Carlson Scan3D

Carlson Scan3D is a handheld 3D scanning app from Carlson Software, launched in November 2023 and built on DotProduct's Dot3D platform. It runs in two hardware setups. The first is an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro that has the built-in LiDAR sensor. The second is a Carlson RT5 or RTk5 rugged Windows tablet with an Intel RealSense depth camera that is calibrated for each unit. Users scan culverts, manholes, vaults, trenches, building facades, equipment and crash or crime scenes. The app is meant to fill the gaps that drone photogrammetry or tripod laser scanners miss, such as areas under overhangs or trees. All processing happens on the device, so no internet or cloud connection is needed. Scans can be geo-referenced with Carlson GNSS receivers and Carlson survey control files. The app measures distance, area and volume, and exports colour point clouds as DP, E57, RCS, LAS and LAZ files. Those files can then be merged in Carlson Point Cloud with data from drones, terrestrial scanners or aerial LiDAR. Esri lists it as a partner solution. Scan3D suits survey, civil, mining and construction firms that already use Carlson field and office software. On the App Store the iOS version is free to download with a 7-day trial, and an annual subscription is listed at 999.99 euros on the Austrian store. Windows tablet bundles are sold through Carlson dealers, with prices on request. The main limitation is range and scale: depth-camera and phone LiDAR capture suits small spaces and objects, not large sites. Independent user reviews are also nearly nonexistent.