# CavernSeer

> LiDAR-based 3D scanner and renderer for spatial surveying. (iPhone/iPad app by Samuel Grush.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cavernseer/id1562503316 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Samuel Grush](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562503318)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 10 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2021-08-31
- Data updated: 2026-06-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cavernseer/id1562503316/reviews.md

## What is CavernSeer?

Designed for cave and shelter surveying, CavernSeer leverages the LiDAR scanner of the 2020 iPad Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro, and RealityKit's scene reconstruction, to generate relatively-accurate 3D meshes of real-world spaces and render them in various convenient ways.

### App Usage ###

All iOS/iPadOS 14 devices can run the app and view existing scans shared by others, but devices with a LiDAR scanner (currently iPhone 12 Pros and newer iPad Pros) can capture new scans.

### Viewing ###

Scans created by the user or imported from elsewhere will appear in the "Scan List" tab, which lists out the names and the starting photo of the scan.

Selecting a scan displays the start and end photos (if available), *export* options for the scan file as well as a plaintext .OBJ render, as well as the following:
 * Advanced - underlying information about the scan.
 * 3D Render - a 3D perspective rendering view navigable based on the setting "3D render interaction mode".
 * Plan Projected Render - a "top-down" orthographic projection complete with scale bar. Defaults to north-up. The height control allows for raising or lowering the camera to show or hide obstructions. 
 * Elevation Projected Render - a "side-view" orthographic projection with scale bar, compass, and various controls. The angle controls change the direction the camera is facing relative to magnetic-north. The depth control is similar to the plan-projected height control, allowing for pushing the camera through obstructions.
 * Cross Section Render - an elevation projection (see above) with an inset plan-projection indicating the position and size of the camera, and a switch for making the camera "depth-of-field" 1-meter deep to create a cross-section slice.

All of the renders support high-resolution screenshots scaled to higher detail than the device itself.

### Scanning ###

Devices with a LiDAR scanner can capture new scans in the "Scanner" tab.

Pressing the center button starts a scan, after which you can enable Apple's debugging overlays, either showing _Debug_ information or a _Mesh_ preview which displays the currently captured mesh on screen, as well as enabling the device's flashlight.

Clicking the center button again will complete and save the scan, which will appear in the scan list.

### Settings ###

 * Three settings for mesh color change the way that the meshes in the various viewers are displayed.
 * Switch for changing between meters and decimal-feet in any distance contexts.
 * Setting for changing the interaction mode in the 3d Render view. The recommended option is "Orbit angle mapping".
 * Debugging options where appropriate.

## Key features

- LiDAR-powered 3D mesh generation
- Multiple viewing modes (3D, plan, elevation)
- Export scan files (.OBJ)
- High-resolution screenshot capture
- Unit conversion (meters/feet)
- Debugging overlays

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cavernseer/id1562503316/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great App for LiDar Cave Survey

*2023-11-28*

This is a Very functional application. It makes easy and accurate work of cross sections as well as a plan view. It’ll even render a nice profile view of the cave. The screen shot definition works quite well when exporting to another program to create a flat map. 

— is there a way to import .obj files into this app?? I would be very interested to have this function available unless it already is possible and I haven’t figured it out. —

## Frequently asked questions about CavernSeer

### What devices can use CavernSeer to capture scans?

Only devices with a LiDAR scanner can capture new scans. This currently includes iPhone 12 Pro models and newer iPad Pro models. All iOS/iPadOS 14 devices can view existing scans.

### What file formats can CavernSeer export?

CavernSeer can export scan files and a plaintext .OBJ render of the 3D mesh. This allows for further use in other 3D modeling software.

### Does CavernSeer have ads?

No, CavernSeer does not contain advertisements. It is a completely ad-free experience for users.

### How accurate are the 3D meshes generated by CavernSeer?

The app is designed to generate 'relatively-accurate' 3D meshes. The accuracy is dependent on the LiDAR scanner's capabilities and the environment being scanned.

### Can I change the units of measurement in CavernSeer?

Yes, CavernSeer allows you to switch between meters and decimal-feet in any distance contexts within the app. This provides flexibility for different user preferences.

### What is the age rating for CavernSeer?

CavernSeer has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for a wide range of users, including younger individuals.

### How often is CavernSeer updated?

The latest version of CavernSeer is 0.3.2, last updated on December 7, 2021. Future updates will depend on the developer's release schedule.

### What are the different viewing modes in CavernSeer?

CavernSeer offers a 3D Render view, a Plan Projected Render (top-down), an Elevation Projected Render (side-view), and a Cross Section Render. Each mode provides a different perspective for analyzing the scanned space.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 0.3.2 — 2021-12-07

### ScanFile v2 ###
 - serialized contents are no longer tied to platform-dependent types.
 - openable on macOS.
 - v1 files are upgradable to v2 files.
 - can now be copied and renamed, will allow for future mutation-copy functionality.
### New Features ###
 - Start and end snapshots can now be exported from the app by long-pressing on them.
 - Added button to renders that shows/hides backsides of meshes; previously backsides were always transparent (known bug #37: this often breaks in the cross-section render).
### Reworks/Fixes ###
 - iOS 15 broke retrieval of meshes from getCurrentWorldMap, now finally fixed.
 - lots of investigation into memory leaks/safety.
 - using common general render model for all renders for simplicity.

### 0.3.1 — 2021-08-31

No release notes.

## Apps similar to CavernSeer

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| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| [Agerpoint Capture](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/agerpoint-capture/id1629732675) | 5.0 (14) | Free | Utilities |
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| [FrontDepth View](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frontdepth-view/id1583468252) | 4.3 (4) | Free | Utilities |
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## Related topics

[samuel grush](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/samuel-grush) · [the caverns](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-caverns) · [grush](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/grush)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*