Quantapoint
Encyclopedia
Quantapoint, Inc. is a technology and services company that develops and uses patented 3D laser scanning
hardware and software. Quantapoint creates a Digital Facility using 3D laser scanning and then provides visualization, analysis, quality control, decision support and documentation services for buildings, museums, refineries, chemical plant
s, nuclear
and fossil-fuel
power plants, offshore platforms and other structures.
in 1991 by Eric Hoffman, 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 and the 360-degree phase-based 3D laser scanner named SceneModeler created in 1997.
The company name was changed to Quantapoint in 1999 to reflect the focus on 3D laser scanning hardware, software and services.
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
, the Theban Mapping Project
in the Valley of the Kings
, Monticello
and the Guggenheim Museum
.
Since 2002, Quantapoint has served the chemical
, petroleum
and power
industries both globally and within the United States. Most recently, Quantapoint has also worked with the United States General Services Administration (GSA)
.
Throughout its history, Quantapoint has received several patents and awards for the 3D laser scanner hardware and 3D laser scanning data software that it has developed.
, AVEVA, Bentley Systems
and Intergraph
.
(Pittsburgh, Houston, Los Angeles
), England
, Scotland
and Nigeria
. Quantapoint also uses representatives in various countries, such as Mexico
, Venezuela
, South Africa
, Malaysia and Brazil
.
Laser scanning
In modern engineering, the term `laser scanning' is used to described two related, but separate meanings. The first, more general, meaning is the controlled deflection of laser beams, visible or invisible...
hardware and software. Quantapoint creates a Digital Facility using 3D laser scanning and then provides visualization, analysis, quality control, decision support and documentation services for buildings, museums, refineries, chemical plant
Chemical plant
A chemical plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures chemicals, usually on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical plant is to create new material wealth via the chemical or biological transformation and or separation of materials. Chemical plants use special equipment,...
s, nuclear
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and fossil-fuel
Fossil fuel power plant
A fossil-fuel power station is a power station that burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or petroleum to produce electricity. Central station fossil-fuel power plants are designed on a large scale for continuous operation...
power plants, offshore platforms and other structures.
History
Quantapoint was founded as K2T, Inc (or K2T) in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1991 by Eric Hoffman, Pradeep Khosla
Pradeep khosla
Pradeep K. Khosla is an Indian American computer scientist and Dean of the College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. He is also the Philip and Marsha Dowd University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon.-Work:Khosla...
, Takeo Kanade
Takeo Kanade
is a Japanese computer scientist and one of the world's foremost researchers in computer vision. He is currently U.A. and Helen Whitaker Professor at Carnegie Mellon University...
and other Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
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
History of robots
The history of robots has its roots as far back as ancient myths and legends.Modern concepts were begun to be developed when the Industrial Revolution allowed the use of more complex mechanics and the subsequent introduction of electricity made it possible to power machines with small compact motors...
that explored Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost historically active volcano on Earth, the second highest volcano in Antarctica , and the 6th highest ultra mountain on an island. With a summit elevation of , it is located on Ross Island, which is also home to three inactive volcanoes, notably Mount...
in Antarctica as part of a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
sponsored competition and the 360-degree phase-based 3D laser scanner named SceneModeler created in 1997.
The company name was changed to Quantapoint in 1999 to reflect the focus on 3D laser scanning hardware, software and services.
Initially Quantapoint focused on using 3D laser scanning to "digitize" buildings and create 2D drawings
Architectural drawing
An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building that falls within the definition of architecture...
, 3D models
3D modeling
In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object via specialized software. The product is called a 3D model...
and/or other animations
Architectural animation
Architectural Animation is a short architectural movie created on a computer. A computer-generated building is created along with landscaping and sometimes moving people and vehicles. Unlike an architectural rendering, which is a single image from a single point of view, an architectural animation...
or visualizations for renovations, additions or historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
. Notable projects include the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, the Theban Mapping Project
Theban Mapping Project
Theban Mapping Project was established in 1978 by the Theban Foundation, itself established by British archaeologist and Egyptologist John Romer with the goal to create a masterplan of the Valley of the Kings and of the sites of the Theban Necropolis in general....
in the Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings , less often called the Valley of the Gates of the Kings , is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom .The valley stands on the west bank of...
, Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
and the Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
.
Since 2002, Quantapoint has served the chemical
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
, petroleum
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
and power
Electrical power industry
The electric power industry provides the production and delivery of electric energy, often known as power, or electricity, in sufficient quantities to areas that need electricity through a grid connection. The grid distributes electrical energy to customers...
industries both globally and within the United States. Most recently, Quantapoint has also worked with the United States General Services Administration (GSA)
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
.
Throughout its history, Quantapoint has received several patents and awards for the 3D laser scanner hardware and 3D laser scanning data software that it has developed.
3D laser scanner hardware
Quantapoint uses both its own 3D laser scanner hardware, the SceneModeler 5 and SceneModeler 9, and the Photon from Faro Systems. Quantapoint has a fleet of more than twenty (20) 3D laser scanners.Digital facility
The Quantapoint Digital Facility consists of the following:- Laser Models: Quantapoint technology that integrates all 3D laser scanning data to provide detailed, high-definition 3D solid "models" of a facility. Quantapoint avoids using the term "point cloud" or "cloud of points".
- Laser Images: Photo-realistic, perspective-corrected panoramic images of individual 3D laser scans.
3D laser scanning data software
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.
- CAD Conversion Option for PRISM 3D: Import 3D CAD models into PRISM 3D to view with or clash against Laser Models.
- QuantaCAD: View and interact Laser Images and Laser Models within 3D computer-aided designComputer-aided designComputer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
(CAD) software, including AutoCADAutoCADAutoCAD is a software application for computer-aided design and drafting in both 2D and 3D. It is developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, notably the IBM PC...
, AutoPlant, AVEVA Review, MicroStation XMMicrostationMicroStation is a CAD software product for 2- and 3-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Bentley Systems. The latest versions of the software are released solely for Microsoft Windows operating systems, but historically MicroStation was available for Macintosh platforms and a...
, PDS, PDMSPlant Design Management SystemPDMS as it is known in the 3D CAD industry, is a customizable, multi-user and multi-discipline, engineer controlled design software package for engineering, design and construction projects in, but not limited to, offshore and onshore oil & gas industry, chemical & process plants, mining,...
, RevitRevitAutodesk Revit Architecture often referred to as simply Revit is a Building Information Modeling software developed by Autodesk. It allows the user to design with both parametric 3D modeling and 2D drafting elements...
, SmartMarine 3D, SmartPlant Review and SmartPlant 3D. - AccessPoint: View and interact Laser Images and Laser Models via the Internet and integrate with facility informationFacility information modelA facility information model is an information model of an individual facility that is integrated with data and documents about the facility. The facility can be any large facility that is designed, fabricated, constructed and installed, operated, maintained and modified; for example, a complete...
.
Alliances/software development relationships
Quantapoint has alliances or software development relationships to integrate laser data with software from AutodeskAutodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
, AVEVA, Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems, Incorporated is a software company that produces solutions for the design, construction and operation of infrastructure. The company’s software serves the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets in the areas of architecture, engineering, construction and operations...
and Intergraph
Intergraph
Intergraph Corporation is an American software development and services company. It provides enterprise engineering and geospatially powered software to businesses, governments, and organizations around the world. Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine and Security,...
.
Locations
Quantapoint has locations within the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Pittsburgh, Houston, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
), England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Quantapoint also uses representatives in various countries, such as Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Malaysia and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Awards/nominations
Quantapoint has received the following awards for its laser scanning technology and services:- World Oil Award: Laser Model Technology named as a finalist for the Best Data Management Solution Award.
- Engineering and Construction Contracting Association (ECC) Academy Award: Quantapoint's Laser Model technology and Zero-defect services as "Technologies Which are Pioneering Our Ability to Innovate and Add Value in Our Project Industry".
- FIATECH Celebration of Engineering Technology & Innovation (CETI) Award: Quantapoint's Laser Model technology was recognized as "a significant achievement that benefits all capital projects".
- R&D Magazine
' s R&D 100 Awards: Quantapoint PRISM 3D and QuantaCAD have both been named one of the 100 most innovative products of the year. - Pittsburgh Business Times Pittsburgh 100 Award: Quantapoint has been named one of the 100 fasting growing companies in the Pittsburgh region three times.
- Saleforce.com Success Story: Quantapoint recognized for innovative use of Salesforce.com to further improve operational efficiency and customer focus.
Articles
Quantapoint has published or been included in the articles from the following magazines:- Hydrocarbon Processing: Laser Scanning Technology Improves Plant Quality, Safety and Training, Digitize Your Plant Using Laser Scanning for Easier Access to Information, Comparing Historical and Laser Scan Surveys to Identify Discrepancies and Laser Scanning Solutions Secure Accurate Dimensional Data.
- AVEVA Pipeline: Aker Solutions Achieves Design and Construction Goals in Record Time
- IntergraphIntergraphIntergraph Corporation is an American software development and services company. It provides enterprise engineering and geospatially powered software to businesses, governments, and organizations around the world. Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine and Security,...
Insight: A Value-Add for Revamps - Offshore Technology Conference Newsletter: Advancements in the Usability of Laser Scan Data
- Petroleum Technology Quarterly: Digitising Plants using Laser Scanning
- Power Engineering: Laser Scanning Can Help Meet NRC Safety Assessment Mandate
- Power Magazine: Laser Scanning Yields Digital As-builts
- Smart Business: Gut Check.
- Zillion: Beating Project Schedules and Budgets
Patents
Quantapoint has been issued the following patents in the United States and has filed for similar patents in the EU, Canada and Japan:- 360-degree 3D Laser Scanning: 6,034,803, 6,373,612, 6,906,837 and 7,365,891.
- 3D Laser Scan Registration: 7,180,072.
- Creating Layout from 3D Laser Scan Data: 6,446,030 and 7,127,378.