Interior Scanning
Capture interior spaces accurately using LiDAR or ARCore. This guide covers device selection, room preparation, shooting technique, and zone methodology for multi-room projects.
Before you start
Choosing your device
iPhone 12 Pro or later / iPad Pro
LiDAR scanner delivers ±10mm accuracy. Fastest capture — walk and scan in real time. Best for renovation documentation and permit applications.
Android with depth sensor
ARCore depth API delivers ±20–30mm accuracy. Works well for feasibility and concept-stage documentation.
Preparing the space
A few minutes of preparation makes a significant difference to scan quality:
- Open all doors and cupboards — Harv.ant captures what it sees, so closed doors create gaps in the model
- Clear the floor of bags, boxes and loose furniture where possible
- Turn on all lights — even LiDAR benefits from good lighting for texture capture
- Remove reflective objects like mirrors and glass tabletops if possible — these confuse depth sensors
- For multi-storey projects, scan one floor at a time
The zone method
For any interior space, Harv.ant works best when you treat each room as a series of zones rather than trying to capture everything in one pass. This ensures every surface gets enough coverage and overlap.
Start at the doorway
Begin each room from the doorway. Capture the full room from this position first — floor to ceiling, left to right. This establishes the room's overall geometry before you move in.
Walk the perimeter
Move slowly around the room's perimeter, keeping the device at chest height. Angle slightly toward the wall as you walk. Aim to capture each wall face from at least two positions.
Capture corners and recesses
Corners, alcoves, bay windows and recesses need dedicated attention. Pause at each one and capture from directly in front, then from each adjacent angle. These areas are the most common source of gaps in a floor plan.
Sweep the centre
Move to the centre of the room and capture a slow 360° sweep. Point the device slightly downward to capture the floor plane, then slightly upward to capture the ceiling and cornice.
Capture doors and windows
Stand directly in front of each door and window opening. Capture the full opening including the reveal — this is what Harv.ant uses to calculate door and window widths for your floor plan.
Move to the next room
Before leaving the room, do a final slow scan from the doorway again. Then move to the adjacent room and repeat. Scanning from shared doorways helps Harv.ant stitch rooms together correctly.
Photo count guide
The right photo count depends on room size and complexity.
| Room type | Recommended photos | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small room (bathroom, laundry) | 20–30 | Focus on corners and fittings |
| Medium room (bedroom, study) | 30–50 | Two perimeter passes recommended |
| Large room (living, open plan) | 50–80 | Divide into sub-zones |
| Complex space (L-shape, split level) | 80–120 | Treat each section as a separate zone |
Common problems and fixes
Gaps in the floor plan
Usually caused by missing coverage in corners or behind furniture. Re-scan the affected area, making sure to capture from multiple angles. You don't need to rescan the whole room — Harv.ant merges supplementary scans automatically.
Walls appearing at wrong angles
This happens when the scan moves too quickly through a transition zone. Rescan the junction between the two walls slowly, capturing from both sides of the corner.
Door or window widths incorrect
Make sure you captured the full opening including the door frame reveal. Stand directly in front of the opening and capture from close range before moving on.