How SLAM LiDAR is Changing the Game

Static terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)

A tripod-mounted scanner placed at multiple stations throughout a site. Each setup captures a full 360° scan. To stitch those scans together, the crew places targets or uses cloud-to-cloud registration software. The results are excellent — sub-centimetre accuracy is routine — but the workflow is slow, setup-intensive, and poorly suited to environments where planting a tripod every five metres is impractical.

UAV LiDAR

Systems like the CHCNAV AlphaAir 6 can collect millions of points per second from the air, covering large corridors or terrain areas far faster than ground-based scanning allows. But UAVs are constrained to what they can see from above. Interiors, tunnels, dense forest canopy, and anything requiring ground-level perspective still require a different tool.

RTK GNSS

Provides absolute position outdoors — the same centimetre-level accuracy used in conventional survey workflows, but integrated directly into the scanner. When connected to a CORS network (including Latnet's own RTK correction network covering Alberta), no separate base station is required in the field.

INS + SLAM — always running

SLAM and INS run continuously throughout every session — not just when GNSS is unavailable. Outdoors, GNSS, INS, and SLAM all contribute to the trajectory solution together; GNSS provides the absolute position anchor, and SLAM adds geometric consistency. Indoors, where GNSS drops out, INS and SLAM carry the full positioning load. The transition is automatic.

SFix and Vi-LiDAR — surveying mode features

When the RS10 is used as an RTK rover in LandStar survey mode (not during SLAM scanning), two additional capabilities become available. SFix calculates a precise range-pole tip coordinate for up to one minute after satellite signal loss — useful for surveyors working near building edges or under short obstructions. Vi-LiDAR allows contactless coordinate capture from the live LiDAR feed to 5 cm accuracy at 15 m, without placing a physical target.

With RTK, PPK, or GCPs — loop closure not required

When GNSS is available and providing a fix, or when the trajectory is constrained by PPK post-processing or surveyed ground control points, the trajectory is anchored to independent absolute positions. Accumulated drift has nowhere to build up — each fix is a hard constraint on the solution. You can walk any route you like, enter a building through one door and exit through another, and the trajectory will be consistent. Both the RS7 and RS10 support RTK, PPK, and GCP workflows through the same CoPre processing pipeline.

SLAM-only (no GNSS, no GCPs) — loop closure improves accuracy

When scanning in a purely GNSS-denied environment with no control points — deep inside a building, underground, in a tunnel — the system has no external position reference. In this mode, loop closure remains an important tool for keeping the trajectory consistent over long traverses. This is where the RS7's hardware advantages matter most: the 500 Hz tactical-grade IMU (0.5°/h bias instability) and 64-channel scanner generate higher-quality inertial and geometric data, so drift accumulates more slowly, loops can be shorter and less frequent, and the error corrections applied are smaller. The RS10 can work in the same SLAM-only mode, but its 200 Hz IMU and 16 or 32 scan lines give it less to work with in demanding feature-poor environments.

SmartGo — field acquisition (both scanners)

Both the RS7 and RS10 use SmartGo for field data acquisition. The live point cloud display lets the operator see in real time where the scanner has and hasn't covered — useful for confirming complete coverage and catching missed areas before leaving the site. SmartGo also shows scanner status, satellite count, GNSS fix quality, and storage remaining. Data is stored onboard the scanner and copied to a computer after the session for processing in CoPre.

LandStar — field survey app (RS10)

The RS10 operates in rover mode with CHCNAV's LandStar field survey software, enabling topographic survey, point and line stakeout, elevation checks, and facade survey directly from the scanner. Vi-LiDAR allows contactless coordinate capture to 5 cm at 15 m without placing a physical target. In surveying mode, SFix comes into play when GNSS signal is briefly lost — under a bridge or short overhang, for example — the SLAM algorithm takes over to calculate the range-pole tip position, allowing the surveyor to keep collecting points for up to a minute without stopping.

CoPre — intelligent post-processing (both scanners)

CoPre handles the core processing pipeline for both scanners: trajectory optimisation (POS processing with RTK, PPK, or GCP), point cloud generation, adjustment and refinement, 3D modelling, colorization, and delivery export. Both the RS7 and RS10 can produce the same output types: colorized point clouds, mesh models (OSGB/OBJ), and 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS). Export formats include LAS, LAZ, E57, RCS, and other standard formats compatible with CloudCompare, Autodesk ReCap, Trimble RealWorks, Leica Cyclone, Revit, and TerraSolid (TerraScan / TerraModeler). Processing time depends on workstation spec — an NVIDIA GPU is required for high-precision colorization, mesh, and 3DGS workflows. Smaller projects process quickly; large multi-floor or multi-session datasets take longer and benefit from a 64 GB RAM machine with a mid-range or better NVIDIA card.

CoProcess — from floor plans to stockpile volumes, all in one place

CoProcess takes raw RS7 and RS10 point clouds and turns them into finished deliverables — classified data, floor plans, elevation drawings, terrain models, road extractions, volume reports, and DWG files — all inside one application. It works with data from any LiDAR system, not just CHCNAV hardware. The software is organized into four modules: Foundation (project setup, visualization, point cloud management), Terrain (DTM/DEM/DSM generation, contours, slope analysis), Road (road feature extraction, cross-sections, road design), and Volume (stockpile measurement, earthwork calculation, multi-temporal change tracking).

Large datasets, no compromise: CoProcess handles single-session datasets up to 300 GB at full resolution — no thinning, no tile splitting. A 100 GB dataset runs terrain classification in roughly two hours on a standard workstation. That means a multi-floor RS7 building scan or a long RS10 corridor survey stays in one project file from start to finish.

Classification — automatic, semi-automatic, and manual: Ground, vegetation, buildings, roads, power lines — AI algorithms sort the cloud automatically. On high-density RS7 or RS10 scans, automated classification achieves 95%+ accuracy, shifting the work from categorizing to reviewing. For anything the automation misses or misclassifies, half-automatic and manual tools give full control over every point. The classification output feeds directly into extraction, drafting, and terrain workflows without leaving the application.

Terrain modeling: The Terrain module generates DEMs, DSMs, and contour lines from classified ground points. Survey-grade terrain models, slope maps, and elevation difference comparisons between scan sessions all come out of this module. For RS10 topographic surveys, stockpile monitoring, and construction earthwork tracking, this is where the data becomes an engineering deliverable without any export step in between.

Road extraction and cross-sections: The Road module extracts road features automatically and manually — lane markings, kerbs, road edges, breaklines — and exports them in SHP or DXF for direct use in AutoCAD and ArcGIS. Road cross-sections and longitudinal profiles can be generated and exported at any interval. For RS10 corridor surveys, this cuts the manual extraction work that would otherwise be done point-by-point in CAD.

Volume calculations and change detection: Stockpile and earthwork volumes are calculated directly from classified point clouds using a grid method and exported in DXF. Multi-temporal analysis — loading two scan sessions from the same site and running a change comparison — produces a quantified report of what moved and by how much. Directly applicable to quarry stockpile monitoring, construction earthworks, and any project where repeat scans track progress over time.

Facade and floor plan documentation: Depth Rendering mode recovers surface detail on dark and shadowed facades independently of RGB or intensity data. On-the-fly horizontal and vertical slicing generates real-time cross-sections at any height for floor plan and elevation drafting. Plan-Elevation Sync generates elevation views automatically from floor plan geometry. Adjacent-surface consistency checking keeps walls, floors, and ceilings aligned during drafting. Building contour, door, and window extraction is automated, with results going straight into the DWG drafting environment.

Native DWG output: Draft directly on standard CAD layers, import your own templates, use automated dimensioning and annotation, and export finished drawings to AutoCAD, Revit, or Civil 3D. Final deliverables also export as DXF, DAT, SHP, TIF, and other formats for integration with ArcGIS and third-party CAD platforms.

CoProcess is available through Latnet Technologies →

CoCloud — device-to-cloud workflow (RS7 and RS10)

Both the RS7 and RS10 integrate with CHCNAV CoCloud. Field data uploads with a single click and processing runs automatically in the cloud — point clouds, mesh models, and 3DGS results are ready for sharing and delivery without a local processing workstation. Useful for firms managing high scan volumes or remote project delivery where crews don't carry office-spec machines to the field.

TerraSolid — when you need the full toolkit

TerraSolid has been the industry standard for professional LiDAR data processing for over 25 years. It is the tool of choice for road, rail, utility corridor, power line, and urban mapping workflows worldwide — used by everyone from national mapping agencies to small survey shops. The modules run as plugins inside MicroStation (Bentley's CAD platform) or Spatix (a lightweight standalone CAD platform included with every TerraSolid licence at no extra cost — no MicroStation needed). RS7 and RS10 data loads into TerraSolid via LAS or LAZ point cloud and trajectory file together, which gives the software everything it needs for classification, extraction, and strip adjustment.

TerraScan is the core module and the reason TerraSolid has the reputation it does. It handles point clouds of any size from any sensor — mobile mapping, airborne, UAV, or handheld SLAM. Classification is the centrepiece: fully automatic routines for ground, vegetation, buildings, roads, power lines, and rail, refined with half-automatic and manual tools when the automatic pass needs correction. A macro and batch processing system lets production workflows run largely unattended. From classified data, TerraScan extracts 3D vector data automatically: building models to LOD2 specification over large areas, power line network vectorization, corridor analysis identifying clearance violations and danger objects, road surface condition assessment including paint line and curbstone detection, rail and overhead wire analysis, line-of-sight and clearance calculations, and change detection between datasets. Tunnel analysis tools handle underground scanning specifically. The results feed directly into TerraModeler, TerraPhoto, and TerraMatch without leaving the environment.

TerraModeler builds and manages surface models — TINs, DTMs, DEMs, DSMs, contours, cross-sections at any interval, volume calculations, and elevation difference maps between successive datasets. For RS10 topographic, stockpile, and corridor surveys where the deliverable is a terrain model and full control over every surface parameter is required, TerraModeler is the downstream tool. Mathematical and cartographic contour lines are both available; the latter produces the smooth, publication-quality output expected in mapping deliverables.

TerraPhoto handles image processing alongside the point cloud: camera calibration, rectification, colorization of the point cloud using images from the RS7's or RS10's onboard cameras, orthophoto production, and image mosaicking for corridor and urban documentation projects.

TerraMatch improves accuracy by working on the raw point cloud and trajectory simultaneously. It computes corrections for boresight angles (the physical misalignment between scanner and IMU), lever-arm offsets, and range scale factors. For RS10 multi-pass corridor surveys, TerraMatch compares overlapping strips, calculates the corrections needed to remove systematic misalignment errors that survive GNSS/PPK processing, and applies them across the entire dataset. It also handles fluctuating GNSS accuracy using tie lines and control measurements — essential for long corridors where satellite geometry changes along the route. Adjacent strips end up aligning to sub-centimetre tolerance rather than relying on the raw trajectory alone.

BIM and as-built documentation (RS7 or RS10)

Interior scans for building information model updates, renovation planning, or facilities management. The RS7's 64-channel scanner and 150-minute battery are particularly suited to large multi-floor buildings where session length and point density matter. The RS10 handles buildings that also require exterior capture in a single continuous session.

Heritage documentation and cultural tourism (RS7 primary)

The RS7's dual 12 MP cameras with high-sensitivity sensor technology and optional 3D Gaussian Splatting output produce photorealistic interior models that go beyond standard colorized point clouds. For heritage structures, museums, cultural sites, and preservation projects where visual fidelity matters as much as geometry, the RS7 is specifically listed by CHCNAV for cultural tourism and heritage preservation applications.

Public safety and forensic investigation (RS7 primary)

Scene documentation for law enforcement, fire investigation, and forensic analysis. The RS7's rapid deployment, loop-free indoor capability, and high-resolution camera output support fast, complete scene capture without extensive setup. CHCNAV specifically lists public safety and forensic investigation as a primary RS7 application.

Infrastructure inspection (RS10 primary)

Bridges, culverts, overpasses, utility corridors, and pipeline right-of-ways. The RS10 captures exterior geometry as well as accessible interiors in a continuous georeferenced session — the 300 m range on the 32-line version is practical for corridor work. Road surveying is listed as a primary RS10 application scenario on the datasheet.

Forestry and under-canopy surveys (RS10 primary)

Forestry asset management is listed as an RS10 application scenario. UAV-derived ground returns become sparse and unreliable under dense canopy; the RS10 works at ground level with full returns regardless of canopy density. For forest inventory, under-canopy terrain, and power-line corridor inspection where aerial access is blocked, SLAM scanning at ground level is typically the more reliable approach.

Mining and underground mapping (RS7 or RS10)

Drift surveys, stope mapping, shaft profiling, and tunnel as-builts. The RS7's INS-based positioning and loop-free indoor capability make it well suited to extended underground traverses where GNSS is never available. The RS10 handles mixed workflows — scanning the portal, adit, and surrounding surface area in a single georeferenced session.

Stockpile measurement and topographic surveying (RS10 primary)

Stockpile and topographic surveying are RS10 application scenarios particularly suited to outdoor sites — quarry, mining yard, and construction earthworks — where the integrated RTK anchors the point cloud to real-world coordinates for direct volume calculation. For indoor volumetric work — warehouse rack surveys, ore storage in underground facilities, indoor stockpiles — the RS7's 150-minute battery and strong INS performance make it the better-suited tool.

Construction monitoring and old community redevelopment (RS10 primary)

Progress documentation against design models, clash detection, and redevelopment surveys of existing built environments. Old community redevelopment is a specific RS10 application in CHCNAV's documentation — the combination of outdoor and indoor coverage in a single georeferenced session is directly applicable to block-scale surveys of existing urban fabric.