With mobile taking over in many industries, it's about time that laser scanners become more portable. While there have been handheld laser scanners for many years, the latest models are highly intuitive to their surroundings, easier to operate than their predecessors and can be used in a variety of environments. Some of the world's most memorable landmarks and hardest-to-reach landscapes have already been scanned using portable 3D laser scanning technology. For instance, CNET reported the Leaning Tower of Pisa was mapped just last year using a new piece of laser scanning equipment. 

Not all mobile laser scanners are created equal – each has its own capabilities and advantages. But there are many huge benefits common to handheld laser scanning technology that companies in various industries can experience when they employ this type of technology. 

Here are just three of the biggest advantages of these systems:

1. They have sophisticated navigation systems
According to the International Federation of Surveyors (FiG), handheld scanners naturally need to have more advanced sensors than other types of systems to aid in their data collection abilities. FiG noted many types of mobile mapping solutions have auxiliary sensors and enhanced processing solutions to maintain accuracy. This is a huge benefit for real-world applications of the technology, as advanced navigation systems are the way of the future.

2. They are accurate within millimeters
Many of the best laser scanners are pinpoint precise, and mobile mapping solutions aren't an exception. According to online resource GeoDataPoint, portable 3D laser scanning technology is often accurate within just a few millimeters, reducing the need for rework and additional time spent on a project. When it comes down to it, having a highly precise system that can also be easily moved from one area to the next is huge for companies in many industries.

3. They have many applications
Airborne mobile laser scanners have been an industry standard for some years, according to FiG, but the number of portable, on-the-ground scanners has increased in recent years. Many of these scanners are designed to be installed in vehicles to map roadways without causing congestion, while others can be set on tripods or held to scan the insides of buildings. Still others can be held by operators as they move about external environments. There are endless possibilities for the application of mobile mapping systems as the technology only promises to consider advancing.