Turkish Surveying Firm Combines Handheld and Terrestrial LiDAR for Faster Project Delivery

Case Studies2025.06.205 min read

Atlıhan Surveying Engineering reduced project delivery time from days to hours by integrating XGRIDS Lixel L2 Pro handheld LiDAR with terrestrial scanners, enabling 1,000 m² documentation in just 7 minutes while maintaining 2-3cm accuracy.

Executive Summary: Atlıhan Surveying Engineering reduced project delivery time from days to hours by integrating XGRIDS Lixel L2 Pro handheld LiDAR with terrestrial scanners, enabling 1,000 m² documentation in just 7 minutes while maintaining 2-3cm accuracy.

Technology Comparison: Making the Right Choice

Decision Criterion	Terrestrial Scanner	XGRIDS L2 Pro
Typical field speed	Hours to days, requires expert setups	1,000 m² in 7 min (0.9 m/s, walk and scan)
Accuracy delivered	Sub-cm	2-3 cm—acceptable for plans/sections
Output options	Point cloud only	Point cloud + photorealistic 3D via LCC
Investment required	High	Significantly lower, faster pay-off

The Challenge: Balancing Speed, Accuracy, and Cost in 3D Surveying

Atlıhan Surveying Engineering Construction Co., Turkey's official XGRIDS distributor, faced increasing client demands for rapid 3D documentation while maintaining surveying accuracy standards. Traditional terrestrial laser scanning delivered precision but created bottlenecks:

Long setup times in operational facilities (hotels, hospitals, schools)
High costs for large-scale documentation projects
Limited access to complex geometries and tight spaces
Client expectations for both speed and precision

Solution: Strategic Hybrid Workflow

Technology Integration Strategy

XGRIDS Lixel L2 Pro Applications:

Large-scale projects requiring 2-3cm accuracy
Rapid documentation needs
Complex geometry and restricted access areas
Projects requiring photorealistic visualizations in addition to point cloud data for easier collaboration and decision-making. For example, virtual tours for remote facility inspection and client presentations—enabling quick understanding of equipment layouts and spatial relationships without complex point cloud processing.

Terrestrial Scanners (Leica RTC360) Applications:

Millimeter-level precision requirements
Detailed machinery and equipment documentation
Quality control benchmarking

Workflow Integration

Hybrid workflow chart pairing Lixel L2 Pro capture with LixelStudio processing and LCC Studio photorealistic output

Hybrid Workflow in Practice
Stage	Tool	Key Actions
Capture	XGRIDS L2 Pro Leica RTC360	Macro capture – L2 Pro sweeps the entire space to build the overall model. Targeted detail – Stationary scanner documents machinery or tolerance-critical areas.
Process	LixelStudio	LixelStudio converts raw SLAM data to LAS/E57 in roughly the same compute time as terrestrial data registration.
Integrate	Leica Cyclone Core	Refines sections, elevations, and plans
Visualize	Web Link from LCC Studio	LCC 3D Gaussian Splatting produces a photorealistic model for virtual tours, client walk-throughs, and rapid context checks

"If [clients] require high detail level and millimeter-grade accuracy - and have ample time - I recommend terrestrial scanners. But for large work areas where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized, and 2-3 cm accuracy is sufficient, I suggest handheld solutions," explains Okan Atlıhan, Surveying Engineer at Atlıhan Surveying.

Project Results

Historical Train Station Heritage Documentation

Project Metrics:

Coverage: 1,000 m² scanned in 7 minutes with XGRIDS Lixel L2 Pro
Walking Speed: 0.9 m/s during scanning
Conditions: Extremely low lighting, ornate architectural details
Data Processing: Point cloud processing using LixelStudio, photorealistic 3D model with LCC Studio
Deliverables: Plans, sections, elevations, photorealistic models

Point cloud view of the historic train station coffered ceiling with painted decorative panels captured in low light

Scanned elevation of the station hall showing two arched stained glass windows, timber doors and a wall clock

Plan view extracted from the station point cloud, used for heritage documentation drawings and floor plans

Three arched bays with ornate windows and globe wall lamps reconstructed from handheld 3D scanning data

Quality Assessment: "Despite the high ceilings, the data quality remained satisfactory... This indicates that the data has been processed correctly and is free of geometric errors," notes Atlıhan.

Kerkenes Archaeological Site: Research Partnership

Fieldwork at the Kerkenes archaeological site: handheld scanning, survey tripods at dusk and a terrestrial laser scanner

An academic partnership with Zemastek for scientific research documentation at the Kerkenes archaeological site gave Atlıhan an opportunity to execute a hybrid workflow on a large-scale, outdoor site.

Methodology:

Hybrid scanning approach using both terrestrial and handheld LiDAR
Quality control comparison between Leica RTC360 and L2 Pro data
Equipment evaluation by experienced scanning professionals

Initial Feedback: "He was very impressed with both the hardware's usability and the software," with full evaluation pending.

Business Results

The integration delivered measurable improvements across three key areas:

Economic Efficiency: Equipment investment proved "significantly more economical and at an affordable level" compared to terrestrial-only approaches, enabling previously cost-prohibitive projects.

Market Expansion: Project scope expanded dramatically - "scanning large structures such as hotels, industrial facilities, forested areas, and bridges has become significantly easier and faster."

Client Satisfaction: Reception varies by experience level. Professionals are "genuinely impressed by the L2 Pro's data quality compared to typical SLAM solutions," while newcomers require education on accuracy expectations versus terrestrial capabilities, as they may initially expect millimeter-level precision from all scanning approaches.

3D Gaussian Splatting Technology

Testing XGRIDS LCC technology on historical building with ornate details and challenging lighting revealed potential for widespread implementation.

Advantages:

Photorealistic output "incomparably superior" to traditional point clouds
Simple, automated processing workflow
Enables virtual tours and spatial relationship visualization

Technical Requirements:

Hardware: 128GB RAM, RTX 4080 GPU, Core i9 processor
Processing Time: 24+ hours for 5 scanning sessions (10 minutes each)

Decision Framework for Surveying Professionals

When to Choose Handheld LiDAR

"When rapid documentation is required, one must compromise on precision surveying... If centimeter-level accuracy suffices, the L2 Pro delivers both speed and precision simultaneously."

Quality Assessment Criteria:

Level of detail resolution
Geometric consistency in overlap zones
Point cloud distribution and visualization
Color accuracy evaluation

Conclusion: Matching LiDAR Technology to Project Requirements

Atlıhan's hybrid approach demonstrates that handheld LiDAR doesn't replace terrestrial scanning—it strategically complements it. By matching technology to project requirements, they've achieved faster delivery without compromising quality needed for most applications.

The key insight: "Compared to stationary scanners, the most significant advantage is the speed factor - and consequently, more cost-effective solutions." This decision framework enables surveying firms to expand service offerings while controlling costs, particularly valuable as "XGRIDS products are more than just SLAM – they offer unique features like LCC and 3DGS, which you won't find in any other SLAM system."