There are certain situations where you have to scan outdoors because the object cannot be moved.
Unfortunately, many 3D scanners face challenges when digitizing objects into 3D models in an outdoor environment. Why does this happen? This difficulty arises because, unlike indoor scanning, we have limited control over environmental elements when working outside. One prominent issue is the impact of sunlight. It can create uneven and harsh lighting conditions when projected onto the object, ultimately leading to suboptimal 3D scanning results. Getting a 3D scanner that can handle outdoor conditions is a great find.
Unlike most 3D scanners, no challenge is too hard for the Artec Leo handheld 3D scanner!
Let’s take a look at 4 reasons why the Artec Leo is the perfect professional 3D scanner for 3D scanning objects outdoors.
Prefer To Watch a Video Instead?
Check out the video version of this article you can watch here.
The Lighting System Is Built For 3D Scanning Outdoors
Wondering why the Artec Leo does a great job of 3D scanning in the sunlight compared to other 3D scanners? The reason is that the Artec Leo was designed to perform exceptionally well in any 3D scanning environment, whether indoors or outdoors.
Artec Leo uses a Class I Laser projector that displays a pattern invisible to the human eye onto the surface of your object. This is the reason why you can quickly scan in sunlight with the Artec Leo while still getting high-quality 3D scans.
Unlike other structured-light scanners that use white or blue light, the Artec Leo uses an infrared wavelength of light. Wavelengths of white or blue light are overpowered by the sun, whereas infrared light does not.
You can see how the Artec Leo excels at scanning a section of the railroad outdoors:
Learn more about railroad inspection in this case study we developed in partnership with Artec.
True Mobile Freedom with the Artec Leo. No Computer. No Cables. No External Motion Tracking System.
What’s extremely special about the Artec Leo is that it is the only wireless and fully standalone professional 3D scanner. It’s compact. It’s portable. It’s all you need for 3D scanning outdoors, making the 3D capturing process as simple as possible. You can scan anywhere.
Onboard Processing Power with Interactive Built-In Touchscreen
This handheld 3D scanner has an NVIDIA Jetson TX2 processor built inside the device, which means you don’t need to connect it to a computer or a tablet while scanning—the processing power is already inside!
You can see the scans in real-time right on the built-in 5” touchscreen display. The touchscreen builds a real-time digital replica of the object while you are scanning. Interact with the scans while you capture the object in 3D, showing you areas that need attention and helping you quickly get the best results. You can manage your device and the entire scanning process all in this single device.
Completely Wireless
There are no wires to trip over when using the Artec Leo. When fully charged, the battery is expected to power the Artec Leo scanner for up to 4 hours, with the duration varying based on usage intensity. Additional batteries are swappable for all-day scanning. Alternatively, you can use AC power with the provided cable.
When you are 3D scanning in an outdoor environment, you want to carry as little as possible if you are going to travel to scan offsite. In outdoor scanning, portability is key for offsite work. The Artec Leo’s user-centered design and simplicity make it an exceptional choice.
No Need For an External Tracker or Vision System
What is different about the Artec Leo is that it can track its own movement with its onboard processing—without using an external tracker. On the contrary, 3D scanners utilizing an external optical tracking device consistently require an unobstructed view with the 3D scanner.
The Artec Leo tracks movement internally. It also doesn’t need to use markers to establish positioning which makes it ideal for 3D scanning outdoors—it’s self-sufficient.
-
Artec Leo: Inside-out tracking
(No need for an external tracker or vision system)
-
Outside-in tracking
(Requires an external tracker or vision system)
100% Cable-Free Scanning and Data Transfer
With Artec Leo’s WiFi connectivity, data transfer is super simple. You can upload your data right from the device to Artec Studio 3D scanning software. You also upload directly to the Artec Cloud with scan-to-cloud functionality, so you can get to work right away if you are scanning off-site and need your data ready for you to continue post-processing when you come back from the office.
This Smart 3D Scanner Get High-Quality, Accurate 3D Scans For Outdoor Scanning
What makes the Artec Leo a smart 3D scanner? It’s powered by proprietary AI technology developed by Artec. This 3D scanner does all the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. Just point and shoot to get started on 3D scanning.
A typical 3D scanner relies on a cable connection to transfer images to an external computer for processing. In contrast, a smart scanner boasts an integrated computer and memory. The Artec Leo stands out by eliminating the need for an external computer in the field, handling both scanning and scan data alignment independently.
The Artec Leo makes 3D scanning look easy, but rest assured the scanner the Artec development team worked very hard to make it look that simple to help you capture the perfect scans—every single time. Especially for scanning outdoors where you can’t control environmental conditions, it’s great to have a 3D scanner like Artec Leo. The device only captures the data you need while getting HD quality and submillimetre accuracy scans.
Technical Specifications At A Glance
| 3D Resolution | Up to 0.2 mm |
|---|---|
| 3D Point Accuracy | Up to 0.1 mm |
| 3D Scans | HD Quality |
Having intelligence streamlines the capturing process—less capturing and processing time, as well as cleanup work. This all leads to significant time savings so you can finish your projects faster and be the most productive.
Ability To Scan a Wide Range of Objects
The Artec Leo offers a wide spectrum of objects you can scan, capturing medium-sized (20 to 50 cm) objects as well as large (50 to 200 cm) ones. When this portable 3D scanner is paired with a powerful computer, it can even scan very large objects (200+ cm) or even entire spaces!
The Artec Leo is adaptable for all types of applications including 3D visualization, reverse engineering, and inspection.
Objects you can scan outdoors with the Artec Leo:
- Arts: sculptures, monuments, statues
- Cultural preservation: archaeology sites
- Automotive: motorcycles, car, trains, buses, airplanes
- Manufacturing: pipes, factories
- AR/VR: 3D scanning props, people
- Forensics: crime scenes
Artec Leo Paired with Artec Ray II
The Artec Leo can even be combined with the Artec Ray II Lidar 3D scanner to capture high details of scenes or environments!
Versatile 3D Scanner. One device, countless use cases.
The Artec Leo is the most versatile 3D scanner that Artec 3D has ever made. What’s truly special about the Artec Leo is that for such a small device it packs a punch.
While the Artec Leo produces impressive results within a controlled indoor setting, the true test of a 3D scanner’s capabilities lies in its capacity to scan in all sorts of conditions. The Artec Leo is praised for its outdoor scanning capabilities, user-friendly features, and fully self-sufficiency, making it a powerful tool for professionals across various industries.
