Floor plan software solutions, such as OpalAi, are a powerful tool for creating accurate and professional-looking floor plans in a fraction of the time it would take to manually create them. These software solutions typically use advanced AI algorithms to quickly and accurately generate 2D and 3D models of your spaces based on data collected from your camera or other input devices. Not sure where to start? Just follow these simple steps to generate your first-floor plan with OpalAi:
Device/Hardware
The app requires a LiDAR-enabled iOS device, which includes the following:
iPhone 12 Pro/ProMax
iPhone 13 Pro/ProMax
iPhone 14 Pro/ProMax
iPad Pro (2020 or newer)
We highly recommend the iPad Pro for its more powerful processor. ScanTo3D is bleeding-edge technology – as a result, we’re pushing the limits on mobile processing resources.
Scanning Workflow
Scanning with our app is similar to taking a video. As you move around, ScanTo3D is simultaneously generating a 3D model of the space and tracking the camera’s position within the modeled space, all in real time. As you are scanning, the model is shown as a white wireframe, whereas unmapped areas are shown in red. Essentially, the goal is to get rid of as much red as possible; that said, no need to go overboard – try to focus on the floors/walls/ceilings, especially in the corners. It shouldn’t take more than about 30 seconds to scan a typical room. For the exterior, we recommend taking one lap around the house to scan the exterior walls and any porches, patios, decks, garages, etc.
The scanning process will vary a bit depending on which device you’re using. For iPhone, we recommend scanning the exterior and each interior floor/level individually. With an iPad, you should be able to capture the full interior and exterior in one scan for houses up to ±4,000 sq.ft; for larger houses, it’s best to scan the interior and exterior separately.
Turn on GPS
Turn on lights and open interior doors (to give yourself an unobstructed route). Well-lit spaces will always result in higher-quality scans.
Start in the largest room of the floor.
Try to avoid scanning an area more than once. We recommend planning your scanning route while you’re turning on lights and opening window treatments.
When entering a new/unmapped area, going slow and steady will improve the model quality.
Scan small closets and other confined spaces from the door – no need to go inside.
When scanning walls (especially blank walls), try not to stand too close. Staying away from walls will keep more details in frame, which helps with tracking. Apple’s current LiDAR sensors have a range of ±16 feet (5m) – that said, we’ve found that the sweet spot is 5-12 feet.
If separating into multiple scans, make sure there is some overlap between the models and name the scans in the order it was scanned (e.g. Exterior 1, Exterior 2 etc). This will help our algorithm join the scans together in post-processing.
Floor Plan Processing
When finished, upload each scan individually by tapping the “Upload” button. The upload might take some time (depending on your internet speed) due to the amount of detail ScanTo3D is capturing.
You will receive a confirmation email upon completion of each upload.
Once we receive your upload(s), we will process the floor plan and deliver the results via email.
By following these best practices, you can efficiently scan a property using the OpalAi app and create accurate floor plans.