Frequently Asked Questions

What is LIDAR used for?
The first LIDAR system was developed by the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1961 under the direction of Malcolm Stitch (for whom Stitch3D is named after!). Back then, the U.S. military used LIDAR to map and detect concealed missiles in the Cuban jungle during the Cold War. Today, LIDAR is used in autonomous vehicles, 3D mapping and surveying, 3D printing, archaeology, robotics, augmented reality, and so much more. In fact, Apple has built LIDAR into the latest iPhone and iPad Pros, giving everyone the ability to capture 3D images.
How do I use Stitch3D?
Stitch3D is a cloud 3D data platform that lets you easily manage, visualize, analyze, and share 3D files of any size or format, directly from your web browser or mobile device. Simply upload your 3D files (.LAS/.LAZ, .E57, .PLY, .OBJ, etc.) to Stitch3D and use our powerful web visualizer to navigate. Take advantage of analytical tools such as 3D mapping, area and volume measurements, and terrain analysis to make 3D even easier. Lastly, invite your friends or your team to collaborate in private or publish your 3D content for everyone to see by setting access permissions.
Who are we?
Stitch3D is on a mission to bring the power of digital 3D to the world. Although LIDAR sensors provide a quick way to capture detailed 3D scans, the resulting point clouds are often dense and generate vast amounts of data. Efficiently processing, visualizing, and analyzing this data is challenging, particularly if additional insights such as change detection, 3D mapping, and object detection are desired. We built Stitch3D to streamline this entire process and help make 3D accessible to everyone.
What is LIDAR?
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses lasers to map the physical world in 3D. Similar to SONAR and RADAR, which uses sounds and radio waves, LIDAR uses lasers to measure distances of the surrounding environment, creating a “point cloud” - literally a collection of points where laser light has surveyed. LIDAR makes 3D reality capture possible and allows both you and the computer to see in digital 3D.