What is a “as-built” survey, and why do you need one for your project?

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Are you going to give away, rebuild, fix up, or add on to a building?

Before you make any changes, you should know how the building looks now, not how the old plans say it should look.

Built things change over time. A wall may be moved, a room may be divided, or new pipes or ducts may be added. The end product may also vary slightly from the original design. Past models can be difficult to understand, take more time, cost more money, and require more work.

Hence, the importance of a survey of the building as it stands.

An As-Built Survey is a great way of seeing what your building looks like now. So you get a feel for the real layout, the real sizes, and the real services before you get to the next part of the job.

What Is an As-Built Survey?

An As-Built Survey is a thorough measurement survey of a building that is already there, or that is finished.

It keeps track of things that are there, like

• The rooms' sizes and shapes
• The stairs, walls, doors, windows, floors, and ceilings
• How high are the walls and floors
• Columns, beams, and other building parts
• Pipes, ducts, wire trays, and other building services
• Outside walls, fronts, and places close to the outside

You can use the survey data to make clear floor plans, CAD drawings, elevations, sections, 3D models, or BIM models.

To put it simply, it shows the building as it really is.

Why do you need a “as-built” survey?

Use an old drawing to help you plan how to set up your new office. It's possible to find a wall in a different spot, a duct going through the ceiling, or a space that I thought would be bigger than it is.

The project might take longer and cost more if this is done.

This kind of mistake can be avoided with an “As-Built” survey. It tells architects, engineers, contractors, property owners, and facility managers what they need to know before the work starts.

If you know the right information about the site, you can

• Make it easier to plan for upgrades and new builds.
• Make sure that the new designs fit in the room you have.
• Make the site less buggy and less likely to change quickly.
• Have as few delays and extra tasks as possible.
• Do more of your work with experts and contractors.
• Always keep correct records in case you need them later.
• Help with handing off the project and running the building.

There is less work to do on the project when everyone has the same correct information.

When is it a good idea to do a “as-built” survey?

An As-Built Survey can be useful at different points in a project.

Before you remodel or set up the inside

Measure the room correctly before you start designing a new office, villa, shop, restaurant, hotel, warehouse, or other business area.

The survey tells your design team about how the room is set up right now, which helps them make good plans.

Before Adding on or Making Changes to a Building

There are many ways to connect the new work to the existing structure. An As-Built Survey can help you with this, whether you are adding rooms, changing the plan, improving the MEP services, or changing the outside of the building.

For Projects That Can Scan to BIM

A BIM model, not an old drawing, should be used to show the house.

Using 3D laser scanning, Falcon 3D can make a digital copy of the building and learn a lot about the site. This information can help Scan-to-BIM models plan, design, coordinate, and run buildings.

When the building is done

An As-Built Survey is a good way to keep track of the last bit of work that was done on a construction site before the job was over.

These tools can help building owners and facility managers with maintenance, repairs, and inspections, as well as with planning for future improvements and making the most of space.

Why would you use a 3D laser scanner?

It might take a while to draw a building by hand if it's big or has a lot of small parts.

When 3D laser scanning is used, a survey can be done faster, more accurately, and with more information.

A 3D laser scanner measures the building at a million different points. To make a point cloud, you take a picture of the place these points make up.

You can use this to write down:

• Big buildings and places with businesses
• Room plans that are tough to understand
• Tough to get to places and high ceilings
• Work in plant rooms and MEP
• Warehouses and other business buildings.
• There are shops, hotels, and shopping malls.
• There are villas and other homes for sale.

As soon as you have all the facts, you can use them to make accurate project plans and 3D models.

What Can You Receive from an As-Built Survey?

The survey deliverables can be changed to fit your needs because every project is different.

What you could get:

• Correct floor plans
• Heights and parts
• CAD drawings
• 3D point clouds (3) 3D models
• Models from scans to BIM
• Reports on how things are now
• Pictures and notes from the spot

You can change the survey to meet your needs, whether you want simple drawings for a small job or detailed BIM data for a big one.

Find out what you need to know to begin your project

An As-Built Survey helps you learn more about your building before you make a big choice. It helps you plan from start to finish, makes sure everyone on your team knows what they need to know, and lowers the chance of shocks.

As-Built Survey services from Falcon 3D are done with cutting-edge 3D laser scanning technology. Our team helps clients take pictures of the real spot and use those pictures to make drawings, models, and project records that are useful.

We can help you get accurate site data for any job, like building handover, renovation, fit-out, extension, or Scan-to-BIM.

Contact Falcon 3D right away about your needs for an As-Built Survey.