Triggering the Cameras

There are two camera modes;

• Use automatic camera triggering in large and open environments as well as long corridors to ensure enough photos are taken.

• Use manual camera triggering in complicated environments to ensure photos are taken in the correct locations.

Tap the AUTO or MANUAL icon on the top bar to change between automatic or manual camera triggering. Automatic and manual triggering settings can also be changed in the Settings menu. You can also disable automatic triggering by pressing the camera button for more than 6 seconds.

Note: Manual triggering is disabled in pause mode when you are not on the main dashboard screen, this is to to prevent issues with panorama generation in non-scanned areas.

Note: An image is captured immediately when the camera button is pressed. As a result, the images may contain motion blur if you are in motion.

To trigger the cameras manually press the trigger button above the handle of the NavVis VLX.

Smart Triggering of Cameras

The NavVis SmartTrigger technology takes the current mapping speed and angular velocity into account when deciding whether to trigger the cameras.

• After moving a set distance, a shutter sound will inform you that the mobile mapping system is ready to capture the next image.

• If you move or turn too quickly, or the NavVis VLX shakes, the cameras will not be triggered:

The speed indicator at the top of the dashboard will display yellow.

To trigger the cameras, slow down or stop and wait for the shutter sound.

Note: While slowing down is sufficient for the device to trigger the cameras, we strongly recommend that the you stop for each image. This increases the image quality, especially in poor lighting conditions, and prevents motion blur.

NavVis VLX Cameras’ Field Of View

During stitching, input from all four of the cameras is taken into account to achieve a full panorama view. The cameras are arranged on the head of the NavVis VLX in a fixed position to enable their fields of view to overlap as much as possible.

NavVis VLX cameras' field of view front and back.	NavVis VLX cameras' field of view sides.

The illustrations show there are blind spots close to the camera head where none of the cameras can "see". This is how the operator is hidden from the images.

It also means that if there is an object (wall or other) closer than 70cm to 1m to the mobile mapping system, image information will be missing. This is shown as "holes" in the panorama image. Because those images would then have to be discarded manually, the stitching algorithm is not run on capture locations where an object was too close to the mobile mapping system.

Note: Aim for a minimum distance of 1 m from walls and other objects to be on the safe side and achieve a high panorama image quality.