Next-Generation SLAM Scanners
Summary adapted from GeoWeek News: "What's New in SLAM-Based Handheld Scanning in 2025?" (3/27/2025)
Industry Trends in SLAM-Based Scanning
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology has significantly evolved, now powering a new class of portable LiDAR scanners designed for applications in construction, surveying, infrastructure, forensics, and digital twins. Recent releases focus on improved accuracy, real time feedback, modular design, and enhanced georeferencing capabilities, helping professionals achieve faster and more reliable results in the field.
How XGRIDS L2 Pro Leads the Field
Among the newest crop of high performance handheld scanners, the XGRIDS Lixel L2 Pro stands out for several reasons:
Survey-Grade RTK Integration:
Unlike many first generation handheld scanners, the L2 Pro builds on years of development to incorporate multi-SLAM technology, spatial AI, and RTK GNSS support. This allows users to automatically and accurately georeferenced point cloud data, even on large or complex sites, at up to 300 meters range.High-Density Colorized Point Clouds:
The L2 Pro’s rotating lidar captures up to one million points per square meter, at speeds up to 640,000 points per second. Paired with onboard 48MP cameras, it generates true color visualizations that are nearly photorealistic, ideal for digital twins, BIM integration, and facility inspections.Real-Time QA and Visualization:
Fast onboard processing lets users assess accuracy and visualization in the field through the Lixel GO App, including features like automatic human shadow removal to minimize post processing. The dense scan data can quickly be refined, clipped, measured, and exported with LixelStudio software, allowing direct integration with common AEC workflows.Workflow Flexibility:
The L2 Pro supports both extension poles and harnesses for user comfort and helps reach inaccessible areas easily. Data is exported in popular formats like LAS and PLY, compatible with mainstream point cloud and 3D modeling platforms.Modular Features and Plug-Ins:
Custom plugins and modular extensions allow further task specific analytics, supporting advanced measurements, scene overlay, and noise reduction, matching evolving project needs.
Applications & Use Cases
XGRIDS L2 Pro is built for professionals who need:
Accurate facility management, BIM and infrastructure inspections
Dense, high-quality digital twin creation for asset monitoring or construction progress
Rapid, reliable scans for documentation and QA in both indoor and outdoor environments
Its advanced camera system, RTK integration, and real time feedback make it ideal for AEC, public safety, industrial asset management, and other emerging use cases.
The Bigger Picture
While other recent releases such as NavVis MLX, GeoCue TrueView GO, Exyn Nexys, Emesent Hovermap ST-X, Stonex X200 GO, and FARO Orbis Premium have brought modularity, autonomous guidance, and improved speed, XGRIDS differentiates by achieving near survey grade accuracy and photorealistic visualization in a robust, portable package. These trends point to a future of smarter, more automated, and user friendly SLAM sensors.
For a full industry comparison and in depth analysis, read the original GeoWeek News article:
"What's New in SLAM-Based Handheld Scanning in 2025?"
