PortalCam
A spatial capture camera that turns real spaces into navigable, photorealistic 3D environments. Walk through a building, then send anyone a link to walk through it themselves.
What the PortalCam Is Built For
The PortalCam is a visualization-driven mobile capture system. Its 96-channel LiDAR and four-camera array build a textured, photorealistic 3D model of everything around it as you walk through a space. The output is a 3D Gaussian Splat (3DGS) model that anyone can navigate in a browser without specialized software.
That output type changes how you communicate about physical spaces. A client who has never opened a CAD program can walk through a building before it exists, after it is built, or as it changes. The relevant tradeoff is that the PortalCam is built for visual fidelity, not for measurement. It does not produce point clouds in any configuration and does not register to real-world coordinates. If your work requires measured deliverables for BIM or survey, the K1 or L2 Pro is the right tool, and either can be paired with LCC Studio to produce visual walkthroughs from the same scan data.
Where It Performs Best
Building interiors, mixed interior environments with shaded outdoor transitions, and projects where the deliverable is a visual walkthrough rather than measured data. Real estate interior tours, architectural design context, construction interior progress documentation, facilities walkthroughs, and any project where stakeholders need to understand a space without being on site.
Outdoors, the PortalCam performs well in shaded areas, on overcast days, and during early morning or late afternoon when sun position is predictable. Direct sunlight is a normal field consideration for any panoramic-camera scanner. See Field Use Notes below for working approaches.
The PortalCam works exclusively with LCC Studio. A one-year subscription is included with every package. Basic tier ships with the PortalCam Basic package; Premium tier ships with the PortalCam Premium package. After year one, renewal is required to continue using the software.
Understanding PortalCam Accuracy
PortalCam accuracy is described two ways. Both describe internal geometry, since the PortalCam does not produce georeferenced coordinates.
Relative Accuracy: Internal Geometry
How precisely the scan represents the actual dimensions of the captured space. This is what matters for spatial scale, navigability, and visual proportion in the resulting 3D environment.
Repeat Accuracy: Session-to-Session Consistency
If you scan the same space on different days, the datasets will align within this tolerance. Useful for change documentation and visual progress comparison in interior environments.
The PortalCam does not produce absolute coordinates. It cannot be georeferenced through RTK or ground control point workflows. The output is a visual model intended for spatial understanding and presentation, not engineering measurement. For projects requiring dimensional accuracy, BIM source data, or coordinate-system registration, the K1 (indoor and short-range outdoor) or L2 Pro (indoor and outdoor) is the appropriate tool.
LiDAR, Camera Array, and Field Performance
LiDAR
Camera Array
Field Readiness
LCC Scan and LCC Studio
The PortalCam uses LCC Scan as its mobile field app and LCC Studio as the desktop processing software. LCC Scan controls scanning, manages connection, marks control points, and provides real-time preview on iOS and Android. LCC Studio runs on Windows and processes raw scan data into 3D Gaussian Splat models for visualization, editing, and web sharing.
LCC Studio is subscription-based, not perpetual. Every PortalCam package includes a one-year subscription to either Basic or Premium depending on the package selected. After year one, renewal is required to continue using the software.
Premium is required when capture sessions span multiple battery changes (Map Fusion), when the project exceeds a single segment, or when you need the Revit plugin or SDK access. If you start with PortalCam Basic and later need Premium capabilities, XGRIDS offers an upgrade option that converts the remaining Basic period to Premium without adding subscription time.
Field Use Notes
Three normal considerations for getting the best results from the PortalCam in the field. None are unique to this device. Each comes with a working approach.
Full field technique guidance for the PortalCam is in the PortalCam Field Guide within the XGRIDS Pro Guide. Includes route planning, control point procedure, lighting handling, and connection troubleshooting.
Package Options
Both packages include the PortalCam camera and a one-year warranty. The difference is the included LCC Studio license tier and whether Map Fusion is supported.
PortalCam Basic
Single-session capture with Basic LCC Studio
The complete starting system for straightforward visual capture workflows that fit within a single scan session.
- PortalCam camera
- 2 batteries
- Charger
- Tripod
- Protective cover
- Backpack with protective insert
- 1-year subscription to LCC Studio Basic
- 1-year warranty
Best for: Single-property real estate, interior documentation, and capture sessions that fit within a single recording.
PortalCam Premium Popular
Multi-segment capture with Premium LCC Studio
Everything in PortalCam Basic plus the Premium LCC Studio subscription. Unlocks Map Fusion for projects that exceed a single battery session, Aerial-Ground Map Fusion, large dataset handling, and the full set of advanced features.
- Everything in PortalCam Basic
- 1-year subscription to LCC Studio Premium ($2,500 value)
Best for: Multi-floor buildings, large commercial properties, clients requiring advanced deliverables, and any workflow where the Basic license limits would be reached.
If your projects regularly exceed a single battery session or require Map Fusion across multiple segments, the Premium package is the right choice from day one. Upgrading mid-subscription is supported, but the remaining Basic time converts to Premium without adding additional time, so starting with Premium is the better value when the capability is known to be needed.
PortalCam, K1, or L2 Pro
The three XGRIDS scanners serve different deliverable types. Match the tool to the output your project requires.
PortalCam
Choose when the deliverable is a visual walkthrough rather than measured data. Best for interior environments and shaded outdoor work. Output is photorealistic 3D Gaussian Splat models for browser-based exploration.
Software: LCC Studio only. No point cloud output.
Lixel K1
Choose when you need point cloud output and your work is primarily indoor with short-range outdoor (under 130 ft / 40 m). Same dual-software pipeline as the L2 Pro, lighter and more compact. Supports RTK for georeferenced output.
Lixel L2 Pro
Choose for full outdoor capability, large-scale projects, mixed indoor and outdoor sites, or any work requiring measured point clouds with georeferenced accuracy. Range up to 985 ft (300 m) on the 32/300 model. Supports RTK and ground control workflows.
The K1 and L2 Pro can both feed LCC Studio as well as LixelStudio. If your work requires both measurement-grade point clouds and visual walkthroughs from the same site visit, either device produces both outputs from one capture session.
What Your Processing Workstation Needs
The PortalCam captures data in the field. LCC Studio processes that data on your computer. LCC Studio runs on Windows only and requires an NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support. AMD graphics cards are not supported.
Full LCC Studio specifications, processing time estimates, and laptop guidance are in the LCC Studio Buying Guide.