Overview of 3D Body Measurement Scanners

3D Scanning is conquering the world! Dedicated software extracts 3D models from photographs `and affordable 3D scanners make scanning fast and accurate. Even a mobile phone will soon have a built-in 3D scanner.

3D body scanning is the ideal tool to capture a whole body or other components in 3D.

The 3D body scan is a three-dimensional model of the human body or a limb, which is visible on a screen. It can be used to assess the body, evaluate posture, etc. The 3D model can be coloured and textured to suit the original or just be a mesh, a sort of point cloud that forms the body.

This blog highlights the benefits and applications of 3D body scanners.

Benefits of 3D body scanners

3D body measurement scanner provides many benefits in comparison with conventional body imaging and measurement technology.

· Non-invasive: 3D body scanning is completely non-invasive. The 3D scanner never comes into direct contact with the subject. If the 3D handheld scanner is used, the device is maintained by the operator somewhere and moves around the subject. In a 3D scanning booth, the subject is placed in the middle of the booth and a range of sensors rigged in the booths can capture every detail of the subject in 3D, from every angle.

· Fast: It takes less than 10 seconds to scan a person with a 3D scanning booth. The method will take a few minutes while using a portable 3D scanner and needs the person to be completely immobilized.

• Accurate: 3D scanners are capable of measuring perfect and accurate automatic body measurements. 3D body scanners are high-precision tools that generate highly detailed 3D models in high resolution. They cannot detect things that the human eye cannot do, and in many circumstances, such 3D scanners are very valuable. Obviously, the quality of the outcome depends on the body scanner. Some 3D scan stands capture many people at once, including colors and textures, with an impressive degree of detail.

Types of 3D Body Scanners

3D scanning booths

The 3D scanning booths are 3D scanner or sensor rigged cabins. The person standing in the center is holding the position for a couple of seconds so that the body scanner can capture images from every angle at once. In the case of a 3D figural body scanner, the body scanner creates a detailed 3D model for the person in colour and texture.

There are several types of booths with 3D scanning:

• Closed 3D scanning booth or closed body scanner: a circular cabin fitted with cameras or 3D scanners that allow the subject to be shot in 3D from a 360 ° angle in the middle of the two.
• Total body 3D scanners or whole 3D body scanners: the subject stands in front of a vertical 3D scanner on a rotating turntable. The turntable rotates during the 3D body scanning process so the subject can be completely shot in 3D from all angles. When a full rotation is complete the body scan is generated.

Handheld 3D scanners

Handheld 3D scanners are more versatile than 3D scanning booths, as they can be brought around the subject for body scanning. The downside: the person being scanned in 3D must remain fully still throughout the entire process of processing, or the 3D scan would be unusable. For this purpose, portable 3D scanners are usually used to capture body parts or limbs in 3D body scanning applications, and not to perform full 3D body scans.

Applications of 3D scanners

• 3D Figurines: Also known as 3D selfies or 3D portraits, these miniature real-life statues are typically 3D printed from a full-body 3D scanner model, usually a 3D scanning booth.
• Monitoring fitness and body shape: 3D body scanners are used in fitness to track a person’s progress through various body measurements, metrics of body shapes, analysis of posture, and more.
• Fashion / Clothing: 3D body scanners are begun to be used by the fashion industry to capture specific body measurements to make customized and tailored apparel. With the emergence of virtual fitting rooms in retail, 3D body scanning unlocks new potential for in-store and online shopping: shoppers can use their 3D avatar, based on precise body measurements, to try out new clothes effortlessly.
• Healthcare and medical: There are many applications of body scanning in medical fields, from measuring body shape to detecting possible issues to capturing extremely accurate 3D models of body parts such as damaged limbs to, for example, making custom prosthetics. 3D body scanning can also help monitor how quickly a burn heals by capturing the damaged skin in 3D, identifying the burnt tissue, and measuring the area to track progress, thanks to 3D scanning of colors and textures.
• Avatar creation: 3d body scanning and 3D face scanning can be used for creating realistic avatars in entertainment, for example for video games.

In diverse fields of healthcare to wellness and entertainment, 3D body measurement scanner revolutionize the way we record, measure, and monitor the evolutions of the human body. The latest advances in whole-body 3D scanning application lead to even further applications. Initially developed for the clothing industry, 3D body scanners greatly enhance our ability to accurately measure and visualize the size, shape, and surface area of a person’s body. Recent advances in whole-body scanning are enabling novel healthcare applications.

3D Measure Up platform uses a combination of computational, geometrical, and Machine Learning algorithms to extract accurate landmarks measurements from the 3D body scans. It offers solutions including WebApp, OEM App, and API to unlock the potential of 3D body scans in different industries.