LandAir Surveying is attending the annual meeting held jointly by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Tennessee, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This two-day event is being held at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In town this week? E-mail us! We’d love to connect…
LandAir Surveying is in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, today attending the Oak Ridge Safety Fest 2013.
Oak Ridge is home to much manufacturing, most notably the federal contractors providing services to the Department of Energy (DOE), including such institutions as Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) and the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The event includes four days of free safety training classes, many of which lead to certification. This focus on safety helps ensure a productive work environment for us all.
Are you in Oak Ridge this week? If so, let us know! We’d love to connect….
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David Headrick has over 20 years of experience in the surveying, engineering, and legal industries, both as a project manager for LandAir Surveying and as a lawyer in private practice. He has represented numerous land surveyors, designers, architects, contractors, and other industry professionals throughout his career. Today, David serves as an executive and project manager for LandAir Surveying Company, Inc., focused on developing and managing the company’s 3D Laser Scanning Division. Contact him at (865) 599-0148 or dheadrick@lasurveying.com.
LandAir Surveying will be presenting on 3D laser scanning to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) annual meeting for its Tennessee section this Friday, August 23. The all-day program will be held at Buddy’s in Bearden, Tennessee, and will feature multiple speakers. Our own David Headrick will be presenting at 1:00 PM (EST)!
The automotive industry is firing on all cylinders – especially here in Tennessee. For the fourth year in a row, the state has been ranked No. 1 in auto industry strength.
Not only has Nissan been operating here for 30 years, but Tennessee is also now home to General Motors and Volkswagen’s operational plants, as well as Magneti Marelli and a number of original equipment manufacturers. In the last year, Tennessee hosted 44 automotive projects generating over $1 billion and thousands of jobs.
Earlier this month, GM announced plans to add 1,800 jobs at its Spring Hill assembly plant over the next three years so that it can begin building two new midsize vehicles.
In June, Nissan Motor Co. announced that it will add 900 jobs at its plant in Smyrna, just northeast of the GM plant. Also this month, Nissan announced plans to up production of its electric motors in its engine factory in Decherd, Tennessee. The plant is already staffing up to launch a third work shift to accommodate production.
As the automotive industry continues to grow, 3D laser scanning can play a major role in the redesign and construction of these plants.
This high definition scanning technology is the perfect tool to help automotive manufacturers retool their assembly lines, update their as-built drawings, and maximize efficiency of their production line layout.
How, exactly, can 3D laser scanning help?
#1: Reduced risk. Not only is laser scanning safer than traditional scanning methods because it allows crews to measure in places that would have previously been impossible, 3D laser scans also save money by eliminating the need for construction reworks and field retrofitting. Because of the quality of the scanned data, the number of change orders due to design flaws and unknowns is dramatically reduced.
#2: More precise. A laser scan takes multiple scans to collect millions of data points that are then registered together to generate a single three-dimensional “point cloud” that provides accurate distances and elevations between points on X, Y & Z coordinates. This accuracy provides the ability to perform better simulations and visualizations for training and monitoring purposes.
#3: Regulatory compliance. As governmental regulation and scrutiny increases, factory owners must ensure the as-built and as-maintained condition of production assets is in compliance. Laser scanning can be used to ensure plants are always safely within the regulatory guidelines.
#4: Huge cost savings. Laser scanning enables designers and engineers to revisit the original scan multiple times without having to physically return to the jobsite. Coordination between design and construction teams is greatly improved by providing visual documentation for discussion, and expensive construction reworks are greatly reduced.
Additionally, schedule compression of as much as 10% has been reported when 3D laser scanning has been deployed. This means big savings – especially on projects where outage time can cost as much as $1 million per day!
Conclusion
As the automotive industry continues to expand, 3D laser scanning technology can be an invaluable asset to the construction and redesign efforts of auto manufacturers to increase accuracy and efficiency while significantly saving both time and money.
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David Headrick has over 20 years of experience in the surveying, engineering and legal industries, both as a project manager for LandAir Surveying and as a lawyer in private practice. He has represented numerous land surveyors, designers, architects, contractors and other industry professionals throughout his career. Today, David serves as an executive and project manager for LandAir Surveying Company, Inc., focused on developing and managing the company’s 3D Laser Scanning Division. Contact him at (865) 599-0148 or dheadrick@lasurveying.com.
LandAir Surveying Company will be at the Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association (GAMA) annual meeting today at the Volkswagen plant outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen will be conducting facility tours for participants.
The plant, which started production in 2011, is a $1 billion facility and the first stage of Volkswagen’s goal of producing 592,000 per year in this area. This is one reason why Business Facilities magazine has named the state of Tennessee number one in automotive manufacturing strength for the fourth year in a row…
3D laser scanning is back in the headlines – this time in Louisville, Kentucky – showing further proof that this innovative technology is quickly becoming the new industry standard for construction projects across the country.
Just last week, work on the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges project in Louisville began and 3D laser scanning technology is playing a key role in the progress.
The project includes reconstruction of ramps for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge and interchanges at the intersection of three major interstates, a second bridge to carry northbound traffic on I-65, and a new East End Bridge to connect two major highways located 10 miles from downtown Louisville.
Kentucky is excited about the project and the clock is ticking! There is reportedly $12 million in bonus awards ($40,000 per day) available to the contractors if construction is completed early and an $80,000 per day penalty if the project is late.
So, when the contracts were awarded late last year, site crews mobilized fast.
The subcontractor providing surveys for the massive transportation project is using 3D laser scanning to plot the entire landscape of construction. This technology enables sketches and plans to be immediately uploaded to the cloud as they are completed so that crews can access the most recent data in real-time.
As a result, crews can conduct clash detection of existing and proposed construction to show if there are interferences that could potentially slow construction and can make modifications before they cause major construction problems.
As the many benefits of 3D laser scanning become more known, this technology has become a best practice for critical projects.
Many construction companies have even been rolling out flat screen computers onsite to show superintendents actual BIM models by sequence. These models are used throughout the day by workers building bridges, roads and infrastructures around the world.
Construction companies use these high definition laser scans to gather precise data on site terrain, renovations and additions. Architects use them to check proposed design models against existing conditions to fine-tune their designs, and engineers use 3D scans to work with real-world conditions in complex industrial as-built and plant environments.
The scans are quick, accurate and highly detailed and the result is big savings of both time and money. Not only can you revisit the original scan multiple times from a computer desktop, which eliminates costly return visits to the project site, but scans also prevent construction reworks and retrofitting and keep projects on time because they are completed right the first time.
At $80,000 per day, I’d say that’s worth it!
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Tate Jones has over 40 years of experience in land and aerial surveying and was one of the country’s earliest adopters of 3D laser scanning technology. A nationally recognized expert in the field of 3D data capture, he has worked with hundreds of clients in the engineering, architectural and construction industries. Contact him at tjones@lasurveying.com or visit www.landairsurveying.com.
When most people think of laser scanning, they think of capturing and documenting existing conditions prior to a construction project.
While this is LandAir’s primary use of our laser technology, there are many additional benefits that our clients are beginning to take advantage of from the scans we provide. One of these benefits is safety, a priority for all of us in the construction industry.
Virtual job site
Laser scanning is a great way to incorporate new personnel into an environment. Enabling workers to view a job site prior to physically stepping onto the site is just one valuable resource provided by a scan.
Whether it is identifying hazards on a site like open pits or high traffic areas, or just identifying where the lay-down areas for supplies will be, the ability to immerse workers into a site can protect them and cut down on miscommunications in the field.
Visualization can also assist with language barriers that may be present on a site or tradespeople who don’t understand the entire safety plan of everyone onsite. It can also provide “virtual tours” to interested parties or at least help them identify caution areas before walking the site.
Training
Laser scanning and modeling can also provide virtual training in a 3D space. The ability to identify parts on equipment and look at the space the equipment is in helps workers identify potential hazards and ensure that they have the necessary tools to make repairs or installations.
There are partner companies today who are putting virtual “how to” training guides online that demonstrate anything from changing a tire to repairing valves in a virtual environment. This virtual 3D training not only allows for repairs and replacements to be done faster, which can save money on shut downs, but lessens the time workers are exposed to the elements.
Many times, moving machine parts, extreme temperatures and dangerous spaces are involved with repairs or replacements and cutting down time in the field can help get workers out of harm’s way.
Clash avoidance
Many times on job sites large equipment is present and cranes are erected. Staging these areas and making sure that the equipment has room to maneuver without colliding with anything else on a site is very important.
Laser scanning can provide very precise measurements of equipment and the surrounding environment prior to being onsite. A crane’s radius can be measured, modeled and dropped into the virtual site to determine where potential clash areas may exist.
Risk management
In the event an accident does occur, having a laser scan of the site allows the team to go back in and examine the area where the accident took place. It may provide a better understanding of how the accident happened and who may have truly been at fault.
Having a 3D laser scan of the existing conditions may help limit liability and demonstrate an added level of due-diligence. This information could also be used to create a guide for “what not to do” on future sites.
First responders and safety plans
Providing valuable information to first responders is another benefit created by a 3D laser scan. Demonstrating the fastest and safest routes on a job site is something that can be easily demonstrated with a laser scan.
Floor plans can be developed or access to a web-based viewer like Leica’s TruView can allow 360-degree views of the environment. Evacuation routes can also be reviewed and demonstrated with a fly-through video for workers on the site.
Deliverables
The deliverables for 3D laser scanning that we provide are various and based on the needs of our clients. We provide drawings, models, fly-throughs and TruViews.
Autodesk’s AutoCAD and Revit are the two most popular formats in which we deliver drawings and 3D models. Our 3D point cloud fly-throughs are easily shown in Windows Media and Leica’s TruView allows clients to see our scan set-ups in full 360 views from each station.
As the virtual world and building information modeling become more prevalent in the construction industry, new uses for 3D laser scanning that provide increased safety on job sites will hopefully increase as well.
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Mitch Dorsett has over 15 years in the building and construction industry and serves as director of business development for LandAir Surveying. Mitch is rapidly becoming an expert in 3D data capture and virtual design and construction, having attended and represented LandAir’s laser scanning capabilities at SPAR, RTC and Autodesk University in 2012. Contact him at mdorsett@lasurveying.com or visit www.landairsurveying.com.
LandAir Surveying’s president, Tate Jones, will speak at the Revit Technology Conference this week.
A nationally recognized expert in the field of 3D data capture and analysis, Tate has worked with hundreds of clients in the engineering, architectural and construction industries – as well as with various law enforcement and insurance companies. LandAir is one of the top as-built data capture firms in America, utilizing 3D laser scanning and Laser-to-BIM technology since 2005.
Tate’s session on “Laser Scanning: Real World Uses” will take place on Friday, July 12. (Session 7: 10:45am-12:00pm.) In this session, attendees will learn everything they need to know about laser scanning, photogrammetry and other simple technologies to document as-built conditions and turn them into BIM models, including some of the common myths and misconceptions and hard learned best practices.
Going to RTC this year? Let’s connect! Tate Jones (770) 355-4650 or Mitch Dorsett (770) 241-5326. You can also check us out online at www.LandAirSurveying.com. See you in Vancouver!…
As a facility, hospitals and other healthcare buildings present a unique situation.
They have the aesthetic needs of a hotel or retail store, but the engineering requirements of an industrial or mechanical facility. These competing needs make space allocation difficult for design, construction, and operations and when renovations are due, accurate as-built information is absolutely critical.
3D laser scanning delivers perfect as-built information to meet the MEP and architectural needs of even the most complicated facilities.
Changes are always afoot in hospitals
Hospitals facilities are anything but static. Improvements in technology constantly call for new equipment and can shrink or modify the size of existing equipment.
Equipment and mechanical rooms in hospitals are notoriously crowded. Walls, ceilings, kiosks, laboratories, and operating rooms are virtually full of pipes, wires, conduits, and other tools of the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) world.
This makes renovations difficult for both design and construction.
There is a human factor, too. Office layouts change as employees are churned (or “moved” in facilities management terms). Departments often have to compete for space and square footage comes at a premium!
The health and safety of employees is also a consideration. Hospitals must comply with statutory requirements related to office layouts including the minimum amount of space per employee, security features, fire safety protocol, ventilation, temperature control, restrooms, dining facilities and more.
3D Laser Scanning: Perfect asbuilt information
3D laser scanning allows architects and engineers to design renovations from perfect as-built information. This directly addresses the need for accuracy within the tight tolerances of the hospital environment. Since human measurement error is eliminated, re-designs are greatly reduced and errors and omissions on the construction and architectural plans are also of no consequence.
3D laser scanning also gives contractors the upper hand. Since designs are based on actual existing conditions, the contractor can be more confident that it is constructible as designed. Plus, precise material schedules developed from the model help avoid cost overruns.
The contractor can also use “clash detection” to determine exactly what must be moved or removed to complete the renovation. This technique compares the scanned as-built world to the construction plans and shows which areas are trying to occupy the same space. This significantly reduces change orders.
Owners and facilities managers also save money through efficient design and construction, as they can use the 3D picture of existing site conditions as a decision-making and communication tool during construction and a facilities management tool afterwards.
How it works
A 3D laser scanner uses harmless light rays to collect the 3D location of every object and surface it can “see” from where the instrument is set up. Scanners automatically rotate 360 degrees on a tripod, sending and receiving these light rays in all directions. In about five minutes, the scanner setup is complete and millions of data points have been collected.
This data, which is known as a “point cloud,” is a perfect 3D asbuilt of existing conditions. The point cloud can be used by itself or modeled in a software program.
Advantages over traditional as-built techniques
3D laser scanning has many advantages over traditional measuring techniques including:
Conclusion
The strengths and efficiencies of 3D laser scanning are extraordinarily applicable to the unique environment of healthcare facilities. From design through construction and facilities management, all parties benefit from the precise as-built information given by this remarkable technology.
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David Headrick has over 20 years of experience in the surveying, engineering, and legal industries, both as a project manager for LandAir Surveying and as a lawyer in private practice. He has represented numerous land surveyors, designers, architects, contractors, and other industry professionals throughout his career. Today, David serves as an executive and project manager for LandAir Surveying Company, Inc., focused on developing and managing the company’s 3D Laser Scanning Division. Contact him at (865) 599-0148 or dheadrick@lasurveying.com.To view his LinkedIn profile, click here.
Las Vegas hosted the annual ICSC RECon Conference last week – the largest retail real estate convention in the world. This year had more than 35,000 attendees and a record number of individual companies. Most attendees were packed with meetings and the tradeshow floor was bustling with activity.
The retail industry has definitely picked up momentum over the last few months and with the number of prospective sites and development renderings being displayed, it appears the next few years should be busy. Many of the receptions and parties were back in full swing and the overall atmosphere was more upbeat. News on the home front was good as the Georgia contingent was represented by around 1,000 attendees.
LandAir Surveying was busy discussing many new projects and exploring ways to assist in gathering as-built documentation. Two things I took away from the project discussions were:
First, there is work out there and people are looking to make things happen! Deals are being done and getting valuable information into the hands of the parties doing the deals is in high demand.
Secondly, because people need as-builts of existing space, this signifies that redevelopment is still very predominant. Many of the deals I saw represented in booths were infill projects, urban development and Transit Oriented Development (TOD).
While retail, and for that matter the economy as a whole, is not yet back to pre-recession days; there were many positive trends on display at the ICSC RECon Conference. Let’s hope this trend continues!
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Mitch Dorsett has over 15 years in the building and construction industry and serves as director of business development for LandAir Surveying. Mitch is rapidly becoming an expert in 3D data capture and virtual design and construction, having attended and represented LandAir’s laser scanning capabilities at SPAR, RTC and Autodesk University in 2012. Contact him at mdorsett@lasurveying.com or visit www.landairsurveying.com.