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Expert Answer

How long does 3D scanning take?

A 5,000 sqft building takes 2-4 hours with mobile mapping or 4-8 hours with tripod scanning. Drone mapping covers 50+ acres per day.

Detailed Answer

Scanning duration depends on method, area, and complexity:

Mobile Mapping (NavVis VLX3):

  • Speed: 6,000 sqft per hour
  • 50,000 sqft facility: 8-10 hours
  • Multi-story buildings: add 20% for stairs/elevators

Tripod Scanning (Trimble, Leica, FARO):

  • Speed: 500-1,000 sqft per hour
  • 5,000 sqft building: 5-10 hours
  • Complex MEP: add 50-100% for additional positions

Drone Photogrammetry:

  • Speed: 50-100 acres per day
  • Processing: 1-3 days depending on deliverables

Drone LiDAR:

  • Speed: 30-50 acres per day
  • Processing: 1-2 days for standard deliverables

Processing adds time beyond field capture:

  • Point cloud delivery: 1-3 days
  • BIM modeling (by your team or a BIM provider): 1-2 weeks depending on LOD
  • Floor plans: 3-5 business days

We provide project-specific timelines during quoting.

Related topics:

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Expert Answer from The Future 3D

This answer is provided by our team of certified 3D scanning professionals with 15+ years of combined experience in laser scanning, drone mapping, and reality capture technology.

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