-- Scan around the Mobile Factory for the Sync Area --
function MF:syncAreaScan()
	self.clonedResourcesTable = {}
	-- Cloning Tiles --
	local radius = _mfSyncAreaRadius + 1
	local bdb = {{self.ent.position.x - radius, self.ent.position.y - radius},{self.ent.position.x + radius, self.ent.position.y + radius}}
	local clonedBdb = {{_mfSyncAreaPosition.x - radius, _mfSyncAreaPosition.y - radius},{_mfSyncAreaPosition.x + radius, _mfSyncAreaPosition.y + radius}}

	local inside = self.fS
	local outside = self.ent.surface
	local obstructed = false
	local distancesInBools = {}
	local distancesOutBools = {}

	-- Look for Entities inside the Sync Area --
	local entTableIn = inside.find_entities_filtered{area = clonedBdb}

	-- Check if Entities inside Can't be Placed Outside --
	for k, ent in pairs(entTableIn) do
		-- may not need to do the if
		local posX = math.floor(self.ent.position.x) + (ent.position.x - _mfSyncAreaPosition.x)
		local posY = math.floor(self.ent.position.y) + (ent.position.y - _mfSyncAreaPosition.y)

		distancesInBools[k] = Util.distance(ent.position, _mfSyncAreaPosition) < _mfSyncAreaRadius

		--if outside.entity_prototype_collides(ent.name, {posX, posY}, false, ent.direction) == true then
		-- if we can place it, including marking obstructions for deconstruction... would overlap entities if we have friendly chests etc on the other side
		if outside.can_place_entity{name = ent.name, position = {posX, posY}, direction = ent.direction, force = ent.force, build_check_type = defines.build_check_type.ghost_place, forced = true} == false then
			obstructed = true
			break
		end
	end
	if obstructed == true then
		local player = nil
		if self.player ~= "" then
			player = getPlayer(self.player)
			if player.connected then
				player.create_local_flying_text{text={"info.MF-sync-collision"}, position = self.ent.position}
			end
		end
		return
	end

	-- Look for Entities around the Mobile Factory --
	local entTableOut = outside.find_entities_filtered{area = bdb}
	-- Check if Entities inside Can't be Placed Iutside --
	for k, ent in pairs(entTableOut) do
		local posX = (ent.position.x - math.floor(self.ent.position.x)) + _mfSyncAreaPosition.x
		local posY = (ent.position.y - math.floor(self.ent.position.y)) + _mfSyncAreaPosition.y

		distancesOutBools[k] = Util.distance(ent.position, {math.floor(self.ent.position.x), math.floor(self.ent.position.y)}) < _mfSyncAreaRadius
		if _mfSyncAreaAllowedTypes[ent.type] == true and distancesOutBools[k] == true then
			if inside.entity_prototype_collides(ent.name, {posX, posY}, false) == true then
				obstructed = true
				break
			end
		end
	end
	if obstructed == true then
		local player = nil
		if self.player ~= "" then
			player = getPlayer(self.player)
			if player.connected then
				player.create_local_flying_text{text={"info.MF-sync-collision"}, position = self.ent.position}
			end
		end
		return
	end

	-- Clone Area to Sync Area --
	-- cloning the area can destroy inside entities (invalid tile placement), thus we checked first
	outside.clone_area{source_area=bdb, destination_area=clonedBdb, destination_surface=inside, clone_entities=false, clone_decoratives=false, clear_destination_entities=false}
	createSyncAreaMFSurface(inside)

	-- Clone Outside Entities --
	for k, ent in pairs(entTableOut) do
		if _mfSyncAreaAllowedTypes[ent.type] == true and distancesOutBools[k] == true then
			self:cloneEntity(ent, "in")
		end
	end

	-- Clone Inside Entities --
	for k, ent in pairs(entTableIn) do
		if _mfSyncAreaAllowedTypes[ent.type] == true and distancesInBools[k] == true then
			self:cloneEntity(ent, "out")
		end
		if ent.type == "mining-drill" then
			ent.update_connections()
		end
	end
end