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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.

Basic New to reality capture Field Workflow and field operations Advanced Positioning, processing, and integration

3 A B C D F G H L M N P R S U V

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.
Aerial-Ground Fusion Advanced
A combined-capture workflow that joins aerial imagery from a drone with ground-based scan data into a single reconstruction. On L2 Pro and K2 projects, aerial-ground fusion produces site-scale 3DGS models that combine outdoor coverage with interior detail. Requires LCC Scan v1.2.0_p1 or later and matching device firmware.
AI-Powered Filtering Advanced
A feature in LixelStudio v4.0 that uses machine-learning models to remove dynamic objects (moving people, vehicles) and to clean noisy or unreliable points from raw scan data. 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 model has known hotspot compatibility issues. 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 L2 Pro, coloring is applied during processing in LixelStudio. On K2, color is fused with the point cloud in real time during scanning. The K1 (legacy) used a four-camera onboard system applied during processing.
Control Point Field
A surveyed or named anchor point marked in scan data using the device's control-point function. Used for Map Fusion alignment, absolute coordinate anchoring, and accuracy improvement. Distinct from a measurement point, which is a reference label only. Control point names must match exactly (case-sensitive) across segments that share the point.
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. LixelStudio coloring requires CUDA 11.6 or higher.

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 (PCAMAAxxxx for PortalCam). Direct Connect is the primary connection mode for both LixelGO (L2 Pro, K2, K1) and LCC Scan (PortalCam).
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. K2 FOV is 360° horizontal by 59° vertical (-7° to +52°). L2 Pro FOV differs and is documented in 10.7 Device Specifications. FOV determines coverage geometry and influences scan technique (multi-height passes, tilt management).
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. L2 Pro GCP maximum spacing is 330 ft (100 m). K1 and K2 GCP maximum spacing is 165 ft (50 m).
GNSS Advanced
Global Navigation Satellite System. The umbrella term for satellite positioning systems including GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China). Modern multi-constellation receivers (including those in the L2 Pro and K2) use all four systems for better availability and accuracy.

H

High-Precision Optimization Advanced
A LixelStudio v4.0 toggle that runs a stricter SLAM optimization pass to improve absolute and relative accuracy. Increases processing time. Recommended for projects where measured deliverables (BIM, survey, GIS) are the priority.

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, K2, or K1. Those devices use LixelGO.
LCC Studio Basic
XGRIDS' desktop application for processing PortalCam, L2 Pro, and K1 scan data into 3DGS reconstructions. Subscription-priced. K2 support in LCC Studio v1.13 is limited to Single Model reconstruction and Spatial Recognition with a 90-minute single-scene cap. K2 is not supported in LCC Studio Map Fusion.
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. Robust Mode in LixelStudio recovers many cases. Severe drift requires rescanning the affected segment.
LixelGO Basic
The mobile field-control app for the L2 Pro, K2, and K1. 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, K2, and K1 scan data into measurable point clouds. Free with hardware purchase. Version 4.0 (May 2026) adds High-Precision Optimization, AI-powered filtering, photorealistic coloring, and Volume Calculation tools. 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. Frequent loop closures (returning to scanned geometry every 100 to 200 ft) 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. Available in both LixelStudio v4.0 (supporting L2 Pro, K2 with firmware v2.4.1+, and K1) and LCC Studio v1.13 (supporting L2 Pro and K1 only; K2 is excluded). Requires shared control points or valid RTK data in the overlap zones between segments.
Measurement Point Field
A named reference label placed in scan data during capture. Records coordinates of a feature for documentation purposes only. Measurement points do not affect scan geometry, do not anchor coordinate frames, and cannot substitute for control points in Map Fusion workflows.

N

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 (a CORS network, state DOT, or commercial service).

P

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, and PLY formats for BIM, AutoCAD, GIS, and other downstream platforms.
PortalCam Basic
XGRIDS' 3DGS-focused handheld scanner. Designed for visual fidelity rather than measured output. 512 GB internal eMMC storage. Runs on LCC Studio only. Does not produce point clouds and does not support absolute georeferencing.
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. Real-world results vary with environment, RTK status, and control strategy. See 10.8 Accuracy Reference for full discussion.
Robust Mode Advanced
A LixelStudio processing setting that uses an alternative SLAM optimization to recover scans where standard processing fails or shows drift. Slightly reduces absolute accuracy. Try Robust Mode before concluding a scan needs to be redone.
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 (absolute coordinate) scan output. The L2 Pro uses an external RTK module. The K2 has UM980 RTK built into the device. The PortalCam does not support absolute georeferencing.

S

Single Model (LCC Studio) Advanced
A LCC Studio v1.13 reconstruction mode for processing a single scan segment into a 3DGS model without fusion. The only LCC Studio mode that supports K2 input, with a 90-minute single-scene cap.
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
A LCC Studio feature that detects and classifies common building elements (walls, floors, ceilings, doors) in scan data. Available on K2 input in LCC Studio v1.13 with the 90-minute single-scene cap.

U

UM980 Advanced
The GNSS receiver module integrated into the K2 for built-in RTK functionality. Replaces the external clip-on RTK module used by the L2 Pro and K1. The K2 ships ready for RTK without any additional accessory.

V

Volume Calculation Advanced
A LixelStudio v4.0 tool that computes volumetric measurements from point cloud data and compares volumes between two scan epochs. Used for stockpile measurement, earthwork progress tracking, and as-built versus design comparisons.

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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 XGRIDS Technical Support directly.