Utilities · fiber · civil works
Scan the trench before it disappears.
Nine mobile workflows compared for documenting pipes, ducts, cables, crossings, manholes, depths, and as-built conditions before backfill.
The shortlist
Four distinct ways to solve the job
The apps cluster by what happens after the operator walks the trench.
TKI NET Scan is purpose-built around network objects, photos, central QA, browser review, and delivery.
PIX4Dcatch and 3Dsurvey emphasize photogrammetric detail and downstream processing.
Trimble SiteVision combines LiDAR reality capture with design AR and Trimble collaboration.
OpenSurvey3D keeps 3D captures, surveyed features, AR finding, checks, and open exports in a local-first project.
Workflow matrix
What each app carries from field to office
“RTK” describes the positioning source. It does not, by itself, specify the accuracy of every point in the finished 3D capture.
| App | Platform | Capture | Positioning | Records beyond 3D | Delivery model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSurvey3D | iOS | LiDAR mesh, points, photos | Emlid + NMEA | Feature attributes + attachments | Local-first + open CAD/GIS package |
| TKI NET Scan | iOS kit | LiDAR + geolocated photos | Preconfigured GNSS | Purpose-built network objects | NET Cloud + GIS/CAD delivery |
| PIX4Dcatch | iOS / Android | Photogrammetry + LiDAR/depth | Broad supported list | Marks, GCPs, AR tools | Pix4D cloud/desktop ecosystem |
| GIStance + GISdoc | iOS | LiDAR + photos | Bluetooth RTK | Infrastructure records | GISdoc review and approvals |
| Trimble SiteVision | iOS / Android | Colorized LiDAR | DA2 / HPS2 | Measurement, tasks, reports | Trimble Connect |
| 3Dsurvey SiteScan | Android + desktop | RTK videogrammetry | Several verified rovers | Desktop extraction/drafting | 3Dsurvey desktop suite |
| Lefixea LRTK | iPhone | Point-cloud terrain scan | LRTK Phone | Survey + construction tools | LRTK ecosystem |
| REDcatch RTKcamera | Android | RTK-tagged photos | Broad USB/Bluetooth | Photo and GNSS metadata | Choose external processor |
| GeoAce | iOS | Visual point measurement | Survey GNSS | Non-contact feature shots | Specialist survey workflow |
A scan is not the whole as-built
Capture geometry, meaning, and evidence together.
A beautiful point cloud can still be ambiguous after the crew leaves. The durable record identifies what each visible object is, where it sits, which coordinate frame applies, how it was observed, and whether independent checks passed.
Field checklist
What to record before backfill
The software matters, but field discipline matters more. A repeatable checklist makes every system more useful.
- 01
Establish the frame. Confirm CRS, geoid/localization, antenna height, and camera/receiver offsets.
- 02
Capture context. Include trench edges, fixed surface features, crossings, fittings, structures, and enough surrounding ground.
- 03
Name the assets. Record type, material, diameter, status, owner, depth, notes, and photo evidence while they are visible.
- 04
Watch the solution. Preserve fix state, correction age, satellites, accuracy estimates, and tracking/coverage warnings.
- 05
Check independently. Re-observe known points and report horizontal and vertical residuals—not only the rover status.
- 06
Deliver open evidence. Provide the original capture, attributes, QA, and CAD/GIS files the asset owner can retain.
Product profiles
The open-trench field
A concise best-fit summary with a direct link to each vendor’s documentation.
OpenSurvey3D
Teams that want 3D scanning, AR asset finding, RTK fieldwork, open files, and auditable QA without a required cloud.
- Capture
- LiDAR mesh, point cloud, photogrammetry
- Positioning
- Emlid Reach Bluetooth; generic NMEA over Wi-Fi; device GNSS
- Processing
- Local-first, on device
TKI NET Scan
Fiber and utility construction crews that need a packaged, centrally reviewed record before backfill.
- Capture
- LiDAR digital twins and geolocated photos
- Positioning
- Preconfigured high-precision GNSS kit
- Processing
- NET Cloud collaboration and QA
PIX4Dcatch
High-detail photogrammetry, broad RTK hardware support, and an established cloud/desktop reconstruction workflow.
- Capture
- Photogrammetry plus supported LiDAR/depth
- Positioning
- Broad verified RTK receiver list
- Processing
- PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic/mapper workflow
GIStance + GISdoc
FTTX and infrastructure teams combining sparse survey features, LiDAR evidence, approvals, and dashboards.
- Capture
- iPhone LiDAR scans and photo evidence
- Positioning
- External Bluetooth RTK GNSS
- Processing
- GISdoc browser workspace
Trimble SiteVision
Trimble-equipped organizations that need model visualization, construction verification, collaboration, and enterprise support.
- Capture
- Georeferenced, colorized phone LiDAR
- Positioning
- Trimble Catalyst DA2 and HPS2
- Processing
- Local scan processing plus Trimble Connect
3Dsurvey SiteScan
Surveyors who want simple video acquisition feeding a mature desktop photogrammetry and drafting workflow.
- Capture
- GNSS-tagged video photogrammetry
- Positioning
- REDcatch, Trimble DA2, Stonex S580+, Emlid Reach RX
- Processing
- 3Dsurvey desktop field-to-finish suite
Lefixea LRTK
Japanese construction workflows that need compact RTK, terrain scanning, stakeout, and buried-asset visualization.
- Capture
- Terrain point clouds and coordinate-aware imagery
- Positioning
- Proprietary LRTK Phone hardware
- Processing
- LRTK device/app/cloud ecosystem
REDcatch RTKcamera
Android users who want receiver-agnostic, RTK-tagged imagery and freedom to choose downstream photogrammetry software.
- Capture
- Manual, timelapse, or auto-triggered RTK photos
- Positioning
- Broad USB/Bluetooth NMEA + RTCM support
- Processing
- Local files; use 3Dsurvey, Pix4D, Metashape, or similar
GeoAce
Measuring pipework, manholes, and unsafe or inconvenient points without occupying each feature with a pole.
- Capture
- Camera, inertial tracking, photogrammetry, and GNSS
- Positioning
- External survey-grade GNSS
- Processing
- Specialist civil/utility workflow
Deep trenches, poor sky view, multipath, calibration error, pose drift, phone LiDAR range/noise, and weak image geometry can all reduce finished-model accuracy. Require control and check residuals appropriate to the contract.
Common questions
Open-trench 3D scanning FAQ
What is the best app for scanning an open utility trench?
TKI NET Scan is the most purpose-built packaged workflow in this comparison. PIX4Dcatch is strong when dense photogrammetric reconstruction is central. OpenSurvey3D is compelling when local-first storage, open exports, receiver flexibility, auditable QA, and future AR return-to-asset work matter.
Can an iPhone LiDAR scan replace a survey?
Not automatically. Phone LiDAR is useful evidence and can support measurements, but contractual acceptance depends on calibration, geometry, control, check residuals, site conditions, and the governing survey standard.
Should the trench be scanned before backfill?
Yes. Capture while pipes, ducts, warning tape, fittings, crossings, trench edges, and depth relationships remain visible. Record enough context and independent checks to make the result interpretable after closure.
What should an open-trench deliverable contain?
At minimum: the 3D capture or source imagery, surveyed features and attributes, coordinate reference information, receiver and correction metadata, timestamps, photo evidence, check-shot residuals, and CAD/GIS exports the owner can retain.
Research basis
First-party sources, explicit limits.
This guide is published by OpenSurvey3D. Adoption and fit are informed estimates; accuracy figures remain vendor claims unless backed by a linked study.
OpenSurvey3D
Keep the trench scan and the field evidence together.
Capture in 3D, mark installed assets, verify the project, and return to stored features in AR—free and open source on iPhone and iPad.