A system of generating a three-dimensional scan of an environment, the system comprising: a plurality of 3D scanners comprising a first 3D scanner at a first position and a second 3D scanner at a second position, the first position being different from the second position; a controller operably coupled to the 3D scanners via a common communications network; wherein: the plurality of 3D scanners are enlisted with the controller to generate a global data capture ; the first 3D scanner is configured to acquire a first set of 3D coordinates in response to an instruction from the controller, the first set of 3D coordinates having a first portion; the second 3D scanner is configured to acquire a second set of 3D coordinates in response to an instruction from the controller, the second set of 3D coordinates having a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are simultaneously transmitted to the controller by the first 3D scanner and the second 3D scanner respectively, while the first set of 3D coordinates and the second set of 3D coordinates are being acquired; and the controller is configured to generate the global data capture by registering the first portion and the second portion to each other while the first set of 3D coordinates and the second set of 3D coordinates are being acquired. a plurality of 3D scanners comprising a first 3D scanner at a first position and a second 3D scanner at a second position, the first position being different from the second position; a controller operably coupled to the 3D scanners via a common communications network; wherein: the plurality of 3D scanners are enlisted with the controller to generate a global data capture ; the first 3D scanner is configured to acquire a first set of 3D coordinates in response to an instruction from the controller, the first set of 3D coordinates having a first portion; the second 3D scanner is configured to acquire a second set of 3D coordinates in response to an instruction from the controller, the second set of 3D coordinates having a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are simultaneously transmitted to the controller by the first 3D scanner and the second 3D scanner respectively, while the first set of 3D coordinates and the second set of 3D coordinates are being acquired; and the controller is configured to generate the global data capture by registering the first portion and the second portion to each other while the first set of 3D coordinates and the second set of 3D coordinates are being acquired. the plurality of 3D scanners are enlisted with the controller to generate a global data capture ; the first 3D scanner is configured to acquire a first set of 3D coordinates in response to an instruction from the controller, the first set of 3D coordinates having a first portion; the second 3D scanner is configured to acquire a second set of 3D coordinates in response to an instruction from the controller, the second set of 3D coordinates having a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are simultaneously transmitted to the controller by the first 3D scanner and the second 3D scanner respectively, while the first set of 3D coordinates and the second set of 3D coordinates are being acquired; and the controller is configured to generate the global data capture by registering the first portion and the second portion to each other while the first set of 3D coordinates and the second set of 3D coordinates are being acquired. <EOS>