An as-built drawing, sometimes called a redline, record drawing or shop drawings, is a document that lets you compare the design of a structure to its final specifications. Usually, as-built drawings are submitted by a contractor or engineer once a project is finished. The drawings show the location, geometry and dimensions of the work as it was performed.
As-built drawings are considered historical documents because they show each change made to a project. They are critical in case of future repairs, changes or renovations, as they provide details about the exact materials used, configuration and the age of the project. With as-built drawings providing precise data, renovators or retrofitters save time and money if they want to alter a building.
Accuracy is essential for as-built drawings. That's where 3D laser scanning for buildings comes into play. As-built laser scanning is a way to capture data quickly and precisely while minimizing human error. During a laser scan, we capture billions of data points, each representing a point in space that becomes part of a realistic representation of a building. The process is efficient and effective, allowing you to obtain an as-built drawing without having to repeatedly visit the site or take multiple measurements.
The goal of as-built drawings is to show the reality of a building. The trouble is that those drawings can become outdated over time. Buildings evolve, owners add new wings and additions, and features change by necessity or with building maintenance. Often, that means that the existing drawings don't actually reflect what's going on with the building.
Not having any drawings is often worse than having outdated drawings or building plans. When there are no models or drawings available to you, you have to either measure the current building yourself with a tape measure or make estimates.
Enter laser scanning from AsBuilt. Thanks to laser scans, our motto is “no drawings, no problem.” Our 3D scanners will quickly and accurately capture the data needed to produce an as-built model of your building. Before using our scanners, we'll talk to you about your project goals and work with you to get you feeling excited about the process and project again.
Using 3D scanning for as-built services offers many benefits for your projects, including:
Depending on your industry and project needs, there are many applications for 3D as-built drawings, such as:
No drawing? No problem! We can help you get your project underway and completed quickly. Our team has the best turnaround times in the industry — for emergency operations, we can often have a technician on-site in as little as 12 hours. Best of all, we can usually deliver results in hours instead of days.
Talk to us about your project and learn more about how laser scanning for as-built drawings works.
