XGRIDS Pro Guide™ / Module 8: LixelStudio

8.2 Importing and Processing a Single Scan

Step-by-step procedure for transferring raw scan data, configuring a LixelStudio project, selecting SLAM mode, and running the processing pipeline through to completion.

Section 1

Transferring Data to the Workstation

The L2 Pro stores scan data on its internal 1 TB SSD. The K1 stores data on a swappable TF card (up to 256 GB). Both devices connect to the workstation via USB for data transfer.

Before Opening LixelStudio
  • Copy the full scan folder to your workstation NVMe SSD, not to an external drive or network location. LixelStudio must be able to read and write project data at full SSD speed throughout the processing run.
  • Keep the original data on the device until processing is verified. Do not delete device files immediately after copying. Storage is not expensive relative to the cost of a return site visit.
  • Confirm you have at least 3x the raw scan folder size in free space on the destination drive. LixelStudio writes substantial intermediate data during processing.
  • For Insta360 coloring files, open in Insta360 Studio and verify the recording is in timelapse format, at least 3 minutes in duration, and at 6K resolution before placing the files in the project folder.
  • Set Windows Power and Sleep to Never before starting the first project. This must be done before every machine restart that precedes a processing run.
Section 2

Creating and Configuring the Project

  1. Open LixelStudio and create a new project. Give the project a name that is 20 characters or shorter. The project name becomes the export filename in some formats, and filenames longer than 20 characters cause silent failure in E57 and LAS-to-RCP conversion.
  2. Import the raw scan folder. LixelStudio will read the device type from the folder contents and configure itself accordingly. Do not rename or restructure the folder before importing.
  3. Select the SLAM Mode. Use Robust Mode for most environments. Use None Mode only on scans from stable, feature-rich environments with no motion artifacts. Use Narrow Scene Mode only for tunnels or long corridors over 500 meters.
  4. Set the coordinate system if georeferencing data is present. Select the correct target projection (UTM zone, State Plane, or national system) before processing. Coordinate system cannot be changed after the SLAM run completes without reprocessing.
  5. Configure point density. Higher density produces more detail but larger files and longer processing times. Standard density is appropriate for most AEC deliverables.
  6. If using Insta360 color data, add the video file now before starting the processing run. Color mapping is configured as part of the same processing job, not as a separate step.
  7. Start processing and do not interrupt. Close all other applications. Terminate background processes that consume significant RAM. Do not allow the machine to sleep.
Section 3

Monitoring Progress and Detecting Errors

LixelStudio displays a progress indicator during SLAM optimization. The processing report generated at completion describes any issues encountered. If the run fails, the report includes the specific failure mode.

If processing fails, try Robust Mode before concluding the data is unrecoverable. Many failures in None Mode succeed in Robust Mode. If Robust Mode also fails, the report will describe the specific cause. At that point, submitting the poses.csv file to XGRIDS technical support is the correct next step. Do not attempt further troubleshooting without the report.

Common Failure Modes

Error
Likely Cause
First Step
SLAM optimization failure, insufficient effective points
Point cloud drift from poor scanning technique, or insufficient feature density during scan
Re-run in Robust Mode. If still failing, the field data may not be recoverable.
Coloring crash
Wrong video format (not timelapse), duration under 3 minutes, unsupported GPU, outdated CUDA or driver
Verify LixelStudio v2.5.2.1+, CUDA 11.6+, 20-series GPU, timelapse format, 3+ min duration in Insta360 Studio.
Timeout error at any stage
Power settings not set to Never, background processes consuming RAM
Set Power & Sleep to Never. Open Task Manager and terminate background applications. Restart processing.
RTK marked Fixed during scan but LixelStudio reports RTK invalid
Fewer than 10 satellites visible, less than 10m of movement while Fixed, RTK antenna tilt over 20 degrees
Verify these three conditions were met in the field. If not, reprocess without RTK and use GCPs instead.
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