Tutorials

Learn how to capture professional-quality 3D data with Nsite.ai

Getting Started

Request Access to the App

Nsite.ai is not publicly listed on the App Store — access is provided directly by our team. Contact us at info@nsite.ai to request access to the iOS application for your iPhone running iOS 18 or later.

Create Your Account

Capture Workflow - Objects

Select Object Mode

Choose object capture for items that can be viewed from all angles — vehicles, equipment, evidence items, and similar subjects.

Capture the Object

Walk around the object at three heights — low, medium, and high — scanning as you go to ensure complete coverage from every angle. Make sure the phone is in portrait orientation.

Review and Upload

Check your capture for completeness, add any notes, and upload for processing. Processing time varies depending on capture size.

Capture Workflow - Scenes and Active Scenes

Select Scene or Active Scene Mode

Use Scene mode preferentially — only use Active Scene mode when your site includes involved vehicles or equipment that you need captured as part of the environment (rather than masked out). Use this mode for example for an accident site where crashed vehicle(s) are still in place.

Plan Your Coverage

Walk the area to identify key features and plan your path. Place a pair of Nsite.ai AprilTags if able and record the tag to tag distance accurately.

Capture

Use a selfie stick (if possible) with the phone in landscape orientation at full height and aimed about 20 degrees downward. If you don't have a selfie stick, hold the phone (in landscape) as high as comfortable and aim it down approximately 10 degrees. Walk steadily through the area in several loops (on a roadway, walk the shoulders with the phone aimed forward and then walk along areas of physical evidence). Make turns slowly to avoid motion blur. You can rotate the perspective 20-30 degrees from forward as you walk to observe the background areas. Remember, if the phone doesn't see it, it will not be in the reconstruction.

Review and Upload

Click the stop button to complete the capture — we've found that 5-10 minutes of brisk walking usually covers a scene. Check your capture for completeness, add any notes, and upload for processing. Be aware of the data rate — 10 mins is approximately 2.25 GB of data. We preferentially use wifi for upload to avoid cellular usage and throttling.

Using AprilTags

Obtain the Correct AprilTag Markers

Contact us at info@nsite.ai before your capture to receive the correct AprilTag markers. We provide markers matched to our capture requirements — third-party or self-printed tags are not supported.

Place Markers in the Capture

Position a pair of tags across the scene at a known distance apart. Measure and record the tag-to-tag distance before capturing.

Ensure Tags Are Clearly Visible

Each tag should be visible from multiple angles. Keep tags flat, unobstructed, and well-lit so they can be detected automatically during processing.

Enter Measurements

Enter the measured tag-to-tag distance in the app's Capture Settings (April Tag Distance). This value establishes real-world scale in the final model.

Best Practices

Lighting Conditions

Consistent, diffuse lighting is optimal — if possible avoid early morning and late afternoon captures when the sun is low on the horizon as glare can degrade reconstruction quality.

Capture Speed

Move steadily and use a selfie stick for best vantage — turn slowly and deliberately.

Detail Capture

Supplement your systematic coverage with close-ups of important details — damage points, reference markers, or areas of specific interest.

Avoid Obstructions

Try to avoid moving objects, people, and vehicles during capture when possible (these are auto masked but they may contribute noise to the reconstruction). If you pause (are completely motionless) then the app will pause the capture and it will resume when you begin moving again.

Need More Detailed Instructions?

For anything not covered here, reach out to us at info@nsite.ai.