7.2 Advanced Scanning Features

The Two-Phase Scanning Approach

PortalCam scanning produces the best reconstruction quality when treated as 2 distinct phases within the same scan session: scene scanning for overall environment coverage, followed by high-resolution scanning for local detail capture. Both phases happen within a single continuous scan segment. Do not stop and restart between them.

Phase 1: Scene Scanning (Overall Environment)

The goal of scene scanning is complete spatial coverage. Walk the entire environment using the standard scanning technique, with specific attention to these PortalCam requirements:

• Multi-height trajectories: Scan at low, chest-level, and overhead positions. A single height pass captures only a fraction of the surface area that the 3DGS reconstruction needs. For rooms with furniture, scan once at table height and once at standing height to capture both the tops of surfaces and the undersides
• Bidirectional coverage: Walk each major corridor or path in both directions. Forward and reverse passes on the same trajectory give the cameras different angles on the same surfaces, which produces significantly better texture quality in the final model
• Serpentine path for dense areas: Use an S-shaped weaving path in open rooms, lobbies, and wide corridors to increase perspective overlap. Straight single-line passes through large spaces leave coverage gaps between adjacent trajectories
• Front camera alignment: Keep the front camera facing the direction of travel. The front camera captures the highest resolution imagery. Surfaces that are only seen by the side panoramic cameras will have lower texture detail in the reconstruction
• Check all 4 camera views: Monitor all 4 camera feeds in LCC Scan periodically to confirm key objects remain in frame. If point cloud density appears low in any area, move closer and rescan that section
• Maintain proper distance: Keep approximately one arm's length from surfaces during general scanning. For highly reflective surfaces, increase to at least 1 meter. Too close reduces the camera's ability to match features across frames
• Speed control: Walk under 0.5 meters per second (1.6 feet per second) as a standard pace. Do not exceed 1 meter per second. In corridors, doorways, dim lighting, and corners, slow to 0.5 meters per second maximum

Phase 2: High-Resolution Scanning (Local Detail Capture)

After completing the scene pass, revisit specific areas that require higher detail. Point the front camera directly at the target surface and move slowly to capture close-range, multi-angle coverage. This phase is for signage, artwork, product displays, equipment labels, or any feature where text legibility or fine detail matters in the final model.

• Keep the front camera aimed at the subject. Side cameras do not produce sufficient resolution for detail capture
• Move in a slow arc around the subject to capture from multiple angles
• For pipelines and MEP systems, capture from multiple positions along the run. For ceiling pipes, point the camera directly upward and walk beneath them slowly. A single pass from one position captures only the surfaces facing you
• For text, nameplates, and fine labels, position the front lens close to the surface and move in a slow S-pattern across the text area. Staying still does not improve results. Steady lateral movement with the lens close to the target produces the sharpest text in the reconstruction
• Monitor the LCC Scan live camera feed to verify image clarity during HD scanning

Control Point Marking

Control points are in-scan markers that serve 2 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 differs from the K1/L2 Pro workflow in 1 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

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 10 meters 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 0.5 meters (20 in) in horizontal distance, within 20 degrees of the same orientation, and within approximately 10 cm (4 in) in height

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.

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.

Battery Swapping Mid-Scan

The PortalCam provides up to 60 minutes of scanning time per battery charge. Projects requiring more than 1 battery must plan the swap around the pause function and overlap collection for any segments that will be joined in Map Fusion.