3D Scanning for Automated Warehouse Floors
Much has been said online recently about the benefits and problems of using 3D laser scanning on concrete floors to survey floor surface regularity.
Discover how 3D floor scanning works and why we have combined our world-leading floor profilers with Leica Geosystems’ laser scanners and total stations to provide the best floor surveys, for the flattest floors possible.
How Does it Work?
Light detection and ranging (lidar) is a laser imaging technology increasingly employed for capturing the regularity of floor surfaces against current specifications for automated warehouses and other automated robotics facilities.
Laser scanners used to check floor flatness compliance collect data in the form of point clouds, a collection of points plotted from the shapes and dimensions of the floor into a 3D digital space. Scanners emit a laser beam light and collect the light reflected off the floor or object, measuring the time taken for this signal to reflect and return to the scanner, with the direction and distance recorded as a point of data.
The data in the point cloud is aligned to a control network that has been surveyed by a total station to give each individual point of the cloud X, Y, Z coordinates that relate to the project.
Face Consultants can now offer 3D scanning services for surveying surface regularity on automated warehouse floors. Keep reading to find out more or click here.
3D Floor Scanning – Associated Problems
Flatness Testing Limitations
3D scanners are state-of-the-art survey technology that give excellent results when being used in situations in which they are designed for.
However, they do have their limitations when it comes to using them for floor flatness testing (see this article on ‘3D Scanning vs. Profileograph for Checking Compliance to Floor Flatness Specifications’).
This is due to the uncertainties in both the instruments and the way data is extracted from the cloud.
Some laser scanning and flatness testing companies are selling this service without explaining the limitations of the equipment and are just using exciting visuals such as elevation/ heat maps to sell their product.
These ‘pretty pictures’ belie the inaccuracy of the results given.
3D Scanning Issues:
- Line of sight access is required for the entire floor.
- The floor must be clear of any dirt ahead of scanning to avoid error readings but cannot be cleaned to a mirror finish as reflective surfaces can cause problems for the laser.
- Time taken to generate error plans may be a problem when the project has tight timescales. The point cloud data must be processed, and usable information produced to determine guidance for remedial action if there is non-compliance with the specification.
- Risk of false positives and false negative readings generated due to uncertainty levels (inaccuracy) being misjudged.
- How to validate the errors generated by the scan to ensure that grinding is not carried out unnecessarily. What equipment should be used to validate if the 3D scanner is not accurate enough?
New 3D Laser Floor Scanning Services
The new 3D scanning department at Face Consultants aims to combat these problems by providing the best of both worlds, utilising the latest 3D scanning equipment with the tried and tested reliability of Face floor profilers to validate readings.
By combining the two methods Face Consultants are able to eliminate false positives while checking the floor at a higher resolution than before – something no other 3D laser company can offer.
In addition to post cast surveys Face Consultants can also provide laser floor scanning services while the concrete is still workable by showing high/ low areas in relation to a client provided datum.
This is not a substitute for a full survey but could help to reduce the amount of grinding remedial works needed.
Face Consultants are continuously looking at new technologies and developing in-house software to be able to provide the best service possible to our clients.
Scanning Floors for Robotic Systems
We currently offer laser scanning services for surveying surface regularity on robotics floors including AMR, G2P and ASRS.
Contact Face Consultants today to explore how our 3D laser scanning equipment and floor profilers can provide accurate data for guidance on remedial grinding, bringing your floors back into compliance with specification.
