How We Scan

Before arriving on site, we prepare a scan plan that defines station locations, target placement, overlap zones, and the registration strategy. For terrestrial scans, station spacing is determined by the complexity of the environment: open warehouses may use 10 to 15m spacing, while heritage interiors with many columns and alcoves may require 3 to 5m spacing to avoid occlusion. For aerial projects, we design flight paths with appropriate overlap (70% front, 60% side for photogrammetry; 50% for LiDAR), select the correct flight altitude for the required ground sample distance, and identify ground control point locations. We also prepare a risk assessment covering working at heights, confined spaces, and any CASA airspace restrictions. The scan plan is shared with the client before mobilisation so both parties agree on coverage and timing.

On site, we set up survey-grade targets (where required) and begin capturing scan stations according to the plan. Our primary scanner, the Trimble X7, captures over 500,000 points per second with self-levelling and automatic calibration, and each station takes approximately 2 minutes at standard resolution. For rapid coverage of large interiors, corridors, and multi-level buildings, we deploy the NavVis MLX mobile scanner at walking speed. For aerial capture, we fly DJI Matrice 4T drones with LiDAR or photogrammetry payloads depending on the deliverable. Ground control points are surveyed using GNSS receivers with RTK correction for centimetre-level positioning. Throughout the capture, we run real-time registration checks on the scanner tablet to confirm overlap quality and flag any gaps before leaving site. This on-site QA step means we never need to return for missed coverage.

Back in the office, raw scan data is imported into Trimble RealWorks for registration. We use a combination of cloud-to-cloud (C2C) matching and target-based registration to align all stations into a single, unified coordinate system. Registration quality is assessed using overlap statistics and cloud-to-cloud error reports; we target a mean absolute error below 3mm for architectural work and below 5mm for civil and industrial projects. Once registration is complete, the unified point cloud is cleaned: noise points, moving objects (people, vehicles), and scanner artefacts are removed. For aerial data, raw LiDAR returns are classified into ground, vegetation, and built features using automated algorithms with manual verification. The cleaned dataset is then exported in the required format (E57, RCP/RCS, LAS/LAZ) and passed to the modelling team if BIM deliverables are included in the scope.

Before delivery, every dataset goes through a QA checklist. We verify registration accuracy by measuring known dimensions in the point cloud (door widths, column centres, slab-to-slab heights) and comparing them against physical check measurements taken during the field capture. For BIM deliverables, the Revit model is checked against the source point cloud using clash detection in Navisworks to confirm that modelled elements sit within the specified tolerance of the scan data. Coordinate systems are verified by comparing survey control points in the cloud against their known coordinates. For aerial datasets, we compare the DTM/DSM against independent GNSS check points that were not used in the processing. All QA results are documented in a summary report that ships with the deliverables, so the client has a traceable record of accuracy for their project files.

Final deliverables are uploaded to our secure client portal, where they are available for download for 14 days. Large datasets (typically 2 to 50 GB) are transferred via the portal rather than email to avoid file-size limitations and ensure data integrity. Standard deliverable formats include E57 and RCP/RCS for point clouds, LAS/LAZ for aerial data, DWG/DXF for CAD drawings, and Revit (RVT) for BIM models. Orthographic imagery is delivered as GeoTIFF or high-resolution PDF. For interactive viewing, we provide access to facadeinspect.au, our browser-based point cloud viewer where your team can explore the scan data, take measurements, and share annotations without specialist software. We include a deliverables manifest that lists every file, its format, coordinate system, and a brief description. If the client needs the data in a format not listed in the scope, we can convert it at no additional cost provided the source data supports it. After delivery, we retain the raw scan data on our servers for 12 months so we can re-process or extract additional information without returning to site.