3D laser scanning technology is increasingly becoming a standard tool relied upon by a number of diverse trades and professions from construction to archaeology. This article by Kevin Nelson, who works extensively with this technology, uses real-world examples to show how capturing “snap-shots” of conditions before (pre-construction), during (construction), and after (post-construction) project phases can provide extremely useful scan data. He also envisions a future when laser scanning technology will become ubiquitous and will be paired with virtual reality to provide a totally immersive VR experience, blurring the lines between past and present.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2014/PointClouds.html