The main difference is in the capture mode. Static scanners work on a tripod and capture space station by station (a station being a point where the scanner is positioned and launched). Mobile scanners have the advantage of capturing the environment while being moved by a moving operator, and therefore being faster. Static scanners generally capture a denser point cloud, which is necessary for some projects.
To find out more about the different 3D scanning solutions, we invite you to read our article on this subject.

Just like static scanners, mobile scanners incorporate LiDAR sensors to capture point clouds.
At the same time, and in order to capture the environment while being moved, mobile scanners incorporate two elements:
To locate itself in space an inertial unit (IMU) to integrate the movements and movements of the scanner to estimate its orientation and linear speed.

• A simultaneous mapping location system (SLAM)
• An inertial unit (IMU)

Raw 3D data acquired by 3D scanners, the point cloud of a building is a real envelope of it.
To find out more, we invite you to consult our article dedicated to the acquisition and use of 3D point clouds.

Each scanning solution has its own specificities. The project specifications, the surface area, the expected deliverables and the specificities of the building are the factors allowing choosing the right 3D scanning solutions.

This choice of equipment is one of the key stages of a 3D scanning project, which we detail in this article.