Architectural survey: floor plans, elevations and sections by laser scanning
Before a renovation, a restoration study or any work on an existing building, the designer needs drawings of the building as it really is. Here is how we measure it and what we deliver.
What it is
An architectural survey records the building itself as it stands today: floor plans of every level, elevations, sections and, where needed, details. It differs from the topographic survey plan, which shows the plot, its boundaries and the position of the building on it. A study often needs both, in the same coordinate system.
When you need it
- Renovation, extension or change of use of an existing building
- Restoration and consolidation studies for listed buildings and monuments
- Structural assessment and strengthening of buildings and bridges
- Energy upgrades and mechanical/electrical studies
- Documentation before interventions or for the record
- A BIM model for managing a building or facility
How we measure
- FARO S70 terrestrial laser scanner: almost one million points per second with a range error of ±1 mm. For elevations, monuments and details.
- NavVis MLX mobile scanner (SLAM): scans while walking, fast, for buildings with many interior spaces.
- Drones: photogrammetry for roofs, terraces and areas the scanner cannot reach from the ground.
- Control network: control points with total stations and GNSS, in GGRS87 (ΕΓΣΑ87) or a local system, so that all scans fit together correctly and accuracy can be checked.
The result of the survey is a coloured point cloud of the whole building. We draw from it, and the designer can go back to it if a dimension is needed that was not asked for at the start.
What we deliver
- Floor plans, elevations and sections at 1:50 or 1:20, in DWG/DXF
- Orthophotos of the elevations
- The coloured point cloud (E57/RCP)
- A textured 3D model and a 360° tour
- A BIM model in Revit or IFC, if the study requires it
What you need / steps
- What the survey will be used for and at what scale: this sets the scan density and the level of detail
- Access to all the spaces to be surveyed and, as far as possible, clear rooms
- Any existing drawings or the building permit
- For monuments and archaeological sites, a permit from the competent Ephorate of Antiquities
- Fieldwork, point-cloud processing, drawings and checks before delivery
What we do
We handle the whole survey, from measurement to drawings, and the architect or engineer receives ready-made base drawings for the study. If a survey plan of the plot is also needed, we do it on the same visit, in the same system.
Send us the location of the building, some photos and what you want to study, and we will propose a method and a cost. See laser scanning and monument surveys.