Feldman3D utilizes two types of ground based 3D laser scanners; time of flight and phased based.

Time of flight scanners work similarly to conventional survey equipment. By firing out a single point laser and recording the time taken for the return an XYZ for a given point is calculated. Repeating this process up to 50,000 times a second is where the scanner differs from conventional total stations.

Phased based scanners emit a continuous laser beam which constantly changes phase. XYZ positional points are recorded based on variations in the phase as the target areas are scanned. Phased based scanners are quicker than time of flight but have a shorter range.

Terrestrial 3D laser scanning has been commercially applied for survey since the late 1990s. More recent developments in technology have allowed laser scanning to become faster, more accurate and to include enhanced survey functionality.