Leica lowers the bar with a $16k imaging laser scanner

Leica Geosystems has announced the “BLK360,” a miniaturized 3D imaging laser scanner. The BLK360 captures full-color panoramic images overlaid on a high accuracy point cloud. The one-button Leica BLK360 and included Autodesk software is intended to be easy to operate so that anyone who can operate an iPad can use the imaging laser scanner.  It is incredibly small – it weighs only about a kilogram.

It collects 360,000 points per second and has a range of 60 meters with 4 mm accuracy.  In addition to a LiDAR sensor, the BLK360 includes infrared sensors for thermal imaging and 360° cameras.  It is completely wireless and streams image and point cloud data to an iPad. A complete 360° laser scan with panoramic image capture and transfer to the iPad Pro requires 3 minutes. 

With an anticipated retail price of the scanner and software is $15,990/€15,000, this really lowers the entry barrier to laser scanning.

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss has more than 20 years experience in the geospatial software industry and 15 years experience developing enterprise geospatial solutions for the utilities, communications, and public works industries. His particular interests include the convergence of BIM, CAD, geospatial, and 3D. In recognition of his efforts to evangelize geospatial in vertical industries such as utilities and construction, Geoff received the Geospatial Ambassador Award at Geospatial World Forum 2014. Currently Geoff is Principal at Between the Poles, a thought leadership consulting firm. From 2001 to 2012 Geoff was Director of Utility Industry Program at Autodesk Inc, where he was responsible for thought leadership for the utility industry program. From 1999 to 2001 he was Director of Enterprise Software Development at Autodesk. He received one of ten annual global technology awards in 2004 from Oracle Corporation for technical innovation and leadership in the use of Oracle. Prior to Autodesk Geoff was Director of Product Development at VISION* Solutions. VISION* Solutions is credited with pioneering relational spatial data management, CAD/GIS integration, and long transactions (data versioning) in the utility, communications, and public works industries. Geoff is a frequent speaker at geospatial and utility events around the world including Geospatial World Forum, Where 2.0, MundoGeo Connect (Brazil), Middle East Spatial Geospatial Forum, India Geospatial Forum, Location Intelligence, Asia Geospatial Forum, and GITA events in US, Japan and Australia. Geoff received Speaker Excellence Awards at GITA 2007-2009.

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