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Quantapoint

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Quantapoint, Inc.
Company typePrivate
Industry3D Laser Scanning Technology and Services
PredecessorK2T[1]
FoundedPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (1991 (1991))[1]
HeadquartersHouston, Texas, United States
Area served
North America, Latin America, European Union, Nigeria, South Africa, South East Asia
Key people
John R. Wilson (President and CEO)[2]
Eric Hoffman (Founder and Executive Vice President)[3]
ProductsPRISM 3D (3D laser scanning data viewer)[4]
QuantaCAD (3D laser scanning data integration with CAD)[5]
AccessPoint (3D laser scanning data integration with facility information)[6]
Services3D Laser Scanning[7]
Tie Point Certification[8]
Design Validation[9]
Fabrication Verification[10]
Construction Visualization[11]
As-built Documentation[12]
Number of employees
Approximately 70+ (2013)[citation needed]
Websitewww.quantapoint.com
Quantapoint SceneModeler 9 Laser Scanner
Quantapoint Laser Models

Quantapoint, Inc. is a technology and services company that develops and uses patented[13] 3D laser scanning hardware[14] and software.[15] Quantapoint creates a Digital Facility[4] using 3D laser scanning and then provides visualization, analysis, quality control, decision support and documentation services[16] for buildings, museums, refineries, chemical plants, nuclear and fossil-fuel power plants, offshore platforms and other structures.[17]

History

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Quantapoint was founded as K2T, Inc[1] (or K2T) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1991 by Eric Hoffman,[3] Pradeep Khosla, Takeo Kanade and other Carnegie Mellon University faculty members. K2T focused on creating custom robotics and 3D range-finding imaging systems to help them navigate complex environments. The most notable are the laser range-finding system created in 1992 for the DANTE walking robot that explored Mount Erebus in Antarctica as part of a NASA sponsored competition [18] and the 360-degree phase-based 3D laser scanner named SceneModeler created in 1997.[19]

The company name was changed to Quantapoint in 1999 to reflect the focus on 3D laser scanning hardware, software and services.[19]

Initially, Quantapoint focused on using 3D laser scanning to "digitize" buildings and create 2D drawings, 3D models and/or other animations or visualizations for renovations, additions or historic preservation. Notable projects include the Museum of Modern Art,[19] the Theban Mapping Project in the Valley of the Kings,[20] Monticello[21] and the Guggenheim Museum.[22]

Since 2002, Quantapoint has served the chemical, petroleum and power industries[17] both globally and within the United States. Quantapoint has also worked with the United States General Services Administration (GSA).[23]

Quantapoint has received several patents[13] and awards[24] for the 3D laser scanner hardware and 3D laser scanning data software that it has developed.

3D laser scanner hardware

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Quantapoint uses both its own 3D laser scanner hardware, the SceneModeler 5 and SceneModeler 9,[14] and the Photon from Faro Systems.[25] Quantapoint has a fleet of more than twenty (20) 3D laser scanners.[26]

Digital facility

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The Quantapoint Digital Facility consists of the following:[4]

  • Laser Models: Quantapoint technology that integrates all 3D laser scanning data to provide detailed, high-definition 3D solid "models" of a facility.[27] Quantapoint avoids using the term "point cloud" or "cloud of points".[28]
  • Laser Images: Photo-realistic, perspective-corrected panoramic images of individual 3D laser scans.[7]

3D laser scanning data software

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Quantapoint provides the following software for using the 3D laser scanning data in the Digital Facility:

  • PRISM 3D: View and interact with Laser Images and Laser Models directly.[4]
  • CAD Conversion Option for PRISM 3D: Import 3D CAD models into PRISM 3D to view with or clash against Laser Models.[4]
  • QuantaCAD: View and interact Laser Images and Laser Models within 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software, including AutoCAD, AutoPlant, AVEVA Review, MicroStation XM, PDS, PDMS, Revit, SmartMarine 3D, SmartPlant Review and SmartPlant 3D.[5]
  • AccessPoint: View and interact Laser Images and Laser Models via the Internet and integrate with facility information.[6]

Alliances/software development relationships

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Quantapoint has alliances or software development relationships to integrate laser data with software from Autodesk, AVEVA, Bentley Systems and Intergraph.[29]

Locations

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Quantapoint has locations within the United States (Pittsburgh, Houston, Los Angeles), England, Scotland and Nigeria. Quantapoint also uses representatives in various countries, such as Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa, Malaysia and Brazil.[30]

Patents

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Quantapoint has been issued the following patents in the United States and has filed for similar patents in the EU, Canada and Japan:[31]

  • 360-degree 3D Laser Scanning: 6,034,803,[32] 6,373,612,[33] 6,906,837[34] and 7,365,891.[35]
  • 3D Laser Scan Registration: 7,180,072.[36]
  • Creating Layout from 3D Laser Scan Data: 6,446,030[37] and 7,127,378.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Pittsburgh Business Times, July 9, 2004
  2. ^ "John Wilson Named as President and CEO of Quantapoint!". The Chief Executive Forum. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  3. ^ a b "Management Team". Archived from the original on 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  4. ^ a b c d e PRISM 3D Web Page Archived October 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b QuantaCAD Web Page Archived April 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b AccessPoint Web Page Archived September 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b Digitize Facilities Web Page Archived October 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Tie Point Certification Web Page Archived September 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Quantapoint Technology Delivers… and delivers again!". Archived from the original on 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  10. ^ Fabrication Verification Web Page Archived September 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Construction Visualization Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ As-built Documentation Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ a b Patents Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ a b "Yahoo".
  15. ^ "Marketwire - Breaking news, press releases, social media news releases, business news - Marketwired".
  16. ^ Services Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ a b Industries Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Exploring Mount Erebus by Walking Robot
  19. ^ a b c "History". Archived from the original on 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  20. ^ "Historical Overview of the Theban Mapping Project - Theban Mapping Project".
  21. ^ Monticello Explorer attracts users, praise Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "Guggenheim Restoration Has the Wright Stuff".
  23. ^ Reuters Editorial (7 October 2009). "Quantapoint Awarded GSA Laser Scanning IDIQ Contract". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ Awards Web Page
  25. ^ "Nov 19 - FARO Delivers 6 Photon Laser Scanners to Quantapoint". Archived from the original on 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  26. ^ "SPAR 3D - News & Information on 3D Technology". SPAR 3D.
  27. ^ Advancements in the usability of laser scan data Archived November 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Laser Models vs. "Point Clouds" Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ Alliances Web Page[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ Locations Web Page
  31. ^ Patents Web Page Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for directing energy based range detection sensor
  33. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for directing energy based range detection sensors
  34. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for directing energy based range detection sensors
  35. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for directing energy based range detection sensors
  36. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for creating a registration network of a scene
  37. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for establishing the layout of a building
  38. ^ Patent: Method and apparatus for establishing the layout of a building
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