What To Expect With The New Leica BLK2FLY Laser Scanner

The future of laser scanning is upon us. If you’ve been waiting with bated breath to update your laser scanning services with the new Leica BLK2FLY laser scanner, now is the time to take your LiDAR scanning to new heights—literally! The Leica BLK2FLY combines the industry leading laser scanning technology you’ve come to associate with Leica 3D scanners with advances in unmanned aerial vehicles to create a versatile and impressive new tool. The newest addition to Leica’s repertoire of laser scanners is a full LiDAR UAV. 

If you’re wondering what the Leica BLK2FLY can (and can’t) do, you’ve come to the right place. This quick overview of some of the most common questions about the BLK2FLY, as well as features that set it apart from other 3D scanning solutions, will give you all the info you need to decide whether or not this new laser scanning device from Leica is something you should invest in.

The short answer to this question is that the BLK2FLY can capture thousands of data points and create 3D point clouds in the same way that other laser scanning solutions can. The only difference is that the BLK2FLY can do so while flying, which means that the structures, environments, and buildings being captured by the BLK2FLY are scanned aerially. As you’ll read below, this can have a variety of different use cases.

From foundation to final walk through, the BLK2FLY makes it easy to document construction projects over time, thanks to its ability to scan and survey from the air. Thanks to sensors that combine LiDAR SLAM, Visual SLAM, radar, and GNSS scanning, the environments and structures captured with the BLK2FLY are incredibly precise, meaning that you can proceed with confidence that your data is an accurate representation of your work site. From retrofitting historic buildings to accessing hard-to-reach places on a work site, the fields of construction, engineering, BIM and architecture can all benefit greatly from the BLK2FLY.

One of the biggest strengths of being an autonomous aerial vehicle comes with collision detection. Thanks to next-generation technology in flight safety, you don’t need to worry about crashing your BLK2FLY and losing valuable data—and your tech investment! As Leica’s website puts it, “Simply tell the BLK2FLY where to go and watch it navigate itself safely around obstacles to capture an accurate, uniform scan.”

Thanks to its combination of LiDAR SLAM, Visual SLAM, radar, and GNSS, the BLK2FLY is more than well-equipped for producing 3D models, visualizations, and drawings with a high level of accuracy. Drone-based reality capture is improving year-over-year and the BLK2FLY is a testament to the ingenuity behind this laser scanner. 

Examples of 3D Assets Include:

• As-Built Conditions
• BIM Data
• Building Exterior Data Points
• Construction Site Progress

If you need to access hazardous, or otherwise inaccessible areas, the Leica BLK2FLY shines. Employing drone-based reality capture technology, BLK2FLY operators are able to safely and efficiently 3D scan rooftops, facades, and other challenging, dangerous, or otherwise impossible-to-reach structures and environments with ease.

Thanks to an app-based user interface and its autonomous design, you can easily and quickly learn how to operate the BLK2FLY. You can map areas and buildings via a tablet and then the BLK2FLY will determine the best, safest flight pattern to scan and create a 3D point cloud based on your instructions. You can learn more about the ​​BLK2FLY Live App by downloading it for yourself from the App Store to get a feel for its features.

You can operate the BLK2FLY autonomously with the help of a tablet, but to reap all of its benefits you may want to consider virtual or in-person training led by an expert in the field. From best practices in operation to general care, maintenance, and storage, the professionals at Datum Tech Solutions have a wealth of knowledge to share with you on the topic of laser scanning. If you’re investing in a BLK2FLY, it’s well worth talking to our team to see how you can upgrade your knowledge before taking your BLK2FLY on its maiden flight.