Use Double scans when capturing outdoor areas for 3D content, including Exterior Videos and the Property Map.
To achieve the best results, plan your outdoor capture route before scanning. Capture around the building using a zigzag pattern, then cover the surrounding outdoor areas, adjusting scan spacing according to the amount of detail.
Before You Begin
Open exterior doors where possible to maintain clear connections between indoor and outdoor areas
Keep the lights on inside the property
Keep people, pets and moving objects out of view while scanning
Aim for consistent lighting conditions and complete outdoor capture in one session. Avoid splitting the capture between different times of day
Select the Outdoor area class and the correct building tag on your Gen5 camera
Make sure the camera's side lenses are clean and unobstructed
Note: You can start capturing indoors or outdoors. When switching between these areas, make sure the correct area class and building are selected.
Choosing the Right Capture Type
Gen5 supports both standard outdoor capture and 3D Capture.
Standard Capture: Use for standard property content, including virtual tours and outdoor area coverage. Position scans to provide clear views of all intended areas.
3D Capture: Use when capturing for Exterior Videos and other immersive 3D content. This requires more scan positions and multiple viewpoints around buildings and objects.
For 3D Capture, the Gen 5 tripod automatically captures panoramas at two different heights.
Outdoor 3D Capture Guidelines
For 3D content, scan density depends on the amount of detail in the area. Objects and detailed surfaces require closer scan positions, while open ground can be captured with fewer scans.
Follow these recommendations when capturing outside with Gen5.
Scan Around the House
Capture the exterior walls using a zigzag pattern, alternating between positions close to and farther away from the building.
Position closer scans approximately 0.5–1 m from the exterior walls
Alternate with scans farther away, up to 2 m from the walls
Continue the zigzag pattern around the building to capture its surfaces from multiple angles
Capture the corners and other architectural details
Areas beyond 2 m from the building should be covered separately as part of the surrounding outdoor space.
Tip: Avoid capturing the building using only a single straight line or ring of scans. Alternating near and far positions provides better coverage for 3D reconstruction.
Capture Windows
For exterior windows, use three scan positions arranged in a triangle:
Capture one scan near each edge of the window, approximately 0.5 m from the wall
Capture a third scan approximately 2 m away, centred in front of the window
This provides multiple viewpoints and helps reduce visual artefacts around windows in the generated 3D content.
Capture Fences and Property Boundaries
Follow the inside of the fence or property boundary using a zigzag pattern
Include scan positions at corners and changes in direction
Where accessible, capture additional scans from outside the fence to improve coverage
Cover Gardens and Open Outdoor Areas
For lawns, paved areas and other open ground:
Position scans to cover the entire intended outdoor area
Keep neighbouring scan positions no more than 5 m apart
Add an extra scan wherever gaps exceed 5 m
Avoid unnecessary scans in large areas with little detail, such as empty lawns
Tip: Open ground generally requires fewer scans than areas containing buildings, furniture or other objects.
Capture Trees, Cars and Other Outdoor Objects
For trees, cars, outdoor furniture and other objects.
Capture each object from all sides
Use a zigzag pattern, alternating between closer and farther positions
Position scans approximately 1 m apart around smaller objects and 2 m apart around larger objects
Capture additional positions where objects or surrounding structures obstruct the view
When capturing trees, include positions beneath the canopy where possible, ensuring at least 1.6 m of clearance for the tripod.
Capture the Entire Property
Where possible, include additional scan positions from the farthest accessible location to provide a clear view of the entire building.
If only part of the property is accessible:
Capture the accessible areas using the same near-and-far zigzag pattern
For enclosed courtyards, scan along the surrounding walls and cover the open space in the middle
In narrow areas with limited space, use the best available zigzag pattern while maintaining sufficient coverage
Reviewing Your Outdoor Capture
Before finishing outdoor capture:
Check the camera map and ScanView for missing areas or gaps in coverage
Make sure the building, property boundaries and intended outdoor objects have been captured
Check that neighbouring 3D scan positions do not exceed the recommended 5 m spacing
Confirm that outdoor scans are assigned to the Outdoor area class and the correct building
Correct any area or building assignments before uploading the project
Tip: Complete outdoor capture in one session to maintain consistent lighting and avoid unnecessary changes to the environment.