Frequently asked questions

Recon-3D is a scanning app that uses the Lidar sensor on the iPhone to produce high quality, accurate data.

Although you could use Recon-3D in any area where you need accurate 3D data, the main target users are crime and crash scene investigators.

The best objects for scanning are those that you can walk entirely around. Items like cars and small rooms are perfect for Recon-3D. You should not try to tackle very large spaces or expanses as this will time out the app and possibly cause memory issues.

The range of the Lidar sensor is approximately 5m. However, objects which are farther away can be reconstructed as well. This is controlled using the Depth of Reconstruction setting. However, reconstructing surfaces farther away (up to 30m) will take much longer to process. The default setting is 5m.

The Depth Range Slider is a way of limiting the reconstruction to objects within this range of the sensor. Extraneous background objects are not reconstructed which limits the amount of clean up required by the user and also improves the processing time.

Photogrammetry mode allows you to upload up to 200 photos or 10 videos with a maximum of 10 minutes each. The data is uploaded to the server for processing and returns a point cloud. You can use AprilTags with photogrammetry mode and it is great for smaller objects where greater detail is necessary. Photogrammetry mode is currently processed on the cloud only.

This is a complex answer that depends on the scale of the object and how well it was scanned and reconstructed. When using the April Tags to properly scale the reconstructed point cloud, the data can be validated by using reference measurements. This often results in most measurements that are on the order of <1-2 cm.

Please check the research section of our website as we try to keep this updated with peer reviewed scientific publications about iPhone Lidar and Recon-3D.

Proper scanning and best practices should be followed to capture the best data possible. We have videos and a section dedicated to this!

The scan time is currently capped at a maximum of 10 minutes, however cloud processing has some additional limits.

A 1mm resolution scan has a 1 minute maximum scan time.

A 2mm resolution scan has a 2 minute maximum scan time.

A 3mm resolution scan has a 3 minute maximum scan time.

A 4mm resolution scan has a 4 minute maximum scan time.

Resolutions at 5mm or greater have a 10 minute maximum scan time.

On-Device processing remains unlimited to 10 minutes.

Please note that at this time, longer scans at a very low resolutions are quite intensive for on-device processing and can crash the app. We are working on it

Recon-3D uses the EveryPoint engine and fuses the lidar with video frames to give you a photogrammetry plus Lidar sensor model. This gives the best of both worlds and allows for future growth and new features to be implemented.

Currently, Recon-3D works on the iPhone 12 Pro/Max through to the 17 Pro/Max and the iPad Pro (since 2020). These are the only instruments with the Lidar sensor included.

Recon-3D is available on the App Store. You can download and install the app on your Lidar enabled device and purchase directly through our website. You may also purchase plans directly through the in app purchases under the Buy Plan section.

Yes, you have the option to process your sensitive data on the device. However, the algorithm used for on-device processing is a little different than the cloud processing. Also, very long scans are not recommended for on-device processing as they can run out of memory and are more sensitive to crashes.

One of the benefits of on device processing is that you can get a quick preview by using resolutions of 15mm or greater. This confirms that your data is intact and working. You can choose to reprocess at a finer resolution later.

Cloud processing allows the scan data to be reconstructed at its fullest potential. This is also where you will want to send any large scans on the order of a few minutes or so recording time since cloud processing is much more stable.

Yes, the standard subscription allows for a maximum of 30 scans per month. This ensures that everyone has an equal amount of available usage from the processing servers and minimizes heavy loading.

Note: There used to a be 10 scan daily limit, but this has been removed as of June 2024

There are a few variables that effect server processing times:

1. Server load and Queue: When there are many jobs being submitted to the Recon-3D servers, there is a queuing system in place that is in order of priority. Therefore, make sure to submit the most important jobs first. In cases where multiple jobs are being submitted, only one job will be processed at a time unless there are empty pipelines.

2. Scan Settings: The more dense the resolution and the greater the depth of reconstruction distance, the longer the scans will take to process. When using a 1mm resolution for even a couple of minutes can take a few hours to process. So, when working with small resolutions, minimize your scan time and lower the depth of reconstruction settings.

3. Scan Time: The longer the scan time, the longer it will take to process. Make sure to cover the areas that are important to you but think about being efficient and try not to be overly redundant.

The amount of space you need depends on the frequency at which you will be scanning. Most Recon-3D scans take less than 1GB of space while in some cases, scans can be over 2GB which means you could potentially have a few hundred scans on a device with only 256 GB of storage space.

If you are using your device for other things like email, personal photos and are installing other apps, then you will limit the amount of storage available.

In most cases, 512 GB is a good middle ground for most devices although 256 GB is more than enough for a lot of scanning.

Remember that you can always backup your data and remove scans to free up space when necessary.

Currently, we are only allowing to export point cloud data in the e57 format. This provides maximum flexibility. You can easily convert the e57 file in a freely available program such as CloudCompare.

Having a subscription allows for a lower cost to the customer and also provides recurring funds to keep developing and improving features. There are currently two subscriptions, monthly and yearly.

In cases where a user is using a zoom feature for their screens, it's possible that the interface gets cut off. Simply go to Settings ->Display & Brightness -> View, and choose "Standard".

You have to have Recon-3D open in order to upload or run the on-device processing. This may change in the future, but it’s the way it works right now in order to dedicate the necessary resources to the phone.

Yes, it's possible to compress the scan folder and use AirDrop to send the compressed folder to a second Apple device. You can then uncompress in the Filesync folder and process on the second device. Please see the video about this in our tutorials section.

Recon-3D chooses only the best frames of the video. If you have a series of images with quick rotations and blurring, then it won’t use those frames. However, if the entire video is shaking, then that’s not an ideal situation. Under normal circumstances, if you can hold the phone generally steady, then you will have good results and a gimbal isn’t necessary.

At this time, Recon-3D must be open in order to run on-device processing and to complete any uploads. When you close the app or open another app, processing and uploading stops. When you return to Recon-3D, all processes begin again.

Yes, you can scan with the free trial of Recon-3D and since version 1.2, you can export your scans, use cloud processing, and photogrammetry mode. The scan times are limited to 30 seconds to give the user a sense of how Recon-3D operates.

When scanning with iPhone Lidar, everything is firing on your phone and heat accumulates quickly. This is especially so in the summer on hot days and in direct sunlight. The following is a checklist of items for managing heat.

Before Use

• Start with a fully cooled phone (indoors or out of sunlight). If driving, find a way to mount the phone over a cooling vent.

• Close all unnecessary background apps

• Lower screen brightness manually

• Avoid wireless charging right before use

• Remove thick, black cases that will absorb heat and minimize cooling.

• Consider using Airplane Mode if connectivity when not needed. This also helps to avoid interruptions during scanning.

During Use

• Scan efficiently – minimize idle time when scanning. More time means more heat!

• Work in shaded areas whenever possible

• Take short breaks to cool the phone (lock screen + move to shade)

• Remove thick, insulated, or heat-trapping cases

• Use cooling accessories like Passive cooling pads, Clip-on fans, Peltier-based phone coolers (MagSafe or clamp-on)

• Avoid placing the phone on dark or hot surfaces or in direct sunlight

• If needed, pause scanning and let the phone cool with the screen off

After Use or If Overheating

• Lock the phone and place it in a cool, shaded spot or by an air conditioning vent

• Set it on a metal surface or cooling pad (not direct ice)

• Do not put the iPhone in a freezer or fridge

• Let it cool down naturally before starting another task

• Recharge only once the phone has cooled, and avoid wireless charging

Since version 1.3.1 (31) Recon-3D should be much more stable with your account. However, in the event that you are suddenly switched back to a trial account, try the following:

1. Logout and back in.

2. Switch networks if possible (i.e., force wifi or force cell data)

3. Kill the app (swiping up)

4. Restart device

Usually one of these will fix the issue.

Here are some things you can do to give yourself the best chance of a successful scan:

1. Kill all background apps. You would be surprised how many apps remain open and take up resources.

2. Go to airplane mode or Do Not Disturb. This will avoid any unnecessary communication, calls, texts while you are scanning.

3. Make sure you have enough space on the device. Even though it looks like there may be 20 Gb, that is not what is entirely available to the app. Clear out some space if necessary.

4. Try to keep scanning efficiently and reduce the scan time. Scanning for longer doesn’t mean it’s better.

5. Turn off target detection. In case you are using Targets, you can shut off this function and just add the targets later. When this setting is on, the app is constantly looking for targets in each frame so this frees up a bit of resources while scanning.

6. Make sure the phone isn't overheating. This can happen in the warmer months and you need to keep the phone cool.

As of version 1.5, you can download and backup your scans and scan folders in two ways.

The simplest way is to purchase an adapter. Depending on whether you have an iPhone 12-14, you will need a lightning cable to female USB adapter. The iPhone 15 requires a USB-C to USB-A adapter or you can purchase a USB-C thumbdrive which plugs directly into the charging port of the iPhone 15/iPad Pros.

You can also opt to use iTunes via a usb cable from your device to a PC/Mac. You can then backup the entire FileSync folder with all scan folders. It is not possible to backup individual scan folders inside of the FileSync folder through iTunes, but you can backup the entire FileSync folder with all scan folders.

As an alternate method, you can use the Files app to backup any scan folders and move them into the root Recon-3D folder and you will then have access to back them up. See our YouTube Channel for instructional videos.

As of version 1.5, GPS positions are recorded by the Recon-3D app. They are not included in the e57 file, but they can be copied and pasted from the app by simply pressing on the Scan Location text.

Scanning black or shiny vehicles can definitely be challenging due to how these surfaces interact with LiDAR. Dark colors tend to absorb the infrared light, and glossy finishes can reflect it away from the sensor, both of which can result in missing data or incomplete scans.

That said, there are several things you can do to improve your results. First, if you have access to any kind of spray or coating, even something as simple as baby powder, foot spray, dry shampoo, or cornstarch can help by dulling the reflective surface and increasing the return signal. For professional use, we often recommend AESUB sprays — the white version stays on the surface and must be wiped off, while the blue and orange variants are sublimating, meaning they disappear after a few hours. Just keep in mind that high heat and humidity can accelerate sublimation, so in those conditions, a non-sublimating spray is usually more effective. There's also a clear scanning developer spray that slightly dulls the surface without obscuring the original color — ideal when color fidelity matters.

If you don’t have any spray available, scanning technique becomes crucial. Try to move a bit slower and make multiple passes over difficult areas. Most importantly, position your phone so the sensor is as perpendicular to the surface as possible. This is especially important on curved areas, where scanning from an angle can result in poor return or no data at all. Being deliberate and methodical in your movements can make a significant difference in scan quality.

We also recommend watching the depth map preview in the top-right corner during your scan. If you notice areas with no data return (especially common on black surfaces), you may want to rescan those sections from a better angle.

Lastly, if you're scanning in tight spaces or around barriers, a selfie stick or extension pole can help you reach and maintain proper angles on hard-to-access parts of the vehicle.

Even with best practices, some data loss is normal on high-gloss black surfaces — but using the right combination of surface preparation and careful scanning will yield much better results. Please let us know how it goes or if you'd like feedback on your specific scan.

Yes, since version 1.7, you can click on the image icon in the lower right of the thumbnail and choose to replace it with a photo or an image from your gallery.

The user portal is for yearly subscribers only and allows you to see your account in real time. Scans can be downloaded as can the recorded video files. The link to the user portal is:

https://admin.recon-3d.com:8080/recon-3d-user/login

Simply use your Recon-3D account credentials to gain access.

Yes, there are currently a few cases where Recon-3D has been accepted and used in both civil and criminal court internationally. Please contact us for specific references and details.

When you purchase anything through the Recon-3D app, you are purchasing directly through Apple. Monthly and yearly licenses are recurring subscriptions. If you forget to cancel your subscription, you need to go to your Apple Settings, click on your name (where it says Apple ID, iCloud...etc.). Then, go to Payments and Subscriptions, then Recon-3D and cancel the subscription.

If you do this, the subscription will continue until the expiry date and will not auto renew. In case you just renewed and you want to cancel, you need to contact App Store Support to request a refund.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/billing

Recon-3D remembers that last person to login online and in case the user is in a location where they have no connectivity, it is possible to login to Recon-3D for a period of up to 30 days. After the 30 days have passed offline, the user must connect online at least once to initiate another 30 days offline.

If you suspect you may be in an area which may not have any signal, login at your home or office or where you have cellular data available prior to scanning. This should ensure you will have access to the app even in situations where it crashes, you logoff, or you lose signal.

Whenever you have a failed scan, there could be a few reasons for this and there are some things you can do before, during and after scanning to minimize any issues with the scan processing.

Before Scanning:

1. Make sure you have enough space on your device to store the recorded data. Once your device starts to get full, the app will stop scanning when it runs out of storage space. Try to keep at least 10Gb free so you don’t run into issues.

2. Kill any background apps. Close any apps that are running in the background which could be using RAM memory. Older devices like the iPhone 12 don’t have a lot of RAM and so clearing out and maximizing wha you can use is helpful.

3. Keep the phone cool. You will notice in hot weather or as the phone scans for some time, it gets hot! The Apple ARKit uses all the sensors on the iPhone and so it gets quite hot and can cause noticeable lagging when scanning. So, keep it cool before scanning so you can extend the amount of time you can record before running into any issues.

4. Check your target distance twice! There have been a few people who enter an incorrect value for their target distance. Currently, whenever the sensor scale differs by more than 15% to the user input scale, the system throws an error. Longer measurements on the order of a few meters are best as very small target to target distances get close to the 15% threshold.

During Scanning:

1. Perhaps the best thing to do is to scan efficiently. I have seen many people take a full 10 minutes on some scans that could have taken at most 2 minutes.

2. Avoid a lot of rotations and bad positioning of the sensor. Some of the worst things to do are getting to close to an object, rotating the phone too quickly and pointing the phone at the sky.

3. Make sure to follow the scanning best practices from the R3D course. Having a structured capture method is most helpful in a successful reconstruction with R3D.

After Scanning:

1. Once completed a scan, check to make sure the recorded video plays properly. If not, there was a corruption and you should scan again.

2. If the video plays, review the video for any skips and take note of your scanning technique. Did you make a quick rotation? was there any jerky motion? Did the phone get rotated towards the sky? Did your finger accidently cover the lens? (Yes, these have all happened).

3. Confirm that your target distance was set correctly (if using April Tags).

4. Process at a high resolution setting of 30mm. If you have some time to quickly process the scan at 30mm resolution and it completes successfully, it means you have everything you need. If the scan fails, especially right away, then it could indicate something is wrong.

5. Take a second scan. It only takes a couple of minutes to get a quick scan so take a backup scan and keep it just in case. Remember, that yearly and monthly users can scan infinitely. You don’t need to process the scan unless you need it.

6. Upload with a good connection. Sometimes if you are uploading while driving or where you are remote and have a poor signal, data can get corrupted and cause some issues on the server so you get a failed scan when really, it was a bad upload. WiFi at restaurants and some hotels can cause problems so do your best to keep a strong, stable connection.

7. In case all of this fails, you can always reach us at the support email address and we can reset the scan for you to upload and try processing again.

We are working on continually improving the robustness of the app to accommodate many of the issues that can cause a failed scan. Should you notice something in particular or wish to report a bug, you can do so via the chat window or contact form on the website.

The number dots are an indication of the number of features being tracked. More features is better but even when there is a lack of features, it doesn't mean you won't recover any data.

The dot color relates to the triangulation angle Red (bad) = low triangulation angle, Green (good) = high triangulation angle. Good structure from motion movements across the scene will show green dots.

Panning and rapid movements will see more points stay red.

Recon-3D needs access to your camera and location settings. Make sure that both are turned on. Often, location settings are off and this may be the reason you are seeing this message.

When scanning a road surface perhaps the most important thing is to get an elevated position. If you scan a roadway by holding your device in your hands, you limit the field of view and minimize the area that you are capturing.

The Lidar sensor on Apple devices has a range of approximately 5m (16ft) so if you can get upwards of about 12 ft, this will give you more to look at and capture.

In addition, you can place the phone at an approximate 45 degree angle pointing downwards (higher angles are not recommended). You don’t really want to be pointing straight down to the ground as a 45 degree tilt will give you a greater perspective and more to capture.

In terms of approach, walk straight lines along the length of the road, step over a few paces ensuring you have overlap with the previous section and then go back to where you started. It’s very much like you would fly a drone mission.

Also, avoid rotations in place. (i.e., Do not spin the phone around you as the central point of a circle).

Remember, Recon-3D has a 10 minute scan limit so you need to plan accordingly. It's always suggested to practice beforehand to ensure you get a feel for how much distance you can cover in the 10 minute limit. Additional sections of roadway can be scanned and aligned to other sections so long as there is enough overlap and sufficient natural references that can be aligned.

Yes, File hashing is a digital fingerprint that proves a file hasn't been altered. With the latest update to Recon-3D, every scan’s raw data is automatically hashed (using SHA-256) the moment it’s captured. This hash value is Visible in the app (in the scan details) and Stored with your cloud-processed data and visible in the user portal.

• Why it's important: Verifies authenticity: The hash ensures the raw scan data hasn't been changed since it was created

• Supports forensic integrity: Essential for legal and investigative workflows where data must be preserved and verifiable

• Allows independent verification: Anyone with the original file can re-calculate the hash to confirm it matches

File hashing adds a layer of digital chain-of-custody and reinforces the credibility of your 3D documentation.

Whenever scanning where GPS is available, this will be recorded with the scan data. Whenever you process a scan through the cloud or the device, the GPS location will show in the scan settings.

If you simply press and hold onto the GPS coordinates, this will copy the coordinates and you will see a notification that they have been copied. You can now paste these in Google Maps or other software to get an accurate location of where the scan was taken.

Although you cannot register scans directly in Recon-3D, you can align multiple scans using software such as CloudCompare, Vision-3D, or FARO Zone 3D. Simply import your E57 files and use reference points or overlapping geometry to register them together. For best results, make sure each scan has sufficient overlap and common features visible in both datasets.

Yes. Recon-3D exports standard E57 point cloud files which are compatible with most 3D visualization and measurement tools, including FARO Zone 3D, Leica Cyclone, Trimble RealWorks, Autodesk ReCap, and CloudCompare to name a few.

Yes, yearly subscribers can log into the User Portal to download their point clouds and videos directly. Monthly users can still access their E57 files via the app and share or back them up manually.

If your connection drops, simply reopen the app when back online. Recon-3D will automatically attempt to resume uploads where they left off. If the upload still fails, you can delete and re-upload the scan.

Yes, Recon-3D supports all LiDAR-enabled iPhones up to the latest generation. The newer sensors on the iPhone 17 Pro/Max provide slightly higher range and improved edge fidelity, which Recon-3D takes advantage of.

Yes, scanning uses the LiDAR, camera, and GPU simultaneously. It’s recommended to start with a fully charged battery or use a portable power pack if scanning for extended sessions.

Yes. Simply install the app on your new device and log in with the same account credentials. Your subscription is tied to your account with a limit of two installs for every user license. So unless you have tried to install on more than 2 devices, you can use Recon-3D without issue. If you need to clear your device list, please contact support and we can take care of that for you.

Recon-3D allows you to delete scans directly from within the app. However, depending on your storage usage, you may also need to permanently remove files from your device to free up space.

Deleting a scan from within Recon-3D

1. Open Recon-3D.

2. Tap the Scan List icon (bottom-left folder icon).

3. Locate the scan you want to remove.

4. Tap the three-dot menu (…) next to the scan.

5. Select Delete.

You will be given the option to delete:

-Local copy (data stored on the device)

-Cloud copy (if the scan was uploaded)

If the scan was never uploaded to the cloud, only the local delete option will appear.

Where deleted scans go

When you delete a scan from the app, it is not immediately removed from your device. Instead, it is moved to a Bin folder located inside the Recon-3D directory on your device.

-Files remain in the Bin folder for approximately 7 days.

-After that, they move into Apple’s Recently Deleted storage.

During this time, the files may still occupy storage space on your device.