3D Laser Scanning and Scan to BIM
Registered point clouds, Revit models and as-built verification.
Scope
We are a licensed surveying practice, so every point cloud is registered to established survey control and checked before delivery. That is what makes it usable in a model rather than just accurate to itself.
- Terrestrial 3D laser scanning of buildings, structures and sites
- Registered point clouds in E57, LAS, LAZ and RCP
- Scan-to-BIM modelling in Revit and ArchiCAD to an agreed level of development
- 2D CAD plans, sections and elevations extracted from the cloud
- As-built verification: model versus design comparison and deviation reporting
- Volumes, quantities and progress data for measurement and claims
- Combined terrestrial and aerial capture where a site needs both
- Survey-grade scanning hardware brought in per project, matched to the site
Point cloud and extracted line work from a laser scan
Who it is for
Quantity surveyors
As-built conditions you can measure and defend. Volumes and comparison reports for progress claims and variations.
Architects and designers
An accurate existing-conditions model before design starts, at the level of detail the project needs.
Contractors and project managers
As-built verification during construction, not after it.
Building owners and asset managers
A permanent dimensional record for refurbishment, compliance and space planning.
Equipment
Owned
- Trimble SX10 · Scanning total station. Survey and scan from one setup, on the same control. Fewer things to go wrong.
- DJI Mavic 3E · Our workhorse in the air. Topo, progress shots, anything easier seen from above.
- Emlid RS4 · GNSS receivers and bases, run through Emlid Flow. Bolt one to a container or move it daily, whatever suits the site.
- HP SitePrint · A robot that draws your walls onto the slab. We ran one of the first in New Zealand, on polished concrete with no margin for error.
Hired per project
- RIEGL VZ-600i · Serious long-range scanner. We bring one in when the site is too big or too far for our own kit.
Larger or longer-range scanning hardware is specified and hired per project.
Software
How a scan project runs
Scope
We agree what the model is for. That sets the level of development and the deliverable.
Control and capture
Establish or tie into survey control, then scan.
Registration and processing
Register, clean and QA check against control.
Modelling and delivery
Model in Revit or ArchiCAD to the agreed LOD, delivered with the point cloud.
Frequently asked questions
What is scan to BIM?
Scan to BIM is the process of capturing an existing building or site with a 3D laser scanner, registering the resulting point cloud to survey control, and modelling it as an intelligent Building Information Model. The output is a Revit or ArchiCAD model that reflects the structure as it actually is, rather than as it was drawn.
What deliverables do you provide from a laser scan?
Registered point clouds in E57, LAS, LAZ or RCP, Revit and ArchiCAD models at an agreed level of development, 2D CAD plans, sections and elevations, and verification reports comparing as-built conditions against design.
How accurate is 3D laser scanning?
Accuracy depends on the scanner, the registration method and the survey control the scan is tied to. Because we are a licensed surveying practice, every scan is registered to established survey control and QA-checked, so the point cloud is positioned correctly in real-world coordinates rather than floating in its own local system.
What level of development (LOD) do you model to?
We agree the level of development before starting, because it drives both cost and programme. Most as-built projects sit between LOD 200 and LOD 300. We will recommend a level based on what the model is actually for.
Can you provide data for quantity surveyors and progress claims?
Yes. Point cloud and scan data supports volume calculation, as-built verification, and measurement for progress claims and variation substantiation. We can deliver quantities and comparison reports as well as the raw data.
How long does a scan take?
Site capture is usually the fastest part, often a single day for a typical building. Registration, processing and modelling take longer and depend on the size of the site and the deliverable. We will give you a programme up front.
Do you scan occupied or operating buildings?
Yes. Scanning is non-contact and can usually be carried out around normal building use, with planning around access and any restricted areas.
What equipment do you use?
We match the scanner to the project rather than forcing every job through one instrument, bringing in survey-grade terrestrial scanning hardware specified for the site and the deliverable. Processing is done in-house, including PIX4Dmatic for aerial datasets and dedicated point cloud tracing software for CAD extraction. What stays constant is the survey control underneath, which is the part that actually determines whether the data is usable.
Need a surveyor?
Send the site address and what you need delivered.