Lixel L3
XGRIDS' high-accuracy spatial scanner: LiDAR, a 4K HDR camera system, integrated survey-grade RTK and a built-in display in one device. One capture produces a true-color point cloud, a mesh and an LCC 3DGS scene.
What the L3 Adds Over the L2 Pro
Map Fusion with no control points
L3 sessions are matched by region selection, so a multi-session job fuses without laying control points in advance.
L2 Pro: every segment links to its neighbor by RTK or by shared control points placed during the scan.
Survey-grade RTK built in
GNSS RTK at 0.8 cm + 1 ppm horizontal, 1.5 cm + 1 ppm vertical is part of the scanner. Nothing to attach before the job.
L2 Pro: RTK is an attachable module, Standard or Survey Grade, fitted before the session.
A display on the scanner
A 4.3-inch screen, up to 1,000 nits, shows the point cloud, trajectory and a real-time quality check while you scan.
L2 Pro: the scan is run and monitored from a phone.
True color from HDR cameras
The real-time true-color point cloud comes from 1/1.3-inch sensors with 4K HDR, which hold detail in bright exteriors and dim interiors.
L2 Pro: also colors in real time, from 1/2-inch cameras.
Filtering on the device
AI dynamic object removal and AI noise filtering run during capture, so people, vehicles and noise are cleared before the data leaves the site.
L2 Pro: dynamic object removal is a processing option in LixelStudio.
Control points from the survey pole
Control points are marked directly from a standard RTK survey pole, the pole most survey teams already own.
L2 Pro: control points are marked on the GCP Collection Base accessory.
Where the L2 Pro still leads: its 32-channel / 300 m configuration reaches 300 m (984 ft), and its handheld unit is lighter. Both are in the full comparison.
Where the L3 Fits, and Where the L2 Pro Still Wins
XGRIDS positions the L3 as its high-accuracy scanner. Against the L2 Pro, it publishes tighter accuracy and levelness figures, a larger camera sensor with HDR, and survey-grade RTK built in rather than attached. Point cloud thickness is effectively level: ≤ 5 mm on the L3 against 5 mm on the L2 Pro. The two devices' relative accuracy figures come from different tests, which the Accuracy section sets out.
The L3 does not lead on range. Both of its configurations, 16-channel / 120 m and 32-channel / 120 m, reach 120 m (394 ft). The L2 Pro's 32-channel / 300 m configuration reaches 300 m (984 ft), and there is no L3 equivalent.
Choose the L3 when:
- The deliverable depends on published accuracy and levelness, and you can state the conditions behind the figures to your client
- Image quality carries the deliverable: true-color point cloud, mesh and LCC 3DGS from a 1/1.3-inch sensor with 4K HDR
- You want survey-grade RTK built in and a display on the device, with no phone needed to run the scan
- You want to fuse sessions without laying control points in advance
- You already own standard RTK survey poles
Choose the L2 Pro when:
- The site needs range beyond 120 m (394 ft): the L2 Pro 32-channel / 300 m configuration covers it
The L3 does not replace the L2 Pro. The two lead on different things. On a job driven by standoff distance, the L2 Pro 32-channel / 300 m configuration is the one that reaches it.
L3 Accuracy and the Conditions Behind It
XGRIDS states the L3's 5 mm relative accuracy at 1 sigma, on a post-processed point cloud. It measured the figure indoors, in a dedicated 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) test environment, on a capture made without ground control points, by comparing distances in the point cloud with reference distances from a total station. The method and the dataset are in XGRIDS' Accuracy Verification White Paper.
The other figures use different statistics and conditions, and each is stated with its own below. Absolute accuracy and repeatability are RMSE under open sky with a clean GNSS view.
Relative Accuracy: Internal Geometry
Relative accuracy is how closely distances inside the point cloud match the real distances between the same points: a wall length, a floor-to-ceiling height, a pipe run. It governs measurement, drafting and Scan-to-BIM work where the model stands on its own. The L3's post-processed figure is 5 mm, and the point cloud straight off the device is 1 cm.
Absolute Accuracy: Position on Earth
Absolute accuracy is how closely the point cloud's coordinates match their true position in a survey coordinate system. It governs work that has to register with survey control, a GIS basemap or a site plan. With its built-in RTK the L3 reaches 2 cm RMSE under open sky, and 2.5 cm in real time. Canopy, adjacent structures and interiors weaken the satellite fix the figure depends on; the RTK section covers how to work with that.
Repeatability: Session-to-Session Consistency
Repeatability is how closely two captures of the same place agree. It governs progress monitoring and change detection, where a difference between two scans has to be a change on site rather than scanner noise. XGRIDS states 2 cm for the L3 under open sky.
Reading the L3 figure beside the L2 Pro's
The L3's 5 mm and the L2 Pro's 1 cm come from different tests. The L2 Pro manual states its figure as post-processed RMSE between two points less than 100 m (328 ft) apart. The L3 figure is 1 sigma inside an indoor test area of about 500 m². Treat them as two figures measured under different conditions until XGRIDS publishes both devices under one method.
Quote the L3 figure with its conditions. 5 mm without "post-processed, 1 sigma, indoor test environment" is a claim XGRIDS does not make. Put the conditions in any proposal or scope of work that states the number, and point the client to the white paper.
LiDAR, Camera, and Field Performance
LiDAR
| Specification | L3 |
|---|---|
| Configurations | 16-channel / 120 m and 32-channel / 120 m |
| Range | 0.7 m to 120 m (2.3 ft to 394 ft) |
| Point rate | 320,000 (16-channel) or 640,000 (32-channel) points per second |
| Field of view | 360° × 270° |
| Laser class | Class 1, 905 nm |
| Onboard storage | 1 TB UFS |
Camera System
The L3 carries three cameras on a 1/1.3-inch sensor: one forward camera with a 100° × 75° field of view and two panoramic cameras at 200° × 200° each, all at 4096 × 3072 with a rolling shutter. 4K HDR uses DCG HDR, which extends the sensor's dynamic range. XGRIDS states the imagery holds detail in highlights and shadows and in low light, and that the same image quality carries into the true-color point cloud, the mesh and the LCC 3DGS result.
Local enhancement lets you select priority areas for more spatial detail, keeping reconstruction time and file size under control for the rest of the dataset.
The L2 Pro also carries two panoramic cameras, at 2 × 48 MP and 190° × 190°. Its third camera is a different sensor doing a different job: a 1 MP global-shutter visual positioning camera with a 190° × 119° field of view.
Field Readiness
| Specification | L3 |
|---|---|
| Built-in display | 4.3-inch TFT, up to 1,000 nits, 480 × 800Runs the scan with no phone connected and shows the point cloud, trajectory and coverage live, with a real-time quality check. |
| Battery | 14.4 V, 3,350 mAh100 minutes total operating time. |
| Weight | About 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)Including battery. |
| Dimensions | 8.1 × 4.2 × 13.0 in (206 × 107 × 329 mm) |
| Protection | IP54 |
| Operating temperature | -4 °F to 122 °F (-20 °C to 50 °C) |
| Mounting | Handheld and backpack, plus standard RTK survey polesControl points are marked directly from the pole. Vehicle mount in development; drone mount in development for the DJI Matrice 400. |
The gaps a coverage check would find back at the office show up on the display before you leave site, which is where a missed room costs the least to fix.
What the L3 Processes During Capture
XGRIDS lists these as real-time features on the device:
- AI dynamic object removal, which filters people and vehicles as you scan
- AI noise filtering
- True-color point cloud during capture
- Vision-aided positioning, with levelness optimization to keep large scenes level
On the device you can also preview the model and POI panoramas and take measurements on the model. XGRIDS states the real-time point cloud is ready to export and measure when the scan ends, at 1 cm (0.4 in) relative and 2.5 cm (1.0 in) absolute accuracy, and that work needing 5 mm should use the post-processed cloud.
One Capture, Three Outputs, and How Sessions Fuse
One L3 capture produces a true-color point cloud, a mesh and a photorealistic LCC 3DGS scene. XGRIDS lists these output formats: point cloud .las, .rcp, .e57, .ply, .ilas; mesh .osgb and .obj; 3DGS .lcc2, .lcc and .ply; 3D Tiles (.3tz) and .usd; imagery .jpg.
- Scan-to-BIM. Point clouds for measurement, drawing extraction, CAD drafting and BIM. XGRIDS also makes LCC for Revit, covered in 9.6 LCC Revit Plugin.
- Film and simulation. LCC 3DGS reaches Unreal Engine through the LCC Plugin for UE, and extends to NVIDIA Isaac Sim.
- Custom pipelines. Open SDKs, plugins and Creator Data.
- Processing extras. PPK post-processing, stockpile volume calculation and comparison, point cloud overlay, and stable mapping for tunnels and other low-feature environments, all in LixelStudio.
Map fusion
XGRIDS lists two routes for fusing multi-session L3 captures in LixelStudio: fusion constrained by control points, and control-point-free map fusion, which matches sessions by region selection with no control points laid in advance. LixelStudio also runs multi-session fusion and adjustment.
No control points required. The L3 does not require control points for Map Fusion, in LixelStudio or in LCC Studio. Capture the usual overlap between sessions, since the overlapping area is the region that gets matched. Use RTK or shared control points when the fused result must sit in a survey coordinate system.
LixelStudio: Three Perpetual Licenses Included
Every L3 package includes three perpetual licenses to LixelStudio, XGRIDS' point cloud processing platform. Perpetual means you own the licenses, with no subscription fees and no renewals. Install on up to three workstations to support team-based processing.
LixelStudio takes the raw L3 capture through trajectory optimization, applies RTK and control data, fuses sessions, and exports to the formats downstream tools read.
| Capability | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| SLAM optimization | Corrects trajectory drift and tightens geometry across the dataset. It is the step between the 1 cm real-time point cloud and the 5 mm post-processed result. |
| RTK, PPK and control points | Applies real-world coordinates so the point cloud registers with survey control, GIS basemaps and design models. PPK post-processing covers a job where the real-time fix was not held. |
| Map fusion | Combines sessions into one project, which is what makes campus-scale and multi-day capture practical: up to 10 maps per fusion, each session under 20 minutes per segment. L3 sessions are matched by region selection, so no control points are needed to fuse them. |
| Noise and object filtering | AI noise filtering and dynamic object removal already run on the L3 during capture. LixelStudio clears what remains before export, which cuts manual cleanup in AutoCAD, Revit and other downstream tools. |
| Face and license plate blurring | Detected and blurred automatically during post-processing, replacing frame-by-frame masking before street, campus and other public-space data is shared. |
| Export formats | Point cloud .las, .rcp, .e57, .ply, .ilas; mesh .osgb and .obj; 3DGS .lcc2, .lcc and .ply; 3D Tiles (.3tz) and .usd; imagery .jpg. |
LCC Studio
The L3 feeds both LixelStudio and LCC Studio from one capture: LixelStudio for measurement-grade point clouds, mesh and fusion, LCC Studio for photorealistic Gaussian Splat walkthroughs of the same project.
LCC Studio ships in two tiers. Basic is included with every scanner purchase and covers a complete single-session workflow through to web publishing. Premium is $2,500 per year, or $10,000 once for a perpetual license, adding Map Fusion, Aerial-Ground Map Fusion, HD Enhancement, Spatial Recognition and the open export formats.
Field Use Notes
None of these is unique to the L3. Each one degrades color or tracking, and each has a working approach.
| Consideration | How to manage it |
|---|---|
| Sun positionDirect sun in the camera frame causes lens flare and can affect visual positioning. It affects every scanner with panoramic cameras. | Keep the sun behind or to the side on outdoor segments, and plan routes that keep it out of the camera direction. Overcast days give the cleanest color; on sunny days, early morning and late afternoon give a low, predictable sun angle. The LiDAR measures geometry independently of camera exposure, so direct sun degrades color, not measurement accuracy. |
| Lighting transitionsThe cameras take a moment to adjust between bright exteriors and dim interiors. | Slow down through doorways between very different lighting, and turn the scanner sideways through the threshold so the cameras capture both sides. Switch on interior lights before scanning into a space. |
| Weather and IP54Dust-protected and resistant to water splashes from any direction, operating from -4 °F to 122 °F (-20 °C to 50 °C). | Work through dust, light spray and the damp conditions normal on active construction sites. Pause for active rain: splash protection does not cover a sustained downpour, and rain refracts the laser and degrades the data whatever the device rating. Wipe the LiDAR cover and camera lenses before resuming. |
Full field technique guidance is in the Field Technique reference in the XGRIDS Pro Guide, including route planning, scanning posture, environmental handling and turning technique.
Built-In Survey-Grade RTK
RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) satellite positioning ties the scan to real-world coordinates. Without it the point cloud has accurate internal geometry in its own local frame, but no position on Earth, so it cannot register with survey control, coordinate-referenced design files or GIS.
On the L3, survey-grade GNSS RTK is part of the scanner. There is no module to choose, buy or fit before a session, and every L3 can georeference from the first scan. XGRIDS states 0.8 cm + 1 ppm horizontal, 1.5 cm + 1 ppm vertical, with a 4.0 dBi peak-gain antenna. RTK fusion also sets levelness: 0.005° with it, 0.02° without.
| RTK | L3 | L2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Built in, survey-grade | Attachable Standard or Survey-Grade module |
| Purchase | Included with every L3 | Bought as an add-on, or in the Full Package |
| Before a session | Nothing to fit | Attach the module for the site's sky conditions |
Coordinate systems. XGRIDS states real-time coordinate conversion supports WGS 84 and CGCS2000 only. A project on NAD83 or a state plane system needs the transformation in processing.
Sky view still decides the fix. The survey-grade antenna holds a fix in more places, but canopy, adjacent structures and interiors still weaken it. Start and end outdoor segments under open sky, and use control points or PPK where a site will not hold a fixed solution.
Channel and Range Configurations
The L3 comes in two configurations, 16-channel / 120 m and 32-channel / 120 m, at 320,000 (16-channel) or 640,000 (32-channel) points per second. Both reach the same maximum range, so the choice is density rather than reach. The higher channel count doubles the point rate, which produces denser clouds, cleaner surfaces and better performance outdoors and at higher walking speeds, the same pairing as the L2 Pro's two 120 m configurations.
Package Options
The L3 is sold as one package. Both configurations, 16-channel / 120 m and 32-channel / 120 m, are available in it. Survey-grade RTK is built into the scanner, so unlike the L2 Pro there is no package tier to choose for positioning: every L3 georeferences out of the box.
L3 Package
The complete scanning system, survey-grade RTK built in
Everything needed to scan, georeference and process from the first day.
- L3 scanner (your choice of configuration)
- Two batteries
- Base mount and charging hub
- Protective cover, USB-C cable, cleaning cloth
- Portable hard case with backpack system
- Survey-grade RTK, built in
- Three perpetual LixelStudio licenses
- LCC Studio Basic
- 1-year warranty
Exact package contents will be announced soon. This list follows the L2 Pro Standard Package and what XGRIDS lists as standard with the L3, and it will be updated when the final contents are released.
Prices are in the store, not on this page. Every Alpine buying guide works this way, so a page cannot drift from what you are actually charged. Configuration, package and current pricing are on the store page.
Available Accessories
All L3 accessories will be announced soon. None is needed to start scanning: the package above scans, georeferences and processes on its own. These are known now:
Support Rig
Optional. Carries the scanner's weight on long sessions, so the operator steadies the L3 rather than holding it up.
Drone Mount In development
An L3 drone mount is in development for the DJI Matrice 400.
Standard RTK Survey Pole
Not an extra purchase for most survey teams: the L3 fits the standard RTK survey poles you already own, and control points are marked directly from the pole.
What Your Processing Workstation Needs
LixelStudio (included) and, optionally, LCC Studio run on Windows and need an NVIDIA GPU. AMD and Intel graphics are not supported.
LixelStudio (Point Cloud Processing)
LixelStudio is included with the L3 and is the primary tool for point cloud, mesh and fusion output.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or 11, Professional or Home | Windows 10 or 11, Professional or Home |
| CPU | Intel i7 11th generation | Intel i9 12th generation |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher | NVIDIA RTX 3070 or higherColoring requires CUDA 11.6 or later. |
| RAM | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Storage | 1 TB | 1 TB SSDKeep projects on an SSD separate from the OS drive, with free space of at least 5 times the size of the original project folder. |
LCC Studio (Gaussian Splatting, Optional)
If you add LCC Studio for photorealistic walkthroughs from the same capture, size the workstation to LCC Studio. Its graphics and memory needs rise with the length of the capture and with Map Fusion, and a workstation built for LCC Studio runs LixelStudio as well.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 19H1 or later |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 3060 12 GB or NVIDIA Quadro RTX A4000 16 GB minimumNVIDIA RTX 3090 or better for Map Fusion. |
| RAM | 64 GB minimumHandles about 30 minutes of capture data in a single scan. Recommended: 128 GB for large models of 150 minutes or more at high quality. |
| Storage | at least 120 GB of available spaceRecommended: SSD with at least 240 GB available, with at least twice the capture size in free space while reconstructing. |
L3 vs. L2 Pro
L3 figures are from XGRIDS' public L3 specification. L2 Pro figures are from the L2 Pro manual. Not stated means the L2 Pro manual gives nothing for that row; it does not mean the L2 Pro lacks the feature. Not yet published means XGRIDS has not stated the L3 figure.
| Specification | L3 | L2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| LiDAR configurations | 16-channel / 120 m and 32-channel / 120 m | 16-channel / 120 m, 32-channel / 120 m and 32-channel / 300 m |
| Maximum range | 120 m (394 ft)From 0.7 m (2.3 ft). | 120 m (394 ft) or 300 m (984 ft), by configuration |
| Point rate | 320,000 (16-channel) or 640,000 (32-channel) points per second | 320,000 (16-channel) or 640,000 (32-channel) points per second |
| LiDAR field of view | 360° × 270° | 360° × 270° |
| Laser class | Class 1, 905 nm | Class 1, 905 nm |
| RTK | Built in, survey-grade0.8 cm + 1 ppm horizontal, 1.5 cm + 1 ppm vertical; 4.0 dBi peak gain. | Attachable Standard or Survey RTK module |
| Built-in display | 4.3-inch, up to 1,000 nits | Not stated |
| Camera sensor | 1/1.3-inch | 1/2-inch |
| Cameras | One forward, 100° × 75°; two panoramic, 200° × 200°All at 4096 × 3072. | Two panoramic, 2 × 48 MP, 190° × 190°Plus a 1 MP global-shutter visual positioning camera, 190° × 119°. |
| HDR | 4K HDR, DCG HDR | Not stated |
| Relative accuracy | 5 mm (0.2 in)Post-processed, 1 sigma, dedicated 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) indoor test environment. | 1 cm (0.4 in) RMSEPost-processed, between two points less than 100 m (328 ft) apart. |
| Absolute accuracy | 2 cm (0.8 in) RMSEHorizontal and vertical, open sky. | 3 cm (1.2 in) RMSEPost-processed, with control points or RTK, disconnection under 100 m (328 ft). |
| Repeatability | 2 cm (0.8 in) | 2 cm (0.8 in) RMSE |
| Real-time relative accuracy | 1 cm (0.4 in) | 2 cm (0.8 in) RMSE |
| Real-time absolute accuracy | 2.5 cm (1.0 in) RMSE | 3 cm (1.2 in) RMSE |
| Point cloud thickness | ≤ 5 mm (≤ 0.2 in) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Levelness, with RTK fusion | 0.005° | 0.015° |
| Levelness, without RTK fusion | 0.02° | Not stated |
| Weight | About 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)Including battery. | 3.7 lb (1.7 kg)Handheld unit without battery. |
| Dimensions | 8.1 × 4.2 × 13.0 in (206 × 107 × 329 mm) | 7.1 × 5.1 × 15.7 in (180 × 130 × 400 mm)Including battery and base. |
| Storage | 1 TB UFS | 1 TB SSD |
| Operating time | 100 minutes | 1.5 hours |
| Maximum single capture | Not yet published | 90 minutesA firmware limit on one recording. |
| IP rating | IP54 | IP54 |
| Operating temperature | -4 °F to 122 °F (-20 °C to 50 °C) | -4 °F to 122 °F (-20 °C to 50 °C) |
| Mount options | handheld and backpack, plus standard RTK survey polesVehicle mount in development; drone mount in development for the DJI Matrice 400. | handheld, backpack, vehicle and drone |
| Control point collection | From a standard RTK survey pole | GCP Collection Base accessory |
| Extension pole | Fits standard RTK survey poles | 6.6 ft (2 m) extension pole accessory |
| Support rig | Optional accessory | Not stated |
| Control-point-free map fusion | Supported in LixelStudio and LCC Studio | Not stated |
| Face and license plate blurring | Automatic, in LixelStudio | Not stated |
The weights measure different bundles. The L3 figure includes its battery. The L2 Pro manual weighs the handheld unit without a battery. Compare like with like before you plan a full day of handheld capture around either number.
©2026 Alpine Reality Capture LLC • XGRIDS Pro Guide™ • Site Disclaimer