How can 3D scanning be used in education?

It can turn learning into hands-on exploration through digitising artefacts to building virtual worlds, students are able to engage with history, science, and storytelling in totally new ways.

What skills do students learn from 3D scanning projects?

They pick up real-world tools: Python, 3D modelling, game engines, teamwork, and problem-solving — all with direct industry relevance.

Can young people really contribute to professional scanning work?

They absolutely can. With the right support, they don’t just learn, they use their youthful creativity and problem solving to build tools, shape environments, and add real value to live projects.

Enhancing 3D Scanning Through The Use Of Drones, LiDAR And Gaussian Splatting

Imagine capturing an entire movie set, every detail, every angle in under an hour. What once took days of manual scanning can now be accomplished before lunch. Here’s how we’re revolutionising 3D environment capture for the film industry…

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At Visualskies, we’re pushing the boundaries of 3D environment capture by combining LiDAR precision, photogrammetry’s visual fidelity, and the revolutionary speed of Gaussian splatting. The result? Environment scans that capture extraordinary detail while dramatically reducing processing time.

We recently put this breakthrough workflow to the test alongside our partners at Heliguy. Armed with a DJI Matrice 4E drone and the Xgrids L2 Pro mobile scanning rig, we achieved something remarkable: environmental scans that are not only faster than traditional methods, but also deliver unprecedented accuracy. For anyone working in VFX, previs, or virtual production, this represents a fundamental shift in how we can capture and recreate real-world environments.

Taking the Headache Out of Virtual Production

Shooting on location has its charm, but it also comes with permits, weather delays, travel logistics, and tight schedules. What should be a simple exterior scene can quickly turn into a multi-day, budget-draining operation.

That’s where virtual production, powered by our hybrid scanning workflow and Gaussian splatting, offers a smarter alternative.

Using the DJI Matrice 4E for aerial coverage and the Xgrids L2 Pro for ground-level detail, we quickly capture real-world environments with stunning fidelity. Then, instead of spending weeks building traditional 3D assets, we use Gaussian splats to bring those scans directly into real-time engines — no meshing, no texturing, just fast, photoreal environments ready for LED walls or in-engine rendering.

The result? You get the realism of a real-world location, without ever leaving the stage. It’s not about replacing traditional filmmaking – it’s about removing the pain points and unlocking creative flexibility.

Technology Comparison

Our Hybrid Scanning Solution

Combining the best of aerial and ground-based technology

Aerial Capture

DJI Matrice 4E

Aerial Photogrammetry

20MP Hasselblad camera
45-minute flight time
Automated flight paths
RTK positioning accuracy
Wide area coverage

Ground Capture

Xgrids L2 Pro

Mobile LiDAR System

32-beam LiDAR scanner
360° field of view
100,000 points/second
2cm accuracy
Ground-level detail

Traditional vs. Our Method

Traditional Scanning

The Old Way

1 day capture time
Multiple operators needed
Limited coverage area
Weather dependent
High equipment costs

Gaussian Splatting

The Future

Under 1 hour capture
Single operator possible
Unlimited area coverage
All-weather capable
70% cost reduction

What this Approach Achieves

Here’s where the magic happens. Once our hybrid capture was complete, we fed the data through Gaussian Splatting — a breakthrough technique that doesn’t just process point clouds, it transforms them into production-ready assets. This revolutionary method delivers streamlined workflows that accelerate everything from early previsualization to final set construction, dramatically reduced processing that cuts traditional render times by up to 80%, and cinema-grade quality that integrates seamlessly into Unreal Engine and other real-time platforms. The results speak for themselves:

Key Features

Efficient pipeline for previs, location scouting, and set builds

Massively optimised processing times

High fidelity outputs ready for use in Unreal Engine

Collaboration with Heliguy: Bringing It All Together

In our recent proof-of-concept, the combined scans were processed as a splat and visualised within a virtual production pipeline. In under a day, we had:

Process Timeline

Captured a complex site

Initial data collection phase using DJI Mavic 3E drone and Xgrids L2 Pro for comprehensive aerial and ground coverage

Merged aerial and terrestrial data

Seamlessly combined LiDAR point clouds with high-resolution photogrammetry into a unified 3D dataset

Produced VP-ready 3D environment

Generated photoreal Gaussian splats optimised for real-time rendering in Unreal Engine and virtual production

Visualskies on site with Heliguy for our recent collaboration

What You Can Do With It

Creative Applications

Use for rapid previs or location blocking

Accelerate pre-production workflows

Import into game engines to create virtual environments or VFX workflows

Seamless integration with Unreal & Unity

Create flexible, accurate digital twins for immersive storytelling

Build interactive narrative experiences

Create accurate printable 3D meshes

Physical prototypes & set pieces

Industry Applications

Transforming workflows across multiple sectors

Visual Effects & Film Production

Revolutionize your production pipeline with photorealistic 3D environments ready for virtual production. Our Gaussian splatting workflow delivers film-ready assets in a fraction of the traditional time.

✓

Virtual Production

LED wall-ready environments for in-camera VFX
✓

Previsualization

Rapid location scouting and shot planning
✓

Set Extensions

Seamless integration with live-action footage

Architecture & Construction

Document existing conditions with unprecedented accuracy. Perfect for renovation projects, BIM integration, and construction progress monitoring.

✓

As-Built Documentation

Accurate 3D records of existing structures
✓

Progress Monitoring

Track construction phases with time-series scans
✓

BIM Integration

Direct import into Revit and other BIM software

Heritage Preservation

Create permanent digital records of historical sites and artifacts. Our non-invasive scanning preserves cultural heritage for future generations.

✓

Digital Archiving

Permanent records of at-risk heritage sites
✓

Virtual Museums

Interactive 3D exhibitions accessible worldwide
✓

Restoration Planning

Detailed baseline data for conservation work

Gaming & Metaverse

Transform real-world locations into interactive game environments. Our optimized workflows deliver game-ready assets that maintain photorealistic quality.

✓

Environment Design

Real-world accuracy for immersive gameplay
✓

VR/AR Applications

Optimized models for real-time rendering

Technical Terms Glossary

Key Technical Terms

Gaussian Splatting Technology

A revolutionary 3D reconstruction technique that represents scenes as collections of 3D Gaussians (fuzzy spheres) rather than traditional polygons or point clouds. This creates incredibly realistic, photorealistic 3D environments that can be rendered in real-time.

In Practice: Transforms raw scan data into smooth, film-ready 3D environments that look photorealistic from any angle, perfect for virtual production and VFX work.

LiDAR Hardware

Light Detection and Ranging - a remote sensing method that uses laser pulses to measure distances and create precise 3D representations of objects and environments. It can capture millions of data points per second with centimeter-level accuracy.

In Practice: Our Xgrids L2 Pro uses LiDAR to capture ground-level details that drones might miss, like building interiors, underpasses, and complex architectural features.

Photogrammetry Method

The science of making measurements from photographs, especially for recovering exact positions of surface points. Multiple overlapping photos are processed to create 3D models with accurate textures and colors.

In Practice: Our DJI Mavic 3E captures hundreds of high-resolution photos that are processed into detailed 3D models, preserving real-world textures and colors.

Virtual Production (VP) Application

A filmmaking method that combines live-action footage with computer graphics in real-time. Using LED walls and game engines, directors can see final VFX during shooting rather than waiting for post-production.

In Practice: Our scans can be loaded directly into Unreal Engine and displayed on LED walls, allowing filmmakers to shoot "on location" without leaving the studio.

Point Cloud Data Type

A collection of data points in 3D space, typically produced by LiDAR scanners. Each point represents a specific location on a surface, and millions of points together form a detailed 3D representation.

In Practice: Raw LiDAR data creates point clouds that we process through Gaussian splatting to create smooth, photorealistic environments ready for production use.

WHERE TO FIND US?

Visualskies is proud to offer our expert Photogrammetry services for VFX across multiple locations worldwide. Our presence in key cities enables us to provide prompt and efficient service to our clients. You can find us in the following locations.

Mobile Photogrammetry Rigs VFX London

Unit 9S Hewlett House

5 Havelock Terrace

Battersea

London

SW8 4AS

United Kingdom

Mobile Photogrammetry Rigs VFX Berlin

Wilhelmienhofstrasse

Berlin

12459

Germany