---
title: "Observation Scan Overview"
slug: "observation-scan-overview"
tags: ["Observation Scan", "AIR3D", "3D"]
updated: 2026-10-27T23:12:37Z
published: 2026-10-27T23:12:37Z
canonical: "ims-handbook.cenosco.com/observation-scan-overview"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ims-handbook.cenosco.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Observation Scan Overview

> [!NOTE]
> This section of the Handbook explains the Observation Scan module:
> 
> - How to import images and point cloud data.
> - Review and prepare images for the Machine Vision process.
> - How to use Machine Vision to detect integrity issues.

The Observation Scan module enables you (see [3D Observation User Roles](/v414/docs/3dobservation-user-roles)) to import Images and Image data into IMS, review and prepare the images for the Machine Vision process, and use Machine Vision on the images to detect integrity issues (using the AIR (Autonomous Integrity Recognition) algorithm).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e492a0e0-a4ba-4aca-8fc6-76b95f91fdf3/Images/Documentation/image-ILG30HCM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T16%3A40%3A48Z&se=2026-10-28T17%3A40%3A48Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=aXOyOCKoL4LNkpei2feVj7PcwzJTSPoNVaAB7Lv3CYU%3D)

Observation Scan Main Screen.

## Observation Scan Workflow

The typical steps in the Observation Scan workflow are outlined below.

1. [Import Images and Confirm](/v414/docs/importing-images): Scanned site data should first be imported into the IMS Observation Scan Project.
2. [Review and prepare Images before the Machine Vision Run](/v414/docs/reviewing-images): In this step, duplicate images can be removed, images can be flattened, and other adjustments can be made as necessary prior to running Machine Vision.
3. [Run Machine Vision on selected Tags](/v414/docs/machine-vision): The machine vision process uses the AIR algorithm to identify potential integrity issues, create OB-Items (Observation Items), and map the observation items to a 3D Model.
4. [Review Images and Annotations (detected integrity issues)](/v414/docs/review-images) for selected Tags: In this stage,