3D Scanning
Laser scanning captures a building as a point cloud, from which measured drawings, sections, elevations and models can be produced without repeated site visits. On historic buildings this matters more than on new ones, because nothing is square, floors are not level, and conventional measuring struggles with vaults, mouldings and complex roof structures. The specialists in this category provide terrestrial and handheld scanning, photogrammetry, drone-based capture and the processing that turns raw data into drawings a design team can work from, as well as archive-quality records before alteration.
What this category covers
- Terrestrial laser scanning and point cloud capture
- Measured survey drawings, sections and elevations from scan data
- Photogrammetry and detailed recording of mouldings and carving
- Scan-to-BIM modelling of historic fabric
- Archive records before alteration, repair or demolition
Blackacre Chartered Surveyors & Valuers
Blackacre Chartered Surveyors & Valuers is an independent RICS-regulated practice with offices ...
Commissioning a 3D survey of a historic building
Say what you need out of it, not what equipment you want. A point cloud is raw data; drawings, models and reports are deliverables. Agree at the outset which drawings, at what scale, to what tolerance, and in which file formats, because that determines how the survey is carried out.
Decide the level of detail before the scan, not after. Capturing every moulding profile at high resolution costs more time on site and far more in processing than a general arrangement survey. Mixed approaches are common: coarse capture overall, dense capture on the areas that matter.
Ask about access and obstruction. Scanners record what they can see, so scaffolding, vegetation, furniture and stored material all leave gaps. Planning the visit around clear access, or accepting where gaps will fall, avoids expensive return trips.
Keep the data as a record. A point cloud made before repair is an archive of the building as it was, and it can answer questions years later that no one thought to ask at the time. Agree how the data will be delivered, archived and made usable in future.
Questions to ask
Is laser scanning worth it on a small building?
It often is where the geometry is irregular, access is difficult or the design team needs accurate drawings quickly. On a simple, regular building a conventional measured survey may be cheaper. The deciding factor is usually complexity rather than size.
What do I actually receive from a 3D survey?
Typically a registered point cloud plus agreed deliverables drawn from it: plans, sections, elevations, and sometimes a model. Agree the drawing list, scales, tolerances and file formats before the survey, since these govern how it is carried out.
Can scanning record carving and mouldings accurately enough to reproduce them?
Usually yes, using high-resolution scanning or photogrammetry on those elements specifically. This is a common route for replicating lost stonework and terracotta, though a mould taken from the original remains the most reliable method where one survives.
All 2 businesses listed under 3D Scanning
- Archaeology South-East East Sussex
- Blackacre Chartered Surveyors & Valuers Greater London
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.