Thursday, October 30, 2025

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Urban Planning

iPhone 17 Pro’s LIDAR Enables Quick 3D Indoor Mapping

Using iPhone LIDAR and open-source tools to map indoor subway spaces

From Hacker News Original Article Hacker News Discussion

A user explores using the iPhone 17 Pro’s LIDAR sensor and the Scanniverse app to capture indoor spaces for OpenStreetMap (OSM) mapping, highlighting the ease of scanning and current challenges in indoor map integration.

Why it matters: Pocket-sized LIDAR enables quick, accurate indoor scans, potentially improving open-source indoor mapping data.

The big picture: Indoor mapping in OSM lags behind big players but could advance with better tools and community contributions.

The stakes: Without popular app support, indoor mapping data risks underuse despite technical feasibility and open standards.

Commenters say: Readers are curious about related 3D scanning projects and note the importance of improving indoor mapping workflows and tool support.