3DR’s latest autonomous flight mode, Vertical Scan, allows users to track important construction details in real time by safely and reliably scanning vertical facades like mine walls, bridges, and buildings. Launched within their platform, Site Scan, Vertical Scan makes it easy to collect project details floor-by-floor and apply them quickly to high-resolution maps and data models — something that was only possible before with manual data entry.
Maps and performant data visualizations are central to Site Scan’s interface. Our Mapbox Satellite styles provide geographical context for site analytics, and the SceneKit SDK provides a 3D visual to plan and track flights across multiple stories in Site Scan’s iPad application. Site Scan also uses GL JS on the web for smooth rendering.
Using Mapbox we’re able to share maps and models across our iOS and web apps, which our customers use to plan flights all over the world. Most recently we launched an autonomous flight mode, Vertical Scan, for flying [drones around] vertical structures like towers, buildings, bridges, and dams. We used Mapbox’s SceneKit SDK to plan flights in 3D for the first time. This increases confidence and reduces risk when planning complex, autonomous flights. — Jess Lam, Director of Product, 3DR
Building with the SceneKit SDK
We’ve made the SceneKit SDK open and publicly available, so 3DR was also able to fork the SDK and customize functionality for their specific needs.
Site Scan customers need the most up-to-date satellite imagery when starting new construction and mining projects. For 3DR’s product and engineering teams, the Mapbox platform makes managing and visualizing geospatial data easy. Mapbox also acts as a partner to 3DR, who we work with on innovative new features. Site Scan is entirely map-based, which means that we need to work closely with our map provider to maintain and grow our product. Mapbox has been that partner for 3DR and we’re excited to continue evolving our products with them. — Jess Lam, Director of Product, 3DR
Start building
Download the SceneKit SDK and get started with this training, or take a test drive of 3DR’s Site Scan with a free trial.
Looking to help your customers better track and analyze real-time data? Talk with our team about the unique requirements for your app.
Manage project sites in 3D with Site Scan was originally published in Points of interest on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.