3D scanning – is it useful for your business?

3D scanning is a process that enables the accurate dimensioning of various objects, ranging from parts of machines and devices, through museum exhibits, whole buildings etc.

As for the latter, i.e. scanning of buildings, thanks to the 3D scanning technology, it is possible to collect detailed information about external or internal dimensions of the building. This technology has recently been made famous when the Notre Dame roof burned and collapsed. During the rebuilding process, the architects were able to faithfully re-design the roof based on the original framework based on the 3D renderings of the Cathedral that Ubisoft (a game company) made in 2013 for the Assassins Creed game project.

3D scanning spans from massive object to the little ones

3D scanning is very accessible in this day and age. We no longer need massive laser cameras that cost thousands to scan something – simple apps like Polycam allow for it. And phones like Iphones are compatible with the apps, as their cameras use the 3D scanning technology.

Many people nowadays use 3D Scanning as a side hustle by scanning various objects like mugs, museum artefacts, or food. They digitalise the renderings, upload them to a different app like Sketchfab and other creators, designers or artists can purchase them for a fee. It’s a very simple and effective business that is profitable for many young people nowadays.

This is our point – the technology is already available, the process easy to learn and benefits can be many.

When could you implement 3D scanning into your business?

3D scanning can be performed for various purposes. The possibilities are endless, but in the field of interior design, refurbishment or decoration it’s a very common tool for mapping out the before and after of a given room.

1. For example, a customer asks an interior design company to create a 3D model of their living room. They visit the person, they 3D scan the current state of the room and then eliminate the old furniture, meanwhile applying a new design, filling it with new custom-made furniture. Like a real life Sims home!
2. Here at Trade Granite Supplies we’ve shown before how much clients appreciate visualising the granite worktop before selecting it. A quartz or granite sample often isn’t enough, so they ask for a gallery of past projects. This is especially the case when the small granite samples display a colour that is filled with various patterns or minerals. We strongly urge granite traders and granite worktops suppliers to invest in at least one 3D model for each stone worktop colour.
3. Companies that convert gardens or patios might take a 3D scan of a customer’s current garden to then take it to their designers so they can plan out the entire project, either to visualise for themselves or for the customer. This can sometimes save hundreds of pounds, as the designers don’t need to be present on-site, calculating all the measurements, taking vast pictures etc. It can all be done by one person, then sent over to the right people.
4. 3D scanning could also be utilised as a time-lapse tool. For example, allowing a construction company to document the progress of a building construction. These 3D models can then be implemented into an interactive screen that visitors can browse and play with once the building is finished. We’ve seen this done with many modern museums, galleries or architectural wonders, where the building process is as interesting as the objects contained within. In many ways, a lot of structures nowadays are seen as an art form that can be studied – not just by student architects, but casual people.
5. Thanks to 3D scanning, some companies can utilise the programme to scan various things in a property e.g. a damaged wall. Then with a bit of computer science 3D print a filling for such damage. Not only does that save a lot of time and money during the fixing process, such method is also far more reliable than filling a gap in the wall with plaster.
6. 3D scanners are used in various industries. Above, we briefly discussed 3D scanning of rooms for the construction industry. However, modern scanning devices are also used to digitalise the appearance of places that some people cannot visit. Virtual tours, walks in shops, hotels and museums aren’t the future – they are now. 3D scanning of areas can take people in places they could never access i.e. also in dark undergrounds, bunkers, mines or caves. Usually a camera is attached to drones that thoroughly scan the given area. For years now meta oculus has been releasing vast 3D scanned virtual tours e.g. Petra, Venice or Sagrada Familia. This is an amazing business that benefits disabled or bedridden people. But also those who cannot travel due to lack of time or money.

Technology makes a good impression

If you’re a design or construction firm, investing your time into this simple yet visually stimulating technology might be very advantageous.

3D scanning of rooms, areas or whole buildings might not only save you money, it could also really impress your clients. Making a good impression with customers that perhaps require a kitchen redesign is crucial, but impressing large-scale contractors could re-define your business.

Massive architectural firms, for example, love progressive ideas. They adore technology and a building-process that actively and willingly implements technology, making it far more interesting.

Dimensioning of rooms using a professional scanner is much more accurate than taking dimensions using traditional methods. In addition, 3D scanning allows you to create a three-dimensional model and visualize the whole appearance of the room – down to the last detail. Large investors or contractors like big architectural firms not only love technology, but also preciseness. Architects, we found, are always pedantic. Straight-arrows that appreciate nuances and meticulous comprehensiveness. The more details you reflect on your design, the better.

The drawings themselves are often not enough for the investor to be able to assess whether the effects of the renovation will be satisfactory. And 3D scanning, illustrating visualised models, should solve that.