Laser Scanning in Construction

Everything you need to know

Learn about what is laser scanning in construction and how it being used now a days. In this blog post, know how you can implement laser scanning in your construction projects and some tips to get you started.

Key Takeaways (Laser scanning in construction)

• It industry is growing and is expected to reach USD 10 billion by 2024.
• Laser scanning is also known as high-definition survey (HDS) and reality capture. It is a type of laser survey done for high level of accuracy.
• Collected data from laser scanning is called point cloud. Millions of points are connected in a 3D coordinate system.
• Laser scanning exists from 1960s but design and construction industry started using it since 1990s.
• It is used throughout a project lifecycle from design, construction, operations, retrofitting to renovations.
• It improves quality and accuracy and provides immediate information to help reduce rework, cut costs by 50% compared to 2D scanning. It also reduces manual labor and helps in coordination and collaboration on site.
• Laser scanning is expensive, needs training and workers on site to be familiar with area.
• Innovation is happening. To innovate your projects, implement it early, rent our laser scan equipment or laser scan service to get a feel of process and use it with other technologies that help you get started.

What is laser scanning and how it is used in construction?

Using a laser to map an area with high accuracy is called laser scanning. On a construction site, laser scanning is used to capture data in detail which provides accurate information for every corner on a site. The data is in the form of point cloud in a 3D coordinate system. Point cloud is an accurate digital record of an object or space for a project.

Laser scanning in construction started its use from industrial facilities. Today, it is used for buildings, infrastructures and much more.

Laser scanning in Design – Site information is captured by lasers before a design takes place. Many professionals are using scan-to-BIM methodology to capture detailed information of a site for kick-off meetings and are managing the process from a early stage.

Laser scanning in Construction – Construction coordination is being done using laser scanning. It helps to avoid conflicts between systems and services such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc. Scan data is also shared among parties to help with coordination remotely. Laser scanning is not just performed at the beginning of project, it is done at various stages of project milestones which helps to reduce change orders and to reduce variation claims. It also helps to document errors and to look for a solution faster.

Laser scanning in Operations, retrofitting, and renovations – There has been an increase in trend for capturing permanent as-built records by project owners and facility management companies. Laser scan data helps in building operations, renovations and future building alterations such as new construction and demolitions.

How to start implementing Laser scanning in construction?

If you want to begin implementing laser scanning in construction projects, we have few tips to get you started.

Start early – The early you implement it, the better it is going to be. Introducing the method as early as possible helps you in better and informed decision making with high level of accuracy.

Choose to buy, rent or use a service provider – It is not cheap to use laser scanners. It is always a better option to hire a laser scan company and use their outsourcing services. Once your return on investment becomes clear and you are sure about the business value it generates for you, you can consider investing in this technology.

Use it with other technologies – Performing laser scanning in construction of your project alone will not help. Using it simultaneously with other technologies such as BIM will help you in creating more detailed and accurate 3D BIM models.

If you want to get more experience on the look and feel of laser scanning in construction, try looking out for some interesting demos from your nearest available laser scanning companies.

We at OneClick BIM (Brand promoted by Vee 7 Information Technology LLC, Dubai, UAE) help people and companies like you to convert point cloud to BIM models or scan to BIM models.

With our sales & project management office in Dubai, UAE and production office in India, we are able to deliver cost effective services, top notch quality and performance.

For more information on our point cloud to BIM services, get in touch with our sales representative at contact@oneclickbim.com or call us on +971 52 262 8340 | +971 50 207 8340