Entries by Tate Jones

3D Forensic Scans: Three civil applications

In my travels along the 3D laser scanning superhighway, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to criminal forensic experts. This group was one of the earliest adopters of laser scanning technology and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting agents with the FBI, the Secret Service, and even generals and admirals who are familiar with […]

3D Laser Scanning: The New Industry Standard

When we first started laser scanning back in 2005, we replaced some of our total station surveying equipment with scanning technology. As much as anything, this was a great way for us to learn how to use the technology and understand its capabilities and limitations. Early on, much of the work we did involved transportation […]

Scan to BIM: The evolution of scanning technology

The truth is, scanning is the only cost-effective way to collect the existing world. You simply can’t go into a cathedral, petroleum refinery, or metropolitan multi-use entertainment facility and measure with rulers and expect to get the accuracy you need to confidently design renovations. Laser scanning is the only way to do it. Up until […]

An eight-lane bridge falls into the Mississippi River during rush hour traffic? Yeah – we do that.

A few years ago, an entire span of a busy eight-lane interstate bridge broke apart and fell into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis during rush hour traffic. Cars, concrete, twisted metal and people went crashing into the water. When the dust settled, 13 were dead and more than 145 injured. The bridge was Minnesota’s fifth […]