Finding the Sweet Spot in Laser Scan Registration

November 4, 2026 9:43 am

Cloud-to-cloud registration can save crews time on site. Physical targets give them fixed points to come back to. On projects that need both speed and repeatability, the practical question is where each method earns its place.

Where cloud-to-cloud saves time
Cloud-to-cloud (C2C) registration aligns scans using the geometry they have in common. In areas with distinct features and plenty of overlap, crews can capture a site without stopping to set up and move targets between scans.

In FARO SCENE, Interactive Registration lets you see how scans are linked and adjust individual connections. Batch processing can automate parts of scan optimization and registration, leaving more time to review the alignments that need a closer look.

Why physical targets still matter
A featureless hallway, a tight stairwell, or a warehouse aisle with rows of identical racks can make it hard to tell one section from another. Even with overlapping scans, the software may have too few distinctive features to align them reliably. Small alignment errors can also accumulate as you link scans across a large site.

Targets give you identifiable reference points in those areas. If the project needs to tie into an established coordinate system, survey-controlled targets can connect the scan data to that system. Permanent mounts also help when you need to return later. If you rescan a facility three months into construction, you can use the same reference points to compare what changed.

FARO’s Traceable 3D Reference System is one way to set up those repeatable reference points. Its permanent mounts can hold interchangeable accessories, such as a sphere or prism, so crews can return to the same points even when using different measurement equipment.

How to combine both methods in FARO SCENE
1. Walk the site and decide where to place targets. Look for stairs, long corridors, and transitions between areas where scans may have limited overlap. If you expect repeat visits, decide which reference points should stay in place.
2. Capture enough overlap between scans. Plan scan positions so neighboring scans share recognizable features. Capture the targets from the scans they’re meant to connect.
3. Register the scans. In SCENE, use target recognition to establish key connections and incorporate survey control where the project calls for it. Use cloud-to-cloud registration where the scans share enough distinct geometry.
4. Check the alignment. Review connections around stairwells, corridors, and other tricky transitions. Check the result against available control points and the project’s tolerances before delivering the point cloud.

On a site with an open production floor and a narrow stairwell, that might mean using cloud-to-cloud across the floor and placing targets at the stairwell to anchor the connection between levels. If the project calls for another scan later, those same reference points can help you compare the two visits.

We’ll be back in two weeks with another practical look at laser scanning workflows.