PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date April
2 ,
2015
Contact:
Eric Yates,
Sales Manager
Newton Labs
425-251-9600
eyates@newtonlabs.com
Underwater Laser Scanner Captures Construction Site Evidence
Seattle, Washington - An underwater laser scanner, developed and manufactured by Newton Labs, the worlds largest manufacturer of underwater laser scanners, is proving to be an effective and critical evidence gathering tool at a construction-related special project in Germany where the scanner measurements will used for judicial purposes.
Divers from Baars-CIPRO, a Dutch civil engineering firm specializing in underwater inspection, deployed a Newton model M210UW Underwater Laser Scanner at the bottom of a water-filled construction pit to document the detailed features of a slurry wall. The dimensions of these features could reveal the cause of a structural failure being reviewed in the courts.
The Newton underwater scanner captures sub-millimeter measurements with an accuracy of 0.005 in. (0.127 mm), producing a dense point cloud output that can be used to generate a fully measurable 3D computer-aided design (CAD) model. In this case, the 3D models will be directly compared to construction drawings from the project. Any difference between the actual, as-built wall and the approved drawings could provide a causal link between a construction defect and a resulting accident.
In addition to the underwater scanner, the Baars-CIPRO divers used a variety of evidence-gathering tools to survey the slurry wall, including high resolution photos, HD video, sonar profiling and a custom made global reference system. However, the Newton scanner outperformed all these tools and provided the required evidentiary accuracy, detail and 3D modeling capabilities.
"We at Newton Labs are pleased to provide Baars-CIPRO with the highest resolution inspection technology available for underwater use," said Rob Wheeler, Chief Operations Officer. "The Newton scanner has proven a valuable tool for those who require accurate and repeatable underwater measurements across a wide range of industries," Wheeler said.
�In the past few years we have been involved in an increasing number of special projects that call for more accuracy, multiple measurements in a tight time frame and direct 3D-imaging of the measurements,� said Baars-CIPRO owner, Jeroen Baars. �The Newton underwater laser scanner is the special measuring tool that will enable us to increasingly build upon our water-based services, designs and custom solutions,� Baars concluded.
The M210UW Underwater Laser Scanner is landmark technology combining industrial-grade hardware and electronics with sophisticated, Newton-developed algorithms that make precise underwater scanning possible by compensating for the challenges of refraction, turbulence and suspended particulates found in aquatic and marine environments.
About Baars-CIPRO
Baars-CIPRO is a civil engineering firm in Lijnden, North Holland specializing in underwater services. The Baars-CIPRO professional civil engineering staff received their degrees at the Technical University of Delft and trained to become professional divers at the National Diving Centre. The firm's comprehensive underwater services include, among others: structural surveys, underwater explosives detection, damage reports, cable/pipe detection and archaeological research.
Newton Research Labs is a privately held manufacturer of machine vision, laser scanning, robotics and optical automation with considerable expertise in the Nuclear Industry. An original spin-off of M.I.T., the company has for more than 20 years developed and marketed high-performance, computer-driven automation for industrial processes and has considerable experience in the nuclear industry. Newton's products are designed to allow the quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness of computer technology to replace the human element in virtually every industry. Newton Labs has deployed more that 30,000 machine vision, laser scanning, robotic and automation systems world-wide. Additional information about other nuclear industry products by Newton Labs may be found at http://www.newtonlabs.com/power.htm.