Carlson Scan vs Octave GeoMedia: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Carlson Scan and Octave GeoMedia to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Carlson Scan
4.8/10
Windows software that runs Carlson's laser scanners and borehole tools to capture, mesh and measure underground voids, stopes and boreholes for mining and civil surveyors.
Octave GeoMedia
6.8/10
Desktop GIS from Octave (formerly Hexagon/Intergraph). It combines CAD, GIS and database data for mapping, spatial analysis and network modeling, mainly for government and utility users.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | C Carlson Scan | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 4.8/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Free GeoMedia Viewer |
| Features | ||
| LiDAR Processing | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Inspection Automation | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
Carlson Scan vs Octave GeoMedia cost by team size
| Team size | Carlson Scan | Octave GeoMedia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | FreeGeoMedia Viewer |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | FreeGeoMedia Viewer |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | FreeGeoMedia Viewer |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | FreeGeoMedia Viewer |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | FreeGeoMedia Viewer |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
CWhy choose Carlson Scan
- Higher Cost score (6/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Octave GeoMedia
- Has a free plan (Carlson Scan does not)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Analytics score (8/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
CCarlson Scan
Pros
- Shows the point cloud and mesh live during a scan, so crews can check coverage before they leave the site.
- Calculates closed surfaces and volumes on the spot, which suits stope and void reconciliation.
- Processes data on the device, so it works underground with no internet connection.
- The license allows installation on any number of tablets, and version updates have been free for hardware owners.
- Exports to E57, LAS, PTS and DXF for use in CAD and blast design tools.
Cons
- Works only with Carlson's own scanners and probes, so it cannot be bought or used on its own.
- Older C-ALS Mk3 and original Void Scanner units cannot move past legacy version 1.3.6.
- There is no public pricing, and the hardware must be quoted through sales or dealers.
- Almost no independent user reviews were found, which makes it hard to compare against rivals.
- Runs on Windows only.
Octave GeoMedia
Pros
- Connects directly to CAD, GIS, database and imagery sources without converting them first.
- Analysis results are kept as live queries that update when source data changes, which avoids piles of intermediate datasets.
- Reviewers praise its cartography and automatic label placement, which produces little overlap by default.
- SoftwareReviews users rate vendor support at 90 and data interoperability at 88, both above the category average.
- A free Viewer lets non-GIS staff open and print GeoMedia maps without buying a license.
Cons
- No public pricing, and reviewers describe the license tiers as confusing.
- Much smaller user community and fewer learning resources than Esri ArcGIS or QGIS.
- One reviewer could not load a large Esri file geodatabase and found database connections slow.
- Web publishing needs the separate WebGIS products.
- Ownership has moved from Intergraph to Hexagon to Octave, which raises questions about the product's long-term direction.
Not sold on either?
Air Inspection Automation (AiA)Our product
Plans DJI drone inspection missions for power line towers from LiDAR scans: it finds the towers, places photo stops, checks clearance, and splits the route into battery flights.
Made by the team behind b stack radar. Shown here because it fits this topic. It is not part of our rankings. How we rank tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Octave GeoMedia scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 6.8/10 against 4.8/10 for Carlson Scan. The largest gap is in Integration: 4/10 for Carlson Scan and 8/10 for Octave GeoMedia.
Octave GeoMedia has a free plan; Carlson Scan does not list one.
