Scanning Tips
Best practices for capturing high-quality scans with the Lixel L2 Pro
Lixel L2 Pro Scanning Tips
The Lixel L2 Pro is designed for real-time, survey-grade scanning β but following these best practices ensures you get the highest quality point clouds and Gaussian Splats for your projects.
General Scanning Technique
Walking Speed and Movement
- Walk at a steady, deliberate pace β sudden speed changes can introduce drift
- Move smoothly β avoid sudden stops, jerks, or rapid directional changes
- Maintain consistent height β avoid tilting the device dramatically while walking
- Complete closed loops when possible β returning to your starting point allows the SLAM algorithm to self-correct accumulated drift
Coverage Pattern
- Overlap your paths by 20β30% when scanning large open areas
- Scan each wall from multiple angles to capture surfaces that may be partially occluded on the first pass
- Look up and down occasionally to capture ceilings, floors, and features above and below your main scan path
- For tall spaces, consider scanning with the extension pole to capture overhead details
Starting a Scan
- Allow the device to initialize before moving β wait for the status indicator to show ready
- Start in an area with good visual and geometric features β avoid starting in a featureless corridor or against a blank wall
- Ensure RTK has connected (if using RTK) before beginning your scan path
Environment-Specific Tips
Indoor Spaces
| Room Type | Tip |
|---|---|
| Small rooms | Make at least one complete circuit around the room periphery |
| Large open floors | Use a grid or zigzag pattern; return to start to close the loop |
| Hallways | Walk down the center; make a return pass if the hallway is long |
| Staircases | Slow down; capture from landing to landing with deliberate steps |
| High-ceilinged spaces | Use the optional extension pole to capture ceiling details |
Outdoor Environments
- Plan your path before scanning to avoid backtracking unnecessarily
- Move into new terrain gradually β don't scan entirely new areas in a single fast pass
- For drone deployment, pre-plan the flight path with adequate overlap (side overlap 30%+, front overlap 70%+)
- For vehicle deployment, drive at speeds up to 40 km/h on smooth surfaces; reduce speed over rough terrain
GPS-Denied Environments (Underground, Tunnels)
- The L2 Pro's Multi-SLAM maintains 3cm absolute accuracy even with RTK disconnected up to 100m
- Close loops frequently when working in long tunnels or corridors
- Mark your entry point clearly β returning to the entry helps the system self-correct
- Scan at a slower pace in featureless environments to give the SLAM algorithm more data
Challenging Surfaces
| Surface | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Reflective glass / mirrors | Scan from multiple angles; reflective surfaces may produce artifacts |
| Black or very dark surfaces | LiDAR handles these well; cameras may have lower texture detail |
| Transparent surfaces | Scan what's visible; transparent materials produce incomplete geometry |
| Repetitive textures | Add reference objects or markers to help SLAM maintain position |
| Featureless walls | Slow down; ensure floor and ceiling are captured for positioning |
RTK Configuration
- Use the Survey Grade RTK Kit for the highest absolute accuracy (1cm post-processed)
- Ensure RTK has a lock before scanning β scanning without a lock falls back to standard SLAM accuracy (3cm)
- The L2 Pro maintains positioning with RTK disconnected up to 100m; longer disconnections may reduce absolute accuracy
- For indoor scanning, RTK is typically not used β Multi-SLAM provides 3cm accuracy without GPS
Battery and Data Management
- Battery life: 1.5 hours continuous scanning β plan your scan paths accordingly
- Hot-swap batteries to extend sessions; a brief pause of a few seconds is acceptable
- Monitor storage in the LixelGO app β the 1TB SSD handles most projects, but keep an eye on space for very long sessions
- Download data after each session using USB 3.1 to avoid accumulating unprocessed data on the device
Quality Verification in the Field
Use the LixelGO app to verify scan quality in real-time:
- Check the live point cloud preview β gaps or thin areas indicate coverage issues
- Monitor SLAM health indicators β if the system shows drift warnings, slow down
- Verify colorization quality at key areas β review camera image feeds
- Check closure error if your scan closes a loop β a small closure error indicates good scan quality
Pre-Scan Checklist
- Battery fully charged (or spare batteries available)
- LixelGO app connected and showing device status
- RTK connected (if using RTK and outdoors)
- Storage space verified β sufficient space for session
- Scan path planned
- Device warmed up (allow 2β3 minutes after power-on before scanning in cold environments)
After Your Scan
- Review the point cloud in LixelGO before leaving the site β verify coverage is complete
- Transfer data to your workstation via USB 3.1
- Process in LixelStudio for enhanced results, or use the real-time output directly
- Generate Gaussian Splats using LCC (Lixel CyberColor) if needed for visualization
- Upload to Splat Labs for hosting, sharing, and AI features
For the complete processing workflow, see First Scan. For hardware issues, see Troubleshooting.