Recently we hosted a live webinar on how PIX4Dcatch, paired with Emlid GNSS, is changing the way civil and construction teams capture, visualise, and document assets in the field.

If you missed it, here’s a wrap-up of the key ideas and real-world examples shared by Brad, Alex, and Rowan.

Speakers:

• Brad Cox – Client Relationship Coordinator Mangoesmapping / Map Gear

• Alexander Ariga – Technical Sales Engineer / Pix4D (APAC)
• Rowan Bird – Survey Manager / Seymour Whyte

A Simple Kit for Survey-Grade Scanning

Brad kicked off by breaking the solution down into three main components:

1. PIX4Dcatch app – installed on an iPhone Pro (iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max and above, with LiDAR).

2. Emlid Reach RX / RX2 GNSS receiver – mounted on a handle and connected via Bluetooth (NMEA stream).

3. PIX4D Cloud or PIX4Dmatic – for processing and managing the 3D data.

Instead of relying on the phone’s basic GPS (meter-level), the Reach RX/RX2 delivers centimetre-level GNSS accuracy, turning a consumer device into a survey-capable 3D scanner.

Brad’s point was simple:

Your phone + PIX4Dcatch + Emlid GNSS = a lightweight, field-ready 3D capture system that fits in one hand.

Pix4D’s Role: From Images to Survey-Grade Models

Alex from Pix4D gave an overview of who Pix4D is and what their ecosystem does.

What Photogrammetry Delivers

Using images from either a drone or PIX4Dcatch on a smartphone, Pix4D software can generate:

• Point clouds
• 3D meshes
• Digital Surface Models (DSM)
• Orthomosaics (stitched, map-like imagery)
• Photorealistic Gaussian Splatting models

On top of the visuals, you can measure:

• Points and coordinates
• Distances and areas
• Volumes
• Trace features and vectorise them for CAD / design workflows

Cloud vs Desktop Processing

Alex described two main processing paths:

• PIX4D Cloud – upload directly from the phone, let the cloud process, then view and share through a browser. Ideal for teams who “just want a 3D output” without deep photogrammetry expertise.

• PIX4Dmatic – a desktop solution with more control and options for advanced users, larger projects, or more complex workflows.

Both tie back into the same core goal: turn on-site images into accurate, usable 3D data.

Use Cases: Utilities, Structures, and Blended Workflows

Alex showed how teams use PIX4Dcatch around the world for:

• Underground utilities – scanning trenches and pits before backfilling to keep a permanent 3D record of pipe positions.

• Small rivers and confined areas – where a drone might be overkill or impractical.

• Crash and incident scenes – some police agencies scan car accidents to create accurate, court-ready reconstructions without keeping roads closed for long.

Pix4D allows for blended workflows: combining drone data for broad coverage with PIX4Dcatch scans for detailed, hard-to-see areas under bridges or close to structures. Because both datasets are RTK/GNSS-aligned, the point clouds “just fit” when combined.

Clyde Road Upgrade: A Real-World Case Study

Survey Manager Rowan Bird from Seymour Whyte then walked through how his team uses PIX4Dcatch + Emlid GNSS on the Clyde Road Upgrade Project in Berwick, Victoria.

What They Were Looking For

Rowan’s team had a clear wish list:

• A single platform to scan, store, and view 3D data, with AR visualisation.

• Hardware that isn’t locked into a proprietary ecosystem.

• The ability to work on their project datum (GDA2020).

• A simple UI suitable for engineers and supervisors, not just surveyors.

• A good web interface for measurements (distances, areas, volumes).

• Support for open exports:

  • Meshes (OBJ)

  • Point clouds (LAS)

  • Orthomosaics (image formats)

PIX4Dcatch with Reach RX2 and PIX4Dcloud ticked all of those boxes.

Use Case 1: Underground Drainage Pits – Safer, Faster, More Accurate

Traditionally, surveying underground pits is awkward and risky:

• They’re confined spaces, often wet or dirty.

• Surveyors measure from the surface, which introduces errors.

• Lowering expensive terrestrial laser scanners into pits carries real damage risk.

Rowan’s workflow now:

1. Walk around the pit and scan with PIX4Dcatch and the GNSS receiver on a pole.

2. Invert the pole and lower the system down the pit shaft, scanning as they go.

3. Upload to PIX4D Cloud; processing typically takes around half an hour.

4. Back in the office (or still on site), they measure length, width, height, and pipe inverts directly from the 3D model.

They’ve tested the results against precast pits and their BIM/utility models and are seeing sub-centimetre to 10–20 mm agreement on dimensions and levels – with no one climbing into the pit and no delicate $10k+ scanners dangling on ropes.

Low-light performance has also been excellent, with the iPhone’s sensor and LiDAR doing well off natural light alone.

Use Case 2: Utility Trenches – Capturing the Whole Story

Rowan contrasted traditional utility surveying with 3D scanning:

• Traditional: a few points every couple of metres plus minimal metadata. Most of the context is lost unless someone remembers to snap photos.

• With PIX4Dcatch: a quick scan captures the entire trench, including:

  • Bedding quality

  • Direct-buried cables

  • Adjacent conduits and services

  • General condition before backfill

For safety and “before you dig” awareness, this is huge. Operators can later stand on the finished surface, open the AR view, and see exactly where that gas main or high-voltage cable was laid, not just a spray-painted line.

Rowan said operators are often blown away by being able to see “how it looked six months ago” overlaid on today’s ground.

Use Case 3: Structural Pours and Bridge Works – Rich QA Records

Another powerful use case is pre-pour scanning of reinforcement.

On the Clyde Road bridge widening, access to satellites is limited by the cutting and existing bridge structure. Rowan’s team:

• Scanned the reinforcement for a pier footing with PIX4Dcatch + Reach RX.
• Overlaid the resulting point cloud against the IFC bridge model in PIX4D Cloud.

Despite the GNSS challenges, the fit was impressively good with no special tricks – just walking around with the kit.

Beyond alignment checks, Rowan highlighted the value as a long-term QA record:

• Instead of 4–5 photos for the quality file, you now have hundreds of high-res images plus a full 3D model.
• All of this can be exported and archived as a zipped dataset from PIX4D Cloud for future reference.

Why It Matters: Better Decisions, Safer Worksites, Stronger Records

Across Brad, Alex, and Rowan’s segments, a few themes kept coming up:

• Accuracy – Centimetre-level GNSS and high-quality photogrammetry make measurements and overlays trustworthy.

• Speed – Scans take minutes on site; cloud processing handles the heavy lifting.

• Safety – Less time in and around dangerous pits, trenches, and live services.

• Context – 3D models and rich image sets capture far more than point-based surveys.

• Collaboration – Cloud projects and AR views mean project managers, engineers, supervisors, and operators work from the same live data.

• Future-proofing – Exportable, open formats and local archives protect project knowledge long after construction ends.

Want to Try PIX4Dcatch with Emlid GNSS?

Brad wrapped up by outlining available hardware + software bundles and mentioned that trials are available for teams who want to see how the workflow fits into their projects.

If you’d like to:

• See sample scans from utilities, structures, or trenches
• Trial PIX4Dcatch with Emlid GNSS on your own site
• Talk through the right bundle for your team (Cloud, Matic, Survey, training, credits)

👉 Get in touch with Brad and the team to set up a demo or a no-obligation trial.