VLM output
Inside a shipyard fabrication hall, a worker in a hi-vis vest and white hard hat operates a tripod-mounted terrestrial laser scanner aimed at a large partially built steel ship hull section resting on blocking supports, while holding a tablet. A nearby cart holds a laptop displaying a 3D CAD/point-cloud model, and a second worker stands in the background near the open hall door; the scene is essentially static across all four frames.
- As-Built Scan In ProgressYes
- Scanning Equipment PresentLaser Scanner
- Scan TargetHull Section
- CAD Model DisplayedYes
- Scanner Coverage Of StructurePartial
- Structure Assembly StageStructural Frame
- Deviation FlaggedNo
- Personnel Count2
- PPE ComplianceYes
Customer challenges
Manual lofting and marking carry error that only shows up when blocks are joined later
A block that does not fit is often noticed once it is lifted onto the slipway, where rework is most expensive and directly occupies berth schedule
Manual re-measurement is scoped by a foreman's experience, taking a few points and easily missing critical positions
Joint gaps and welding distortion exist only as scattered point measurements, showing no overall trend
Design model and finished product are never systematically compared, so as-built data is hard to accumulate
Rework cost and delivery delay cannot be flagged in advance
Customer benefits
A part that will not fit is found before it leaves the fabrication station, not once it is on the slipway
Manual re-measurement narrows from a full check to the areas in doubt, cutting inspection hours
Rework happens at the fabrication station rather than the slipway, a different order of cost and schedule impact
Joint gaps and welding distortion show an overall trend, not just scattered points
As-built data accumulates for later conversion, repair and sister-ship construction
Comparison results share the whole-yard digital twin's scene and coordinate reference, with no separate dataset to build
Key features
As-Built Scanning
3D scanning captures the actual geometry of parts and blocks, with zone scanning and overall registration covering large blocks, and raw scan data retained in reprocessable form.
Deviation Screening (broad deviation screening)
Overlays the scan against the design model to produce a deviation colour map and issue list, screens overall dimensional deviation, distortion, missing items and misplaced components, and marks the areas requiring manual re-measurement to narrow the inspection scope; it is a screening tool that does not replace statutory or class society inspection, and millimetre-level accuracy requires industrial metrology equipment assessed separately.
Lofting & Marking Review
Reviews part outlines, openings and datum line positions after lofting and marking, and confirms they fall within tolerance before cutting and assembly.
Trend Tracking
Overlays successive scans to track changes in joint gaps and welding distortion, accumulating as-built records per block and per station.
Before & after
| Before | After — with Linker AI Nexa |
|---|---|
| Before Lofting and marking error shows up when blocks are joined | After — with Linker AI Nexa Scan overlaid on the design model, deviation surfacing at the fabrication station |
| Before A block that does not fit is often noticed once it is on the slipway | After — with Linker AI Nexa A deviation colour map and issue list point to the areas needing re-measurement |
| Before Manual re-measurement is scoped by experience | After — with Linker AI Nexa Rework is handled at the fabrication station without occupying berth schedule |
| Before Joint gaps and distortion exist only as scattered point measurements | After — with Linker AI Nexa Successive scans overlaid to show gap and distortion trends |
| Before Design model and finished product are never systematically compared | After — with Linker AI Nexa As-built records accumulated per block and per station |
| Before Rework cost and delivery delay cannot be flagged in advance | After — with Linker AI Nexa High-risk blocks flagged early so schedules can be adjusted |