Improving reality capture speed to solution from initial planning and design to construction to ongoing operation for all stakeholders in the built environment
April 11, 2018 Pittsburgh, PA Kaarta today made another leap forward in the advance of rapid 3D reality capture with the launch of Kaarta Reality Layer, augmenting its already geometrically accurate and robust spatial capture with the richness of color information running the gamut from point cloud to surface mesh to RGB point cloud to rich photorealistic model. These integrated colorization capabilities make it possible to quickly capture and process just the level of color detail needed for a wide range of built environment applications from planning and design to construction to ongoing operation and maintenance. Further, the ability to automatically generate photorealistic 3D models promises to make a host of new mixed reality applications possible.
At its most immersive and photorealistic level of detail, Reality Layer automatically connects the dots on a dimensionally-accurate, high-fidelity point cloud to create faithful surface models for the seamless overlay of high resolution color imagery all rapidly captured and processed with one mobile handheld device. Reality Layer reveals features such as surface textures and colors, locations of electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other features, or even details as fine as the text on signage or labeling.
How it Works
Substantially more sophisticated than simply assigning color values to the XYZ coordinates of a point cloud to help visualize the real-world environment, Reality Layer can create a registered visual model using actual images, not points. This capability makes it far easier to understand the space using the most common visualization tool: the human eye. The process is simple:
The user carries Contour through a space to scan and generate a 3D map on the go.
Contour is also used as a camera to automatically capture color images with accurate location information relative to the model of the environment.
When the scanning is complete, just the push of a button on Contour creates the Reality Layer through a sequence of fast and automated processing steps, resulting in a highly accurate 3D model with integrated imagery in minutes.
Why its a Game Changer
Traditionally, its common to have dozens of drawings, scans, and image files captured with multiple products, by multiple teams of people, in multiple stages over many days, weeks or months all to provide answers about a single space, and even still they are difficult to align with each other and result in additional workflows. Kaartas patent-pending Reality Layer condenses that work to one product, operated by one person in a single pass. Kevin Dowling, CEO of Kaarta said, We are proving that rich digital models of the world can be captured and put to use without costly and time consuming methods, making them accessible to many more users and able to be done on a frequent basis. Now with Reality Layer, complete, authentic, and immersive models are quick and easy.
This latest advancement has far-reaching benefits for professionals who require accurate and faithful 3D information.
It eliminates call-backs to the site, as all of the necessary information resides in the point cloud, imagery, and resultant 3D model.
It reduces the high upfront costs related to digitally capturing spaces, meaning it can be done on more sites, more frequently, and by more users.
It enables the further adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) practices for built assets by providing access to well-structured digital information to all the necessary parties.
After scanning the boiler rooms of a major medical center, Ray Steeb, CEO of Fasttac said, Kaarta is a huge win for applications like facilities maintenance since it is incredibly easy to capture the layout of spaces that do not have up-to-date drawings, and thats about 90% of existing buildings. He continued, The key is that we can then use the scans right away without having to model. And now, Reality Layer makes it even easier for users to get a visual ID on any given area.
Reality Layer is now shipping on the Kaarta Contour mapping system, and a free software upgrade is available for existing Contour owners. Integration into Kaartas additional devices to follow.
Other enhancements in this software upgrade
In addition to Reality Layer, Kaarta continues to provide rich and sophisticated software updates, all free to existing and new customers.
Transition Mapping Mode dramatically eliminates many alignment issues associated with room transitions such as doorways during scanning. Other transitions such as the opening up at the end of an aisle in a warehouse, turns in hallways, and stairwells all benefit from this new feature.
Soft Pause prevents the unwanted addition of a moving object, such as a person entering the scanning area, to the model. It also can be used in difficult transitions while scanning such as turning around in a narrow space, opening a door, or retracing through an already mapped space.
Expandable Camera View allows the user to customize the on screen view to suit the application.
Save Color Images enables tagging and labeling of color images and is particularly useful for capturing notes during scanning.
Scan Detail includes an array of information about the scan, cover photos, editable notes fields, viewing, converting and copying file management functions, and access to post-processing functions for Reality Layer.
Improved Startup Initialization intelligently builds a better base for the mapping process, reduces early errors, and provides better gravity alignment.
Pause/Rewind/Resume has improved viewing, reliability and functionality.
Color Imaging improved auto-exposure responds to varying lighting conditions.
Error Reporting during scanning alerts users if there is a mapping sensor failure or processing failure and will automatically pause and rewind to the last good mapping result, allowing the user to try to resume or end the scan and save the already scanned data.
About Kaarta
Kaarta is the innovator of real-time 3D reality capture, mapping complex environments with unprecedented speed, fidelity and ease. Kaartas patent-pending technology, rooted in advanced robotics, accurately transforms the real world into multi-dimensional 3D digital models, streamlining workflow, reducing time, lowering cost, and enabling entirely new applications. Now the spectrum of stakeholders across architecture, engineering, construction, property management, surveying, and facilities management can work from the same truth, going from silos to integrated teams in the design, build, and operations of the built environment. Additional information is available at www.kaarta.com.
