7.2 Advanced Scanning Features
Control point marking, measurement point collection, the pause function, and battery swapping all follow specific sequences. Skipping steps or performing them out of order produces incomplete data, failed fusions, or file corruption.
Control Point Marking
Control points are in-scan markers that serve two distinct purposes: anchoring segments to a shared coordinate reference for Map Fusion, and improving spatial consistency between maps in multi-scan projects. The PortalCam control point workflow is different from the K1/L2 Pro workflow in one key respect: the PortalCam must be placed on the tripod and set down at the control point location, not held in hand.
Prerequisites
Control point marking on the PortalCam requires LCC Scan App version 1.2.0_p1 or later and firmware version V3.2.3-20251104.144651 or later. If either is out of date, the control point button will not function as expected. Check firmware version in the LCC Scan device status panel before beginning any project that requires control points.
Control Point Marking Procedure
Select the control point location
Choose a location with good ambient lighting, clear surface texture, and an unobstructed open area around it. Avoid corners, narrow passages, and areas with direct harsh lighting on the device camera. The PortalCam cameras need clear visibility of the surrounding geometry to record useful orientation data at the point.
Deploy the PortalCam tripod and place the device stably on it
Set the PortalCam on the tripod at the control point location. The device must be stable and not rocking or wobbling. Avoid placing the tripod on soft ground or uneven surfaces where it could shift during the marking procedure.
Tap the control point button in LCC Scan
Tap the control point icon in the scanning interface. A dialog appears prompting you to enter the point name and select the type (Map Fusion or Aerial-Ground Map Fusion). Enter the name exactly as it will appear in matching segments. Names are case-sensitive. A control point named Map1A in one segment and map1a in another will not be recognized as the same point.
Confirm and tap Add
Review the name and type, then tap Add. The app confirms the point has been added successfully with an on-screen message.
Do not power off within 5 seconds of adding the point
After tapping Add, the device needs 5 seconds to complete writing the control point data to the project file. Powering off or removing the battery within this window causes the control point record to be lost. The scan data continues to exist, but the control point will not appear in LCC Studio, and fusion dependent on it will fail.
Pick up the device and continue scanning
After the confirmation and the 5-second window, pick up the PortalCam from the tripod and resume scanning. The control point is now recorded in the project data.
Requirements for Control Points Used in Map Fusion
- Minimum 3 control points per segment that participates in Map Fusion
- Points must be distributed in an L-shaped pattern across the scan area, not in a straight line
- Minimum 33 ft (10 m) between any two control points
- Control points shared between segments must have identical names in both segments
- Shared point positions only need to be approximately consistent: within 1.5 ft (0.5 m) in horizontal distance, within 20 degrees of the same orientation, and within approximately 4 in (10 cm) in height
Photograph each control point location with your phone as you mark it. These reference photos let you find the exact position when beginning the next segment that needs to share the same points. A control point named Map2A placed 4 ft (1.2 m) from where it was in the first segment may still fall within the tolerance, but the photo removes ambiguity entirely.
Measurement Point Collection
Measurement points record the coordinates of a specific feature or location within the scan without affecting the scan geometry or triggering any fusion behavior. They are reference markers that appear in the project data after processing and can be used to label infrastructure, document specific features, or provide a spatial index of notable elements within a scanned area.
Labeling Conventions
Use consistent, descriptive names for measurement points. Since they appear in the processed project data and may be referenced in deliverables, unclear names create ambiguity later. A naming convention like Type_Location_Number works well: for example, Panel_B3_01 or Column_Lobby_04. Avoid special characters and spaces in point names.
Measurement points and control points are different functions in LCC Scan. Control points are used for fusion and accuracy. Measurement points are reference labels. Do not use measurement points as a substitute for control points in a Map Fusion workflow, as they serve no alignment function.
Using the Pause Function
The pause function suspends active scanning without ending the segment. The scan timer stops, the LiDAR stops capturing, and the device holds its current tracking state. Pausing is appropriate for short interruptions: waiting for people to clear an area, navigating through a temporary obstruction, or taking a moment to check your position on the route plan.
After Pausing: Re-establish a Loop Before Resuming
When you resume from pause, the SLAM algorithm picks up from the tracking state it held when you paused. To confirm that tracking is still valid before continuing into new territory, walk back through a small loop of previously scanned area before moving forward. This gives the system a chance to confirm its position against known geometry.
Long pauses can degrade tracking continuity. A pause of a few minutes is generally safe. An extended pause of 10 or more minutes in an environment where the scene has changed (people have moved, doors have opened or closed, lights have changed) may cause the SLAM algorithm to have difficulty re-establishing tracking from the paused state. For breaks that will exceed a few minutes, end the segment instead and start a new one.
Battery Swapping Mid-Scan
The PortalCam provides up to 60 minutes of scanning time per battery charge. Projects requiring more than one battery must plan the swap around the pause function and overlap collection for any segments that will be joined in Map Fusion.
Reach a suitable swap location before battery drops below 20%
A suitable swap location has good surrounding geometry for re-establishing tracking. A corridor intersection or a furnished room is better than a blank wall at the end of a hallway. Navigate there while battery is still above 20%.
Tap Pause in LCC Scan
Pause the scan at the swap location. The scan timer stops and data capture suspends.
Place the PortalCam on a stable surface
Set the device down on a flat, stable surface before removing the battery. Do not hold the device in one hand while removing the battery with the other.
Swap the battery
Remove the depleted battery and insert the charged replacement. The device should remain on and connected to LCC Scan throughout if the swap is completed quickly. If the device loses power during the swap, it will need to be reconnected and the scan will need to be restarted as a new segment.
Resume and re-establish loop closure
Tap Resume in LCC Scan. Walk back through previously scanned area before continuing into new territory. Walk at least one small loop of 33 to 50 ft (10 to 15 m) through geometry the SLAM has already captured to confirm tracking continuity before advancing.
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