Completing Surveys Solely with 3D Point Clouds: A Private Company's New Challenge in Point Cloud Utilization

## Completing Surveys Solely with 3D Point Clouds: A Private Company's New Challenge in Point Cloud Utilization
### The Walls Overcome by a Pioneer in 3D Point Cloud Surveying and the New Business Development They Are Tackling

Is it possible to complete surveying operations using a 3D point cloud scanner without using a total station?

There is a pioneer company in 3D point cloud surveying that has concluded, "It is possible," to this question.
This time, we interviewed Mr. Minowa (left) from the Technical Team of the Survey Tech Business Unit and Mr. Sato, Manager of the DX Solution Department (right) at JFD Engineering Co., Ltd., with whom our organization (General Incorporated Association Real Estate Inspection and Guarantee Organization REIWS) cooperates on technical matters.

(General Incorporated Association Real Estate Inspection and Guarantee Organization REIWS) is a general incorporated association that operates the "Point Cloud Surveyor Qualification Exam" for point cloud surveying technicians.
[Image: Mr. Minowa (left) and Mr. Sato (right)]
JFD Engineering Co., Ltd., which handles approximately 6,000 surveying projects annually, mainly for detached houses, using 3D scanner point cloud surveying, was founded as a surveying company and has grown through its soil investigation and soil improvement business. From this, the desire was born: "JFD's origin lies in the surveying business. We want to create new value in the surveying field." From there, the company began working company-wide to develop "new surveying."

## The Trigger for Introducing 3D Point Cloud Surveying
[Could you tell us about the trigger that led you to introduce 3D point cloud surveying?]
"Originally, we conducted surveys using a total station (hereinafter referred to as TS), but it required a team of two people to survey for a day, and then we had to draw the plans after returning, which presented efficiency challenges.

So, we considered, 'Is there a way to survey with just one person?' and ideas such as one-person-surveyable TS and drones emerged.

Among these, we decided on a terrestrial 3D scanner, which was just starting to become popular at the time.

The 3D scanner is closer to photography than measurement, and its ease of use even for those without specialized surveying knowledge was a decisive factor. The short time required for personnel training was also a significant advantage."

## Challenges During Introduction
[Were there any skeptical opinions regarding the introduction?]
"Yes, there were (laughs).

We established a CAD center in Vietnam and repeatedly experimented from combining point clouds to dropping them into 2D plans, and we were able to bring it to a level that could be put out into the world to some extent."

[What were the challenges in surveying with a 3D scanner, which differs in principle from TS?]
"Accuracy and PC specifications.

Point cloud processing was heavy on PCs at the time, and we had to procure high-performance computers.

Also, there were some areas where an error of 1-2 cm occurred when combining point clouds, and especially at boundary points in site surveys, this error could sometimes lead to major problems."

## Overcoming Accuracy Challenges
[Was the accuracy required by users for current condition surveys greater than anticipated?]
"Yes, it was.

We initially judged it to be releasable, but regarding that 1-2 cm error, we received指摘 concerning accuracy when performing definitive surveys and setting out foundations.

At that time, the mainstream operation method was to use TS and 3D scanners in combination. However, our company aimed to complete operations solely with the 3D scanner.

So,
We made efforts to improve the level of combination, and there were also human errors such as selecting incorrect points different from the boundaries, so we developed our own tool that could accurately pick up the desired points."

[What was the result?]
"Until then, we sometimes heard comments like, 'Are JFD okay?' (laughs), but

With the development of this dedicated tool, the accuracy of our drawings has dramatically improved."

Minowa spoke with a smile, recalling the difficulties of that time, and a sense of firm confidence as a technician could be felt.
[Image: In-house developed tool for 3D point cloud surveying]

## Service Expansion Beyond Surveying
Next, we asked Mr. Sato about the utilization of point cloud data.

[What are the new services beyond surveying?]
"Traditionally, point cloud data, which is real-scale data, was used in construction sites and design applications for confirming site landscapes, structures, and heavy equipment access, and for determining the dimensions of existing structures.

We have gone a step further and provided a service called 'AR Parse,' which overlays 3D house models onto point cloud data, including the surrounding environment.

Further developing this led to the development of the residential sunlight simulation service, 'AR Parse.'

* Calculates the sun's movement from the coordinates of the planned construction site.
* Reproduces sunlight and shadows for each date and time.

Similar services already exist, but they required reproducing them in a 3D perspective that recreated the site surroundings, which involved a long time and significant costs.

However, we can capture surrounding environmental data as point cloud data simultaneously with surveying. By effectively utilizing the point cloud data of the surroundings (outside the surveyed site), which is a byproduct of point cloud surveying, we can now provide environmental data at a lower cost than before.

Therefore, we can now offer services that previously cost hundreds of thousands of yen for tens of thousands of yen. That is the service called 'AR Parse.'
[Image: Sunlight simulation using AR Parse]

## New Service "PCDX"
Now, we offer a new service that makes it even easier to use:

'Point Cloud DX (PCDX).'

This service enables point cloud simulation directly on a smartphone browser.

In addition to the 'AR Parse' residential simulation service, it also implements:

* Sunlight volume heatmap
* Sunlight analysis reflecting the surrounding environment

This uses color coding such as red and blue to make it easier to visually grasp how much sunlight hits each wall.

Sunlight simulation services have existed before, but they are very time-consuming. By using the surrounding point cloud data from the survey to recreate them, we can offer them at a lower cost."

[With point cloud data, won't light pass through the gaps between points and not cast shadows?]
"We have set it so that light does not pass through when the point cloud reaches a certain density relative to the direction of light. Fine points like noise let light pass through, while building walls cast shadows."

## Future Prospects
[How will PCDX evolve in the future?]
"Our company also conducts surveys for government offices, so we want to visualize the building restriction lines obtained there and enable simulation displays of things like setback lines.

Furthermore, for the heatmap in the aforementioned 'PCDX,' we are currently comparing sunlight volume by color, but we aim to quantify this. This could potentially allow for the input of specific figures for calculating power generation per location when arranging solar panels.

Regarding this, we have received inquiries from mega-solar companies about joint development."
[Image: Heatmap generated by PCDX]

## Towards the Democratization of Point Cloud Surveying
[Finally, could you tell us about your company's goals for point cloud surveying?]
"Yes, our company has a 'Partner Business,' through which we provide the technologies we have developed to our partner business contractors.

Providing 3D point cloud technology that has solved certain challenges and developed to a practical stage will increase competing businesses. However, to borrow the words of our representative, this is a 'democratization of 3D surveying' business, and we aim to spread 3D point cloud surveying more widely in the future."

JFD Engineering Co., Ltd. continues to develop unique technologies and services one after another, and further disseminates its technology. How did you receive their passionate aspiration for the 'democratization of 3D point cloud surveying'?

General Incorporated Association Real Estate Inspection and Guarantee Organization REIWS
Point Cloud Surveying Division
Namba Plaza Building 8F, 1-5-7 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City
TEL: 06-6760-4088 FAX: 06-6760-4089
URL: https://www.reiws.or.jp/
Email: info@reiws.or.jp

Keywords: Point cloud, Surveying, Construction, Laser scanner, New service, DX, Construction simulation, Technology diffusion, Cloud service, Company interview