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Continuous Capture or Fixed Stations
A handheld simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) scanner supports continuous walking capture along a planned route, creating a connected spatial record across multiple rooms, floors, long corridors, underground spaces, and indoor–outdoor transitions. A tripod laser scanner captures one fixed station at a time and suits work organized around clear lines of sight, control networks, or detailed recording at selected stations.
For renovation remeasurement, existing-building documentation, building inspection, as-built dimensional verification, and Scan-to-BIM projects, evaluate the SHARE SLAM S20, SHARE SLAM S20 SE, SHARE SLAM S100, or SHARE C10 Series when the team needs to extract many dimensions after capture, review spatial relationships, and preserve a three-dimensional reference for drafting or modeling. The two methods can also be combined by area when coordinates, check points, and acceptance methods are unified.
Figure 1: Comparison of handheld SLAM and tripod laser scanning workflows and key selection criteria.
Core Differences Between the Two Capture Methods
| Dimension | Handheld SLAM (SHARE SLAM) | Tripod laser scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Capture method | One person walks a planned route while the system captures continuously and maps in real time | A tripod remains fixed at each station for sequential scans |
| Spatial record | Connected point clouds preserve relationships among rooms, floors, and circulation routes | Each station records a detailed local field of view; multiple stations are registered into a complete scene |
| Suitable scenarios | Renovation remeasurement, existing-building records, as-built dimensional checks, underground/tunnel work, complex spaces, and indoor–outdoor capture | Fixed-station control, selected high-detail areas, irregular components, and engineering control surveys |
| Coordinate conditions | SLAM mapping does not depend on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS); absolute coordinates can use real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning on compatible models, control points, or an external post-processed kinematic (PPK) trajectory | Can be tied to a control network and total-station results |
| Quality validation | Inspect trajectory, loop closure, coverage, and point-cloud geometry, then produce a report from independent check points | Inspect station registration, the control network, and independent check points according to the project method |
| Manual work | Route planning, point-cloud processing, quality checks, and downstream drafting/modeling | Station setup and relocation, multi-station registration, quality checks, and downstream drafting/modeling |
| Deliverable connection | Point clouds, sections, and computer-aided design (CAD) support; CAD export creates both DXF and DWG files in the exported ZIP package | Registered point clouds and downstream outputs prepared to project requirements |
Scenarios Suited to Handheld Continuous Capture
Figure 2: SHARE SLAM S100 Series product appearance.
- Renovation remeasurement and whole-property surveys: Capture rooms, corridors, and stairs along a continuous route, preserving walls, openings, floor heights, and room relationships for later dimensional review.
- Existing-building and as-built records: Preserve the visible spatial condition at capture time as a point cloud for design communication, change comparison, and dimensional verification.
- Building inspection, heritage, and steel-structure documentation: Capture visible components from multiple angles, add supplementary scans around occlusions, and design loops with stable features in repetitive areas.
- Underground, tunnel, and utility spaces: Use SLAM for continuous capture where GNSS is unavailable; if separate deliverables are required, plan long sections in the field as separate capture tasks or looped segments, capture and reconstruct them separately, and retain sufficient overlap for later manual corresponding-point registration. Post-processing can register only datasets already captured this way; it cannot split one capture into new field tasks or restore missing coverage.
- Indoor–outdoor projects: Verify the positioning configuration of the selected model and arrange control points and independent check points where appropriate. An RTKLIB POS trajectory generated by an external PPK tool is used only as the
Trajectory SourceinGNSS Fusion. - Preparation for drafting and modeling: SHARE PointClouds Studio V2.6 supports manual corresponding-point registration, section extraction, orthogonal snapping, 3D/elevation checks, and CAD-assisted drafting, supplying a spatial basis for downstream CAD, Revit, or other professional workflows.
Scenarios Suited to Tripod Capture or a Combined Workflow
A tripod workflow suits tasks organized around fixed positions and lines of sight, such as small-area control surveys, focused recording of irregular components, selected façade or high-detail capture, and projects coordinated with total-station observations.
When a project includes both extensive connected spaces and selected high-detail zones, handheld SLAM can establish the complete spatial record while tripod equipment or another reference tool records priority areas. Verify units and coordinate systems before combining the datasets, then apply the same independent check points and acceptance metrics.
Selection Recommendations
First determine whether the project needs a small number of fixed stations or continuous coverage across rooms and floors. Then define whether the output will be a point cloud, dimensional checks, sections, CAD support, or a spatial reference for a downstream building information modeling (BIM) workflow.
When continuous coverage, complete spatial documentation, efficient movement through the site, and extraction of multiple later dimensions are priorities, begin with a representative SHARE SLAM capture area and confirm coverage, coordinates, and dimensional quality through an independent check report. When fixed control, selected station detail, or a rigorous control network is central, use a tripod workflow. Combine the methods when both needs occur in the same project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which projects suit handheld SLAM? Renovation remeasurement, existing-building records, as-built dimensional verification, building inspection, underground spaces, tunnels, heritage buildings, steel structures, and indoor–outdoor projects that benefit from continuous coverage and a complete spatial record.
How can a team confirm that handheld capture supports dimensional checks? Define coordinates, tolerances, and the inspection method before capture. After processing, inspect trajectory, loop closure, and coverage, then use independent check points not involved in the solution to run 3D or elevation checks and export the reports.
How are point clouds from the two devices registered? In SHARE PointClouds Studio V2.6, select the reference and moving point clouds, manually pick at least three well-distributed pairs of fixed corresponding features, inspect overlap and error, and then generate the registered result. Verify units and coordinate systems before registering cross-device data.
Which files are included in CAD export? CAD drafting export generates both DXF and DWG files in the exported ZIP package. RVT, IFC, and complete BIM models are produced through downstream professional workflows.
Can handheld and tripod equipment be used in one project? Yes. Handheld SLAM can document extensive connected spaces, while tripod equipment can cover selected detail or control tasks. Unify coordinates, registration results, and independent check reports before delivery.
