How accurate is laser scanning a track?
The actual raw scan can be accurate to within millimeters based on the equipment you are using. To implement into a consumer level sim which is powered by a single PC the raw scan is then used as highly accurate tracing paper. Some items such as buildings can simply be downsampled to a lower polygon count and used in the actual model. However a raw scan can be used in a multi-computer powered professional simulator such as DH Pro by the Sim Factory, but the package is very expensive and is for training and engineering purposes, not massive multiplayer online racing. For consumer level titles laser scanning the surface is still by far the most realistic manner in which to create a simulated racing surface. Though you are not driving the actual scan, it provides you the most in depth and comprehensive tracing paper to start track development. GPS scanning is also a great way to achieve the transitions and so forth, but the laser scan references are far more accurate in regard to capturin
