Some 3D surveying missions can be long, technical and demanding. They require a mounting solution that is robust, stable, and capable of withstanding intensive use. This is precisely why Viametris introduces the Carpack Heavy: a kit designed to fully leverage the performance of the MS-96, its 3D mobile mapping scanner.
Mounted onto roof bars (not included), this aluminum chassis provides an ultra-stable anchor point. It ensures perfect stability for the MS-96 while accommodating essential auxiliary sensors for challenging environments: a second GNSS antenna (TNC) for low-speed surveys, an wheel encoder/DMI (M12 8-pin) to maintain trajectory when GNSS signals drop, and an AUX M12 port for PPS/NMEA.
All connections run through the Main Power & Network module integrated into the support, which is linked to the MS-96 via a 3 m main cable (extension available as an option). Power is supplied through a 120 W car lighter adapter, compatible with utility vehicles.
In daily use, this setup provides a reliable and durable platform for professionals performing frequent scanning missions: road services, infrastructure managers, engineering offices, mobile mapping contractors, or teams working regularly in GNSS-degraded environments.
Some missions require driving slowly—dense urban areas, close-range inspections, complex infrastructure environments. A second GNSS antenna can be connected to the support to ensure precise heading estimation, even at very low speeds. This dual-antenna configuration eliminates heading drift caused by uncertain yaw values below a given speed threshold.
With the ability to connect an wheel encoder/DMI through an optional accessory kit, the MS-96 maintains a reliable position estimate even during prolonged GNSS outages—whether in tunnels, dense forested areas, or urban canyons. The kit includes a 1000 PPR encoder, wheel-nut clamps and a 5 m M12 cable, ensuring a robust installation on a wide majority of vehicles.
Despite its “heavy duty” orientation, the Carpack Heavy remains true to the MS-96 philosophy: simple and accessible deployment.
The rack (8 kg) and mount (5.5 kg) install quickly onto roof bars, and their dimensions — 1020 × 540 × 120 mm for the rack and 420 × 330 × 300 mm for the mount — make handling and transport easy. Simplified cabling (120 W power supply, network, DMI, GNSS antenna, AUX) ensures smooth adoption by field teams.
Designed for robust vehicles equipped with compatible roof bars (utility vans, pick-up trucks, or cargo vans), the Carpack Heavy is particularly well suited for permanent or intensive installations, and fits perfectly into the many contexts of road scanning:
> Long-distance road surveys (annual mapping, wear diagnostics, large-scale networks)
> Repeated missions on a dedicated vehicle (municipalities, engineering firms, infrastructure operators)
> GNSS-challenging environments (tunnels, wooded areas, dense city centers)
> Inspections requiring extremely stable heading (industrial sites, construction zones, maneuvering areas)
