Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Tech Tuesday - How laser scanning has improved the construction industry

How laser scanning has improved the construction industry


The construction industry has been known to be one that is slow to respond to changes. When other industries have undergone almost a paradigm shift, the construction industry is seemingly still stuck at the traditional methods and processes. However, recently, this has began to change with the industry having tailor made technologies just for it such as BIM. Laser scanning is a new technology for the industry that is not very publicized. It involves taking dimensions and spatial relationships of objects using a laser of light. The data captured is then transformed into a cloud of data points, also known as a 3D point cloud, which can then be exported to many CAD applications, BIM and other modeling applications. This can then be used to generate 2D drawings or even 3D models.

3D Laser Scanning and its accuracy is a very important technology in the construction industry. Previously, you had to go on site with bulky equipment and spend a lot of time there trying to establish levels and topographies. Even with this, accuracy was very hard to achieve. This had an effect directly on construction as costs would escalate due to undefined ground conditions among other setbacks. With laser scanning however, accuracy that was never possible to achieve with other techniques such as tape measures is achievable now. Designers can now embark on designs with pretty accurate pictures of how the conditions on site are hence coming up with more elaborate designs. This saves time and money in terms of reworking on a design. Resources spent on initial site visits have also been greatly reduced which translates to a direct cost saving. This technology has also been said to be safer by the users as it reduces the users’ exposure to harmful environments.


Laser scanning technology has been criticized to have high initial costs. However, in the long term, acquiring laser technology in your projects translates to a cost saving.

Scan On,
DimTec 3D

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