Spatial Mapping Best Practices

The ZED's Spatial Mapping module, including the standalone ZEDfu app, enables 3D scanning of a scene. The colored 3D mesh model is created by integrating the ZED image and depth data over time from multiple viewpoints.

Best Practices

While the Spatial Mapping module produces outstanding large-scale 3D models using only stereo vision, there are environments that will adversely affect performance, such as indoors and low-light places.

We recommend the following best practices when using Spatial Mapping: 

  • Move slowly
  • For optimal results, use ZEDfu for outdoors scanning. Indoors scanning is possible but untextured and low-light areas may introduce artefacts and incorrect surfaces in the resulting 3D model.
  • Don’t get too close to objects and surfaces you are scanning – remember the ZED minimum range is around 1m
  • Make sure your scene is well-lit
  • Don’t move the sensor too fast to avoid motion blur. The resulting 3D geometry will have a lower resolution if created with blurry images
  • Avoid reflective objects

Remember that the Spatial Mapping module, including ZEDfu, accepts two types of inputs: live images from the ZED camera or recorded video files from the ZED camera (called Offline Processing). Learn more.