industrial elements.
Savings of 40% in modelling of existing plants: Elimination and/or minimisation of geometrical errors of position and shape of elements.
25% error minimisation: 360º images are available at the office to minimise the number of site visits and analyse interferences during the design phase.
20% economic savings: 3D installation available for office design.

In which project phase is the point cloud used?

The point cloud can be useful for different project phases:

Project studies and planning stages: Conceptual design is fundamental, as well as the calculation of structures, design of installations, or 3D coordination to analyse interferences prior to execution.
Construction: Project monitoring with more precise measurements, greater uniformity and control of the progress of the project, certifications, etc.
Integration of a new construction into an old one: The use of point clouds together with BIM technology facilitates the creation of digital prototypes of physical elements in order to coordinate different works in already built environments, replacement of machinery, refurbishments, expansions, etc.
After construction: Monitoring of deformations and construction of the object over time, comparing point clouds with the original design or theoretical design, maintenance, etc.

Fast and better quality results, with a high level of detail and shorter project cycle times

What products can be obtained using 3D point clouds?

3D Mesh: This mesh is considered as a secondary process after the point cloud, it makes it possible to go from a 3D model formed only by points, to a 3D mesh model formed by small polygons (triangles). This mesh is closed and adapts to the actual shape of the object measured in the point cloud.
Orthoimage: It is a two-dimensional image representation (jpg, png, bmp, etc.) of an orthogonal projection of the scanned environment, where all elements are represented in real-size, as they would in a typical drawing. Therefore, real measurements can be taken without actually being on site. In addition, orthoimages can be generated for each drawing, whether, elevations or sections, which are widely used for geometric or deformation analysis.
Deformation maps: by addingchromatic patterns to point clouds by means of specific software, deformations of the scanned surfaces can be highlighted or detected Besides, morphological differences between the scanned model and a theoretical model can be analysed. These maps are essential to analyse the flatness, slopes, structural deformations, slumps, etc.
Multimedia resources and virtual reality: The level of realism that laser scanningdevices featuring HDR imagingachieve generates quality multimedia resources to communicate different types of information, from realistic images of the current state of a certain environment or object to virtual tour videos through point clouds.