3D LASER SCANNING
Existing reality captured
Existing buildings are rarely as simple, straight, or accurately documented as we expect.
I use professional Leica 3D laser scanning technology to capture millions of measured points and create a detailed digital record of a building or site. This gives architects, engineers, building owners, and contractors reliable existing information to work from before decisions are made.
For alterations, strengthening, fitouts, and complex existing buildings, understanding what is actually there can save considerable time later. Fewer assumptions, fewer repeat site visits, and better coordination all help the project move forward more efficiently.
The value isn't simply in measuring a building faster. It's in capturing information that may become important long after the initial site visit.
Who is Laser scanning for?
For renovations and alterations where understanding the existing building early can help reduce assumptions and unexpected issues later.
Home owners
Accurate building geometry, levels, and existing conditions to support structural investigation, strengthening, and coordination.
Engineers
Reliable existing information, point clouds, drawings, or Revit models that allow project teams to spend less time measuring and more time progressing the project.
Architects
A permanent digital record to support fitouts, refurbishment, consultant coordination, asset planning, and future changes to the building.
Commercial owners
Common applications
I work with a variety of building owners and specialist consultants mostly on challenging residential alterations, commercial alterations and facility planning.
Existing buildings are rarely built exactly as shown on original drawings.
Laser scanning provides accurate existing information before design begins, reducing the risk of costly surprises during documentation and construction.
A laser scan reduces site measure time and improves accuracy.
Whether you're planning a new office, retail tenancy, medical facility or hospitality space, accurate measurements are critical for efficient design and coordination.
A laser scan provides a reliable digital record that can be shared with designers, engineers, contractors and suppliers.
Many older buildings, in particular Heritage and Significant Architectural buildings, have incomplete, inaccurate or missing documentation.
Laser scanning allows accurate floor plans, elevations, sections and 3D models to be created from existing conditions.
When modifying existing structures, accurate information is essential.
Laser scanning helps engineers understand existing geometry, identify constraints and coordinate new work with confidence.
Large industrial spaces can be measured efficiently without disrupting operations.
Accurate information can then be used for fit-outs, equipment installation, workflow planning and future development.
A scan creates a permanent digital record that can be referenced long after the site visit.
This is particularly useful for schools, community facilities, commercial property portfolios and large building assets.
Older, heritage, and culturally significant buildings, including marae, can contain irregular geometry, layered construction, and important architectural details that are difficult to capture using traditional measuring methods.
3D laser scanning creates a detailed digital record of the existing building, helping project teams understand complex spaces, document significant features, and develop reliable information for alterations, restoration, strengthening, or future planning.
The ability to revisit the captured information long after the site visit is particularly valuable where buildings are difficult to access or where new questions emerge as the project develops.
Service options
Ideal for clients who need an accurate digital record of an existing building or site. I undertake the laser scan and provide the point cloud data, allowing your architect, designer, engineer or contractor to use the information within their own workflows.
This option is well suited to consultants who already have in-house drafting or modelling capability but require reliable existing conditions information.
Indicative Fees:
3bed house - 4hrs scanning time
- 3hrs processing time
$2,155+GST
Scan only
For clients who need clear, usable documentation without the complexity of a full 3D model.
Following the laser scan, I prepare accurate measured floor plans that can be used for feasibility studies, lease plans, fit-outs, due diligence investigations, design work and building alterations.
Additional elevations and sections can also be provided where required.
Indicative Fees:
3bed house - 4hrs scanning time
- 11hrs processing
$3,175+GST
Scan + Floorplans
Where a higher level of detail and coordination is required, the laser scan can be converted into an intelligent Revit model.
This provides a highly accurate digital representation of the existing building, enabling efficient design development, consultant coordination, clash detection and future modifications.
Particularly valuable for complex renovations, commercial projects and buildings with incomplete or unreliable documentation.
Indicative Fees:
3bed house - 4hrs scanning time
- 24hrs processing
$5,620+GST
Scan + Revit Model
The most comprehensive option combines accurate existing conditions capture with our architectural design expertise.
The laser scan becomes the foundation for feasibility studies, concept design, documentation and construction coordination, ensuring decisions are based on reliable information from the outset.
By integrating scanning, design and documentation within a single service, we can reduce risk, improve efficiency and provide a clearer path from investigation through to construction.
Indicative Fees:
P.O.A.
Scan + Architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the laser scan?
The Leica BLK360 captures millions of individual measurement points with a typical accuracy of approximately ±6mm over 10m in normal operating conditions.
Accuracy is influenced by scanning distance, surface reflectivity, environmental conditions and line of sight. For most architectural, engineering and construction applications I've found the accuracy is more than sufficient for material measure and significantly exceeds traditional hand measurement methods.
A laser scan records what is visible at the time of capture. Hidden structure, concealed services, framing, foundations, cavities, insulation and elements obscured from line of sight or inaccessible cannot be captured unless exposed during the scanning process.
Is the Revit model or CAD drawing accurate to every point in the scan?
Not exactly. The laser scan captures millions of individual points representing the existing building. When floor plans, elevations or Revit models are created, those points are interpreted into walls, floors, roofs, windows and other building elements.
As with a topographical survey, the resulting drawings and models represent the best fit of the captured information rather than every individual point. Buildings are rarely perfectly straight, square or level, and modelling every imperfection generally reduces rather than improves usability.
The purpose of the model is to provide a practical and accurate representation suitable for design, coordination and construction.
Why doesn't the model match every imperfection in the building?
Existing buildings often contain movement, settlement, construction tolerances and irregularities that have developed over time.
I often encounter a floor or wall varying by several millimetres or even centimetres along its length. Rather than modelling every deviation, architectural and engineering models typically use averaged positions and best-fit geometry that accurately represents the building while remaining practical to work with.
Where specific irregularities are important to the project, these can be identified and modelled separately by arrangement.
Can the scan be used for construction?
Laser scan information can support construction, although the required scan quality and level of modelling depends on how the information will be used.
For architectural documentation and general construction coordination, my standard scanning workflow is typically appropriate. Where information will be used for fabrication, shop drawings, or work requiring tighter dimensional tolerances, I recommend a higher resolution scanning approach and a deliverable specifically prepared for that purpose.
What deliverables can be provided?
Depending on your requirements, deliverables may include:
• Point cloud files
• Measured floor plans
• Elevations and sections
• Revit models
• Existing condition drawings
• Site information and area schedules
• Architectural design and documentation
I can tailor the level of information provided to suit the needs of the project.
Does laser scanning cost more than traditional measurement?
In my real-world experience since owning the scanner I've found the scans save a lot of money in the project. Aside from the reduced site visits and my own time on-site the scanner also captures a significantly greater amount of information than traditional site measurement. The reduction in clashes, inaccurate dimensions, and onsite co-ordination issues more than offset the upfront cost.
Is laser scanning suitable for every project?
Not necessarily.
For simple projects, traditional measurement can be entirely adequate.
Laser scanning delivers the greatest value where buildings are complex, existing documentation is unreliable, access is difficult, or the consequences of measurement errors are significant.
I am happy to discuss your project and recommend the most appropriate level of investigation before work begins.
How does laser scanning compare with Matterport or photogrammetry?
Matterport and similar reality capture systems are particularly useful for visual walkthroughs, property records, and presenting spaces in an accessible online format.
Professional laser scanning is focused on measured spatial information. The scanner directly measures distances to create a point cloud that can be used as the basis for architectural drawings, engineering coordination, and 3D modelling.
The right technology depends on what you need the information for. If the priority is visual presentation, Matterport may be an excellent solution. Where measured existing conditions are required for design and construction, I generally recommend laser scanning.
Ready to talk about your project?
You don't need to have everything worked out. Tell me what you're considering and we can start from there.
Enquiries are typically responded to within 1 business day during normal business hours.
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