SDX-PocketScan - Handheld 3D Surveying

Turn your iPhone into a handheld 3D scanner with the SDX-PocketScan. Capture trenches, small sites, and hard-to-reach areas with accurate RTK GNSS positioning, then measure and document the results in SDX-Cloud.

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Put site capture in the hands of your crew.

Trenches get backfilled and work moves on, even when a surveyor isn’t available. Phone photos and handwritten notes don’t always provide the measurements needed later. SDX-PocketScan lets crews capture georeferenced 3D data, giving the office a measurable record for as-built documentation and handover.

Simple capture for field crews. Measurable results for the office.

Built for field crews
Capture site conditions with a straightforward workflow in the Sodex Mobile app. Foremen, site engineers, and technicians can handle routine documentation, while surveyors manage project setup and review.
Georeferenced from the start
Use RTK GNSS positioning to capture data in your project’s coordinate system. Prepare the project in the office so crews can select it and start capturing on site right away.
Check before you leave
Review your capture on site to spot gaps or areas that need another pass. Check coverage while the work is still accessible, before backfilling or moving on.
Automatic sync to SDX-Cloud
Upload and processing of captured data is done automatically. Keep the results in the same project as your SDX-Compact data, drone surveys, and design models.
A record you can measure
Go beyond individual photos and handwritten notes with dated, georeferenced 3D data. Measure captured features in SDX-Cloud and prepare drawings and reports for as-built documentation.
Capture from a suitable distance
Document visible trench details from the edge or scan small stockpiles without climbing them. Choose a suitable viewpoint and capture method to cover the surfaces you need safely.

From phone to scanner.

One handheld system. Three ways to capture.

SDX-PocketScan combines a compact GNSS receiver, a compatible iPhone, and the Sodex Mobile app for georeferenced site surveying and 3D documentation. Capture trenches, utility installations, small stockpiles, sidewalks, and curbs, then review and measure the results in SDX-Cloud.

Choose photogrammetry for detailed image-based 3D models, or use the built-in LiDAR scanner on a compatible iPhone Pro for fast, close-range capture. With the pole antenna, you can also measure individual points, lines, and areas, or record ground control points (GCPs) for photogrammetry projects.

Bring your captures into the same SDX-Cloud project as drone surveys and design models. Turn field data into measurements, drawings, and reports for planning, as-built documentation, and handover.

Capture requires suitable GNSS reception and an internet connection. Use ground control points where appropriate and independent checkpoints to verify accuracy.

SDX-PocketScan

Turns an iPhone into a survey-grade scanner for small sites and hard-to-reach spots.

Details

Best fit for: utilities, small site surveying, earthworks, landscaping
Data capture: Photogrammetry (best results), LiDAR (only with iPhone Pro) or use as a Rover Pole
Accuracy: 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) horizontal and 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) vertical
Mounting: via MagSafe case

Downloads

From capture to CAD in one workflow.

Create your project in SDX-Cloud and define its coordinate system. Add available plans and reference data so field captures can be compared quickly.

Pick the capture method that fits the job.

All three capture methods.

LiDAR scanning

Use the built-in laser scanner on a compatible iPhone Pro for fast, close-range 3D capture. Walk around the area to record visible surfaces and check coverage as you go.

Range: about 3 m / 10 ft
Accuracy: about 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in)
Best for: Sidewalks, curbs, shallow trenches, and small utility installations.

Photogrammetry

Uses overlapping iPhone images to create detailed 3D models of larger areas and objects. Capture from multiple viewpoints, with ground control points where needed to support accuracy.

Range: up to 8 m / 26 ft
Accuracy: 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) with GCPs, about 3 to 6 cm (1.2 to 2.4 in) without GCPs,
Best for: Small stockpiles, parking areas, deeper trenches, and larger utility installations

Surveying pole

Mount SDX-PocketScan on a pole with the pole antenna to measure individual points, lines, and areas. Tilt compensation supports measurements without holding the pole perfectly vertical.
Best for: Spot measurements, surface creation, and ground control points for PocketScan and drone surveys.

Ground control points recorded through the Sodex Mobile app can be stored in SDX-Cloud and used for drone photogrammetry processing, without a separate file transfer.

Additionally to the SDX-PocketScan and Pole Antenna, Sodex also provides surveying poles and GCPs in different sizes if needed.

Where teams use the SDX-PocketScan

Underground Utilities & Pipelines

Capture exposed pipes, cables, and connections before backfill. Turn georeferenced 3D data into measurements, drawings, and as-built records for handover and billing.

Earthworks

Survey small work areas, curbs, sidewalks, and completed installations. Measure quantities and document site conditions without arranging a separate survey visit for every capture.

Stockpile Measurement

Capture small stockpiles and calculate their volumes in SDX-Cloud. Use the pole setup to measure ground control points for drone surveys covering larger storage areas.

Surveying Services

Add handheld scanning and GNSS point measurements to your surveying toolkit. Delegate routine captures to trained team members while retaining control of project setup and data review.

QA/ QC & Site Documentation

Record visible installation details and site conditions before they change or are covered. Use measurements and dated 3D records to support quality reviews, inspections, and future maintenance.

Seamless data integration and cloud connectivity

Every scan lands in SDX-Cloud automatically and will be merged with data from other systems if several units are operating in the same project. Additionally, data from drones, scanners and any other surveying device can be uploaded.

What our customers say about us.

Discover all success stories

“Day to day, week to week, we can see where our cut and fill maps are and how much cut and fill we have left to do on the job.”

SDX-Compact OnTop
SDX-PocketScan
SDX-Cloud

Jason Elder

Project superintendent, Haydon

“Data collection is significantly more comfortable and faster than walking the construction site with a rover pole, and I never get the data at this density either, because something always gets forgotten somewhere - you just walk past it and miss it.”

SDX-Compact
SDX-PocketScan
SDX-Cloud

Christian Bosdorf

Surveyor, Matthäi

Explore our global network of channel partners.

Local partners in the United States, Europe, and Australia demo SDX-Systems on your site and support you before, during, and after the purchase.

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FAQs

SDX-PocketScan combines an RTK receiver with a supported smartphone (iPhone 12+) and the Sodex Mobile app for handheld surveying. It is useful for smaller areas, exposed utilities, and locations where machine-mounted scanning is impractical, helping teams capture site details directly on foot.

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Put site capture in the hands of your crew.

Simple capture for field crews. Measurable results for the office.

Built for field crews

Georeferenced from the start

Check before you leave

Automatic sync to SDX-Cloud

A record you can measure

Capture from a suitable distance

From phone to scanner.

One handheld system. Three ways to capture.

SDX-PocketScan

Details

Downloads

From capture to CAD in one workflow.

01Set up the project▾

02Attach and connect▾

03Choose your capture method▾

04Check before leaving▾

05Sync and process▾

06Measure, document and share▾

Pick the capture method that fits the job.

LiDAR scanning

Photogrammetry

Surveying pole

Where teams use the SDX-PocketScan

Underground Utilities & Pipelines

Earthworks

Stockpile Measurement

Surveying Services

QA/ QC & Site Documentation

Seamless data integration and cloud connectivity

What our customers say about us.

Explore our global network of channel partners.

FAQs

01What is SDX-PocketScan, and when should it be used?▾

02Do I need surveying experience to use SDX-PocketScan?▾

03Does SDX-PocketScan support both LiDAR and photogrammetry?▾

04How does SDX-PocketScan georeference a smartphone scan?▾

05Can SDX-PocketScan measure points, lines, and areas as well as create 3D scans?▾

06How fast is the data processing and what happens to an SDX-PocketScan capture after it is uploaded?▾

07Can SDX-PocketScan be used with LTE or Starlink?▾

News & Updates

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