The level of detail captured from the scanner is far greater than what can be shown on a plan or section drawing and provides insight on the state of the structure before starting a refurbishment project.
Working with point clouds when starting a refurbishment project, especially if it involves an old building, can provide some useful information about the structure's state. The level of detail captured from the scanner is far greater than what can be shown on a plan or section drawing. It is possible to spot issues with the structure that are not easy to see with a site visit, drawings, or from site images such as:
- Creep deflection in timber floors
- Ceiling Swelling due to moisture
- Overloading of existing structure
- Overall wall verticality
These are just some examples of typical issues that can be found on old buildings in need of refurbishment.
To obtain the required data set a full scan of the structure is required
To investigate the state of an existing structure, we carry out a full scan of the structure, which is the starting point for obtaining measured surveys or as-built models. The point cloud can also be used to examine specific elements within the building.
Investigate the structure with commonly used design software.
We use our specialized software to investigate floor flatness or wall verticality in specific areas, but a simpler solution is to take advantage of one of the most common design software and spot potential issues with the structure before they arise.
The point cloud can now be easily imported into Autodesk Revit and by running sections through the building, we can check the state of the structure. It is possible to isolate a bearing wall to investigate its verticality or run cross sections at any interval through all the floors to check the conservation of slabs and ceilings. These, among many other checks, can give the designer the confidence to design building modifications.
