Measurable 3D Facility Models from 360-Degree LiDAR Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physical inspections of facilities are costly, time-consuming, and require multiple visits by skilled personnel, leading to long delays and inefficiencies in assessing equipment status and planning for modernization or remodeling.
Innovation Solution
A method involving 360-degree scans using a visual camera and LIDAR instrument to create a measurable three-dimensional virtual model, which is compiled and stored remotely for later analysis and planning, allowing remote review by experts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical inspections are conducted by skilled personnel on site, then measurement precision and inspection reliability are improved, but loss of time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the facility through 360-degree imaging and LIDAR scanning, capturing all visual and spatial data. This digital replica allows skilled inspectors to review the facility remotely without physical presence, maintaining inspection accuracy while eliminating the need for repeated on-site visits and significantly reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of imaging devices, LIDAR scanners, and digital processing software that mediates between the physical facility and the inspection process. This intermediary captures and processes spatial and visual data, enabling remote inspection while preserving measurement precision through digital representation.
2Loss of information
If multiple on-site visits are made to capture all measurements, then measurement completeness is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous data capture through 360-degree imaging and LIDAR scanning that can be performed in a single comprehensive visit. The system continuously captures all spatial and visual information from multiple angles and locations, ensuring measurement completeness without requiring multiple separate on-site visits, thereby reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional linear inspection to three-dimensional comprehensive scanning using LIDAR and 360-degree imaging. This dimensional change allows the system to capture all measurements from multiple spatial angles simultaneously, ensuring completeness in a single visit rather than requiring multiple sequential visits.
3Reliability
If skilled personnel with unique skills perform inspections, then inspection reliability is improved, but device complexity and scheduling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the facility that can be viewed and analyzed remotely by skilled inspectors. This digital replica maintains the quality of inspection by preserving all critical spatial and visual data, while the inspection process itself becomes simpler and more flexible, as skilled personnel can review the facility at convenient times without complex scheduling requirements for on-site presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical on-site inspection with a digital system using imaging devices and LIDAR scanning. This substitution maintains inspection reliability through accurate digital data capture while eliminating the complexity of scheduling and coordinating skilled personnel for multiple visits, as the digital system can be deployed independently and reviewed remotely at any time.
4Measurement precision
If facility shuts down during inspection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but loss of time and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the facility through comprehensive scanning and imaging that captures all necessary measurement data while the facility remains operational. This digital replica enables accurate measurements without requiring facility shutdown, as the scanning system can capture spatial and visual information from moving or active equipment, thereby maintaining both measurement accuracy and operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic scanning capabilities that can capture facility data while it is in use or undergoing normal operations. The LIDAR and imaging systems can adapt to moving objects and active processes, maintaining measurement accuracy without requiring the facility to shut down, thus preserving productivity and operational efficiency during the inspection process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, cost-effective, and timely assessment of facilities, reducing maintenance downtime and allowing proactive safety inspections and equipment planning without the need for repeated on-site visits by skilled personnel.
Implementation Method 1
taking first and second 360-degree scans at different locations of the facility using both a visual camera and a LIDAR instrument
Data Source
AI summary
A method of creating a three-dimensional, measurable, virtual model of a facility including taking first and second 360-degree scans at different locations of the facility using both a visual camera and a LIDAR instrument, saving the first and second 360-degree scans on a data storage unit of a portable computing device, creating first and second images and first and second point clouds on the portable computing device from the first and second 360-degree scans and coupling point clouds with the images. The first and second images are coupled with the first- and second-point clouds by manually manipulating overlapping portions of the first and second images on the portable computing device to create a combined image. The combined image is coupled with the first and second point clouds to create a measurable three-dimensional model and stored in an electronic storage device accessible from a remote location.