Case Study – Commercial Property Point Cloud Survey

In this case study of a commercial property point cloud survey we’ll review a project completed by the team at Scene3D.

Scene3D were commissioned to undertake a point cloud survey of a commercial property in Sheffield. The owner of the property plans to redevelop the building, so requested an external topographical, and internal survey of the property in its current condition.

The architect leading the redevelopment reached out to Scene3D to engage our expertise in conducting an external topographical, and internal point cloud survey. The goal of the survey is to provide a complete and accurate representation of both the internal and external of the building, along with the immediate surrounding landscape.

Once the on-site survey is complete, the point cloud data-set will be converted into CAD drawings for the architect, delivered in .dwg format.

External topographical survey requirements:

• Existing structures
• Building ground floor levels & threshold levels
• Statutory services
• Overhead structures
• Manhole covers
• Kerb lines
• Surface finishes
• Adjacent building heights to ridge & eaves

Internal building survey requirements:

• All elements of load bearing & non-load bearing structure
• Secondary elements such as windows, doors, toilet fixtures & cupboards
• Changes in floor level
• Down stand beams, bulkheads, arched areas, lines of principal roof structure
• Rain water pipes, soil and vent stacks and any major elements of service installation
• Levels throughout indicating variations in existing levels
• Window sill & head levels
• Sections to indicate the building outline including finished floor levels, roof finish levels & existing ground level
• Existing ground lines & levels with all internal floor levels dashed
• All external structural features including windows, doors, pilasters, columns and any changes in line of the masonry façade
• All secondary features such as rainwater gutters and downpipes, soil and vent pipes, grilles & vents
• A general indication of fenestration including direction / style of opening
• Ridge lines, roof windows ect
• External materials and changes in material colour of finish

Project Execution:

The Scene3D team conducted the survey over a three and a half day period.

In that time, Scene3D were able to capture over 10,750 SqM (115,710 SqFt) 0f point cloud data, across 300 setup positions. This includes the basement, all floors of the building, the external elevations and the surrounding carpark.

Once we had completed the on-site phase of the project, our team began assembling the raw point cloud ‘packages’ into a complete point cloud dataset of the entire project. Using this complete point cloud dataset, we were able to quickly and accurately produce each of the required .DWG files to meet the specific objectives of the project.

Should the architect require any additional views of the project, such as additional sections/elevations/plans, we can easily produce these from the comprehensive point cloud dataset.

Case Study – Point Cloud Survey – Conclusion:

Scene3D successfully completed a comprehensive point cloud survey of the commercial property in Sheffield, demonstrating our ability to meet the intricate requirements of both external topographical and internal surveys with precision and efficiency. The successful acquisition of over 10,750 SqM of detailed point cloud data in just under 4 days, underscores the speed and technical capability of the point cloud survey method.

The delivery of the .DWG files, tailored to the specific needs of the redevelopment project, marks a significant milestone in the planning phase, enabling the architect to proceed with the redesign with a detailed understanding of the property’s current state.

This project exemplifies Scene3D’s expertise in leveraging cutting-edge survey technology to facilitate complex redevelopment projects. By providing a complete and accurate representation of the property and its surroundings, we have laid a solid foundation for the property’s transformation, demonstrating the crucial role of advanced surveying techniques in modern architectural and construction projects.

Want to learn more about point cloud surveys? Check out our article: The Ultimate Guide To A Point Cloud Survey

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