10.1 Glossary

How to Use This Glossary

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Entries are alphabetical and tagged by audience level. If you are new to reality capture, focus on Basic entries first. If you are looking up something you encountered in the field or in the software, jump to the relevant term.

Glossary

Terms

3

• 3DGS (3D Gaussian Splatting) Basic

  A visual reconstruction format that represents a scene as millions of small ellipsoids of color and opacity, producing photorealistic results suitable for virtual tours, client presentations, and immersive viewing. 3DGS models are not measurable to survey grade. LCC Studio produces 3DGS output. For measured deliverables, use LixelStudio point clouds instead.

A

• Absolute Coordinates Advanced

  Coordinates tied to a real-world reference frame (such as a state plane projection, UTM zone, or WGS84). Produced when scan data is georeferenced via RTK, PPK, or ground control points. Required for survey-grade deliverables and GIS integration. The PortalCam does not output absolute coordinates.

• Aerial-Ground Map Fusion Advanced

  A combined-capture workflow that joins aerial imagery from a drone with ground-based scan data into a single 3DGS reconstruction in LCC Studio. Supported on the L2 Pro, K2, and PortalCam. Reconstruction requires the ground scan, the drone imagery, and the takeoff and landing point photos together; it cannot start if any one of the three is missing. Requires current LCC Scan and current device firmware.

• AI-Powered Filtering Advanced

  A LixelStudio feature that uses machine-learning models to remove dynamic objects (moving people, vehicles) and to clean noisy or unreliable points from raw scan data, while preserving thin structures such as railings and pipes. Reduces manual cleanup time after processing.

B

• Bridge Mode Field

  A connection method where the scanner and the field-control phone both join the same shared WiFi network, instead of using the phone's hotspot directly. Used when site WiFi is more reliable than the phone hotspot, or when the phone cannot create a hotspot. Both devices must be on the same network and frequency band.

C

• Camera Coloring Field

  The process of applying photographic color values from onboard cameras to the LiDAR point cloud. On the L2 Pro, coloring is applied during processing in LixelStudio. On the K2, color is fused with the point cloud in real time during scanning, so quality is visible in the field.

• Control Point Field

  A named anchor point marked in scan data using the device's control point function. Used for Map Fusion alignment and, on devices that support georeferencing, for absolute coordinate anchoring. Names must match exactly across segments that share the point, including capitalization, and must not be reused for different physical locations. On the PortalCam, control points connect segments during Map Fusion rather than georeference the model.

• Coordinate Transformation Advanced

  The LixelStudio processing module that applies RTK, PPK, or GCP data to place a point cloud in a real-world coordinate system. Selected as a module in the Project Processing sidebar. Mutually exclusive with High-Precision Optimization: a run either georeferences or runs that optimization, never both.

• CUDA Advanced

  NVIDIA's parallel-computing platform required by both LixelStudio and LCC Studio for GPU-accelerated processing. AMD and Intel discrete GPUs are not supported. Coloring is reported to require CUDA 11.6 or later; both published LixelStudio configurations already exceed that floor, so it affects only machines running below the published minimum.

D

• Direct Connect Field

  The default field-control connection method, in which the phone runs a hotspot and the scanner connects to it as a client. The scanner appears as a WiFi network named with a device-specific prefix, beginning PCAM for the PortalCam. Direct Connect is the primary connection mode for both LixelGO (L2 Pro, K2) and LCC Scan (PortalCam). Use simple hotspot names with no special characters or spaces.

• Drone Mode Advanced

  An operating mode available on the L2 Pro only. Allows the scanner to be mounted on a compatible DJI drone (M300 RTK, M350 RTK) for aerial scanning. The drone provides RTK positioning; the L2 Pro's own RTK module must be removed before flight. The K2 is handheld only and does not support drone mode.

F

• Field of View (FOV) Advanced

  The angular extent that the LiDAR senses around the scanner. L2 Pro is 360 by 270 degrees. K2 is 360 degrees horizontal by 59 degrees vertical (-7 to +52). PortalCam is 180 degrees azimuth by 180 degrees elevation, which is hemispheric rather than spherical; its camera array is what exceeds a full sphere. FOV determines coverage geometry and influences scan technique. Full values are in 10.7 Device Specifications.

• Fixed (RTK Status) Field

  The RTK status indicating a verified centimeter-level GNSS solution. Required for accurate georeferenced output. Float and Single Point status do not provide survey-grade accuracy. RTK must be Fixed during the overlap zone of each Map Fusion segment for connections to be valid.

• Float (RTK Status) Field

  An intermediate RTK status that indicates a partial solution. Position accuracy under Float is degraded compared to Fixed and is not survey-grade. Causes include weak satellite geometry, multipath interference, or insufficient communication with the correction source.

G

• GCP (Ground Control Point) Advanced

  A surveyed point on the ground used to constrain scan data to absolute coordinates and reduce drift. Marked physically using a target, then recorded as a control point in the scan. The published L2 Pro maximum interval is 328 ft (100 m). XGRIDS publishes no K2 interval; plan K2 control against the device's shorter working range rather than assuming a figure. See 10.8 Accuracy Reference.

• GNSS Advanced

  Global Navigation Satellite System. The umbrella term for satellite positioning systems including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. The L2 Pro and K2 both use multi-constellation receivers for better availability and accuracy.

H

• HD Enhancement Advanced

  An LCC Studio feature that uses supplementary photographs to improve texture quality in a defined area of a model. On the PortalCam, it requires a control point of the HD Enhancement type placed inside the enhancement area facing the target, with capture beginning directly above the point. Not available in Map Fusion mode.

• High-Precision Optimization Advanced

  A LixelStudio toggle on the Basic Parameters panel that further optimizes point cloud quality, improving overall display and detail clarity. It is mutually exclusive with Coordinate Transformation, so it applies to scans processed in relative coordinates with no RTK, PPK, or GCP. If the toggle is greyed out, uncheck the Coordinate Transformation module in the left sidebar; unchecking GCP or GNSS inside the panel is not enough. A georeferenced run cannot also use this option.

K

• K1 (Legacy) Basic

  The previous-generation XGRIDS handheld scanner, replaced in current production by the K2. No longer shipping. Firmware and software support continue for existing owners. Full legacy specifications are retained in 10.7 Device Specifications. Current-device guidance throughout this guide covers the L2 Pro, K2, and PortalCam.

L

• LCC Scan Basic

  The mobile field-control app for the PortalCam. Available on iOS and Android. LCC Scan does not connect to the L2 Pro or K2; those devices use LixelGO.

• LCC Studio Basic

  XGRIDS' desktop application for processing L2 Pro, K2, and PortalCam scan data into 3DGS reconstructions. Subscription-priced, Windows only, and requires an NVIDIA GPU with CUDA. The K2 runs all three reconstruction modes: Single Model, Map Fusion, and Aerial-Ground Map Fusion.

• LCC2 Advanced

  The successor to the LCC format: substantially smaller files, smoother rendering, and faster loading, with output as small as 8% of the equivalent PLY export. Each export uses one of two compression formats selected in the export dialog, SOG (smallest, the ecosystem default) or SPZ (Niantic and Scaniverse compatible). A single file never mixes both.

• LiDAR Basic

  Light Detection And Ranging. The active sensor technology that emits laser pulses and measures return time to determine distance to surfaces. The core measurement technology in all XGRIDS scanners.

• LIO Drift Advanced

  LiDAR-Inertial-Odometry drift. The accumulation of position error in the SLAM trajectory caused by insufficient loop closures, featureless environments, or high walking speed. Switching the processing Mode to Robust recovers many cases. Severe drift requires rescanning the affected segment.

• LixelGO Basic

  The mobile field-control app for the L2 Pro and K2. Handles device connection, scan control, RTK status, and field preview. Available on iOS and Android. LixelGO does not connect to the PortalCam.

• LixelStudio Basic

  XGRIDS' desktop application for processing L2 Pro and K2 scan data into measurable point clouds. Free with hardware purchase, Windows only, NVIDIA GPU required. Current releases add High-Precision Optimization, AI-powered filtering, photorealistic coloring, and Volume Calculation. Required for point cloud, BIM, and survey deliverables.

• Loop Closure Field

  The SLAM event where the scanner revisits a previously mapped area, allowing the algorithm to correct accumulated trajectory drift. An effective loop means returning with the device facing within roughly 40 degrees of the original line of sight; returning to the same spot facing the opposite way does not count. Frequent loop closures are the single highest-leverage field technique for accurate scans.

M

• Map Fusion Field

  The processing operation that joins multiple scan segments into a single coherent reconstruction. It exists in both pipelines and the limits differ. LixelStudio (L2 Pro and K2, point cloud output): up to 10 maps per fusion, each capture session under 20 minutes, no total-duration cap. LCC Studio (L2 Pro, K2, and PortalCam, 3DGS output): up to 10 segments, up to 35 minutes each, with a hard 200-minute combined cap. Both require shared control points or valid RTK in the overlap zones, and all segments must come from the same device type. Size a job against the pipeline that will process it.

N

• Narrow Space Advanced

  A LixelStudio processing Mode for tight, structurally constrained environments such as tunnels, mine shafts, and long corridors. Raises the success rate within approximately 1,640 ft (500 m). Beyond that, segment the run and join the parts with Map Fusion. Risks failure in ordinary interiors and exteriors, where Standard is the correct Mode.

• NTRIP Advanced

  Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol. The standard delivery method for RTK correction data over the internet, typically via cellular or hotspot. Configured in LixelGO using credentials provided by the correction source, such as a CORS network, state DOT, or commercial service.

P

• Pause Field

  No XGRIDS scanner can pause a scan. The L2 Pro, K2, and PortalCam all offer start and stop only, and stopping ends the recording and writes the project file. Pause exists in the software, in two distinct forms. LCC Studio can pause a reconstruction: the progress ring greys out, the job shows as Paused, and resuming continues from the breakpoint. LixelStudio can pause the live point cloud transmission in the Remote Transmission view, which pauses the stream to the workstation rather than the scan; data skipped during the pause is not saved in LixelStudio. Field guidance also uses the word in its plain sense, meaning stop walking, as in pausing at a doorway or at a control point target. To break a capture into pieces, use Map Fusion.

• POI (Point of Interest) Field

  One of the four PortalCam marker types, alongside Map Fusion, Aerial-Ground Map Fusion, and HD Enhancement. A POI is a reference label only: it records a location of interest in the project data, carries no alignment function, and cannot substitute for a control point in any fusion workflow.

• Point Cloud Basic

  A dataset of three-dimensional points representing the geometry of a scanned environment. Measurable to survey grade when properly georeferenced. Produced by LixelStudio. Exportable to LAS, LAZ, E57, RCP, PLY, and .ilas for BIM, AutoCAD, GIS, and other downstream platforms.

• PortalCam Basic

  XGRIDS' 3DGS-focused handheld scanner. Designed for visual fidelity rather than measured output. 96-channel LiDAR, four-camera array, 512 GB internal storage, roughly 60 minutes per battery. Runs on LCC Studio only. Does not produce point clouds and does not output absolute georeferenced coordinates. Rated for indirect sunlight only, and XGRIDS publishes no IP rating for it.

• Portrait Mode Field

  One of the four PortalCam scan modes, alongside NIGHT, INDOOR, and NATURE. Used for reconstructing a person rather than a space. Selected in the capture interface before scanning and cannot be applied afterward. The subject must hold still; posture and expression changes during capture produce reconstruction errors. See 7.2 Advanced Scanning Features.

• PPK (Post-Processed Kinematic) Advanced

  A GNSS positioning method in which raw satellite observations are logged on the device during capture, then corrected after the session using base-station observations. Used when real-time RTK is not available or unreliable. L2 Pro and K2 hardware supports RINEX logging for PPK workflows.

R

• Real-Time True-Color Rendering Basic

  A K2 feature in which the three onboard cameras fuse imagery with the LiDAR point cloud during scanning, so color quality is visible in the field rather than during processing. Differs from the L2 Pro pipeline, where color mapping is applied in LixelStudio after the scan.

• RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) Advanced

  A statistical measure of accuracy expressing the typical deviation between observed positions and a reference. Published RMSE figures from XGRIDS represent achievable results under defined field conditions, and each carries a condition such as a maximum RTK disconnection distance. Real-world results vary with environment, RTK status, and control strategy. See 10.8 Accuracy Reference.

• Robust Mode Advanced

  One of the options in the Mode dropdown on the LixelStudio Project Processing dialog, alongside Standard, Narrow Space, Vehicle, and UAV. Uses an alternative SLAM optimization to recover scans where Standard processing fails or reports LIO trajectory drift. It is a recovery step, not a first choice: switch to it after a Standard failure and before concluding the data is unrecoverable.

• RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) Basic

  A satellite-positioning technique that provides centimeter-level accuracy in real time using correction data from a base station or network. Required for georeferenced scan output. The L2 Pro uses an external RTK module. The K2 has UM980 RTK built in. XGRIDS offers no RTK option for the PortalCam, which does not output absolute georeferenced coordinates.

S

• Single Model (LCC Studio) Advanced

  The LCC Studio reconstruction mode that processes one scan segment into a 3DGS model without fusion. Supported on the L2 Pro, K2, and PortalCam. K2 single-model reconstruction accepts up to 90 minutes of data as a software ceiling, though workstation memory limits practical scan length well below that.

• SLAM Basic

  Simultaneous Localization and Mapping. The algorithm that builds a map of the environment while tracking the scanner's position within it as you move. SLAM is what allows handheld and mobile LiDAR to produce coherent point clouds without external positioning.

• Spatial Recognition Advanced

  An LCC Studio feature that detects and classifies common building elements such as walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and windows in scan data. Feeds the 3D Layout tool and the floor plan workflow. Device support is confirmed for the L2 Pro and PortalCam; K2 availability is not settled in current documentation and is not asserted here in either direction.

U

• UM980 Advanced

  The GNSS receiver module integrated into the K2 for built-in RTK. No external clip-on module is required, unlike the L2 Pro. Supports WGS84 and CGCS2000. The K2 ships ready for georeferenced scanning without any additional accessory.

V

• Volume Calculation Advanced

  A LixelStudio tool that computes volumetric measurements from point cloud data, with a companion Volume Comparison that compares two scan epochs. Used for stockpile measurement, earthwork progress tracking, and as-built versus design comparisons. Comparison requires registered point clouds with a consistent base plane between the two periods.

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Check the FAQ at 10.2 FAQ for application-level questions, or the Troubleshooting Index at 10.3 Troubleshooting Index for symptom-based help. For terminology not covered here or in other modules, contact Alpine Reality Capture.