December 12, 2013 -- A ZEB1 mobile mapping system is proving to be an integral tool for a business start-up in New Zealand. Dunedin based Qntfi is a brand new company specialising in building replacement reports and contract scanning services. Purchased from 3D Laser Mapping the newly acquired ZEB1 is already bolstering market perception of the fledging company. The solution, described as the world’s first truly mobile, hand held rapid laser mapping system, has also been successfully deployed on a number of projects achieving higher accuracies, faster rates of data capture and more practical operating procedures than traditional surveying techniques.

“We describe ourselves primarily as a ‘measuring’ company as opposed to a company of surveyors,” commented Managing Director and founder of Qntfi Jonathan Daley. “The ZEB1 affords us the capacity to address much bigger projects than other tools in our arsenal. This capacity, in turn, breeds credibility. Qntfi is seen to be an early adopter of technology and the market perception of our business is significantly bolstered.”

ZEB1 is also delivering significant operational advantages across a range of projects. The system has been used on a building surveying project where limited access made it impossible, using traditional scanning techniques, to obtain relative floor heights - “A simple 35 minute walkabout provided all the detail required without any of the drama!” commented Daley. The ZEB1 system has also been used within marine architecture to scan both the inside and outside of boats in dry docks. This provides for more accurate marine surveys and from the data the hull of the boat can be modelled and the flow and turbulence, and hence operating conditions, efficiencies and speed, etc., calculated – all as a result of 20 minutes capture!  

“As a tool the ZEB1 has opened a lot of doors for use and we remain impressed with 3D Laser Mapping,” continued Daley. “Their customer support is exemplary – even across significant time zones. We have ambitious plans for our ZEB1 including assessing and mapping vineyards with seismic damage and surveying sand dunes for comparative analysis and we know 3D Laser Mapping will support us every step of the way.” 

Developed by CSIRO and commercialised by UK based 3D Laser Mapping, ZEB1 uses robotic technology called Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM). The ZEB1 system includes a lightweight laser scanner mounted on a simple spring mechanism, which continuously scans as the operator walks through the environment. As the scanner loosely oscillates about a spring it produces a rotation that converts 2D laser measurements into 3D fields of view. Its ability to self-localise makes ZEB1 ideally suited for use indoors, underground and in other covered environments where traditional solutions that utilise GPS don’t function well.

CONTACTS:

Charlie Whyman, Email Contact, +44 (0)1949 838 004

www.3dlasermapping.com