Why “±1 mm Accuracy” in 3D LiDAR Scanning Doesn’t Mean What You Think
3D LiDAR Scanning If you’ve ever looked at a scanner brochure and seen “±1 mm accuracy” , it’s easy to assume every measurement from that scanner will fall neatly inside one millimetre. But anyone working in engineering, mining, fabrication or construction knows reality is rarely that simple — especially when it comes to 3D LiDAR scanning . Recently, I published a deep-dive article that explains what FARO’s accuracy claims really mean in real-world conditions, including: Why ±1 mm only applies to one part of the scanner How distance affects point-cloud accuracy Why some surfaces produce clean data and others don’t How environmental conditions like wind, heat shimmer and dust can shift results Why registration — not the scanner — determines final accuracy When you can rely on millimetre-level precision (and when you can’t) If you rely on 3D LiDAR scanning for retrofit design, fabrication planning, engineering, surveying or as-built documentation, this is ess...