LASER SCANNING SURVEYS

Laser scanning surveys conducted by TopoCrew are exceptionally accurate.

We use advanced laser scanners, including the NavVis MLX/VLX. We tie our scans to a robust survey control network established by GNSS observations and precise Total Station measurements. Every scan position is linked to this control, ensuring all data from our vehicle-mounted, handheld, and static laser scanners is registered into a single, unified system.

This eliminates data alignment issues and typically delivers accuracy within ±2–3 mm indoors and ±5 mm outdoors. Our final deliverables undergo rigorous quality checks to verify measurements and ensure reliable results for civil engineering, construction, architectural and infrastructure projects.

We can typically deploy a survey team to your London site within 5 working days of confirming your booking. For urgent projects, we can often arrange for next-day service. Our goal is to provide a rapid response to get your project moving without delay.

The time required on site is significantly reduced compared with traditional methods. The duration will always depend on the size, complexity and requirements of your project, but our systems are designed for rapid data capture.

To give a sense of scale:

• A complex building façade or a tunnel section can often be scanned in an hour.

• Larger infrastructure schemes can be covered at speed. Our mobile mapping systems are capable of surveying many miles of highway in a single day.

During the initial consultation, we set out a clear and realistic programme for the on-site capture phase of your project.

We provide a comprehensive range of outputs tailored to your specific project, which typically include:

• Registered 3D point cloud: a highly accurate and dense digital copy of your site or building (E57, RCP/RCS, LAS/LAZ)

• 2D CAD drawings: traditional outputs such as site plans, cross-sections, floor plans, elevations and sections, generated with superior accuracy from the scan data (DWG/DXF).

• 3D CAD drawings: a 3D model of the site ready to be imported in most commonly used design software (Civil3D, MicroStation)

• BIM models: intelligent, data-rich models for advanced design, clash detection, and project coordination (Revit RVT or IFC, with agreed LOD)

• Ortho-photos and true-scale façade elevations

• Viewer links, 360° imagery, control and QA reports

The turnaround time depends on your project's complexity and the required outputs. As a general guide:

• Registered point cloud data: can be delivered within 1-2 business days after the site work is complete for small to medium assets.

• Standard 2D-3D CAD drawings: typically delivered within 5 business days.

• 3D BIM models: production time ranges from 5-10 business days, depending on the model's required Level of Detail (LOD)

Because every project's requirements differ, we provide a detailed and guaranteed delivery schedule specific to your needs with every quote.

Yes, absolutely. Our deliverables are fully compatible with all major AEC software suites. We provide data in industry-standard formats that integrate seamlessly into your existing workflows, including:

• AutoCAD (.dwg, .dxf)

• Revit (.rvt, .rcp)

• Navisworks (.nwd, .nwc)

• ArchiCAD

• And many others.

We can typically carry out laser scanning with no disruption to your site activity, public services or traffic flow. Our surveyors regularly work on live construction sites and in occupied commercial and residential buildings across London. We can survey a busy road without requiring road closures or capture the layout of an active facility without interrupting your team's work.

TopoCrew has extensive experience surveying historic and listed buildings across London. Our laser scanning is entirely non-contact, capturing millions of precise data points without physically touching delicate surfaces. This removes any risk of damage that might occur with other methods.

We capture intricate architectural details, subtle deformations and the exact geometry of the structure with exceptional clarity. This detailed digital record is invaluable for architects, enabling them to plan conversions and adaptation works with a complete understanding of the building's existing condition.

Yes, absolutely. Data “noise” from vehicles and pedestrians is a known challenge when scanning in busy city environments such as central London. Our processing software and expertise are specifically designed to filter these elements out of the raw point cloud. This ensures the final data you receive is a clear and accurate representation of your site, free from the clutter. Even in the most complex urban conditions, the survey output remains fully dependable for downstream CAD and BIM workflows for design, development, planning, analysis, construction and other applications.

The area we can cover in a single day is significant and depends on the complexity of the environment. For example, our team can typically scan:

• Up to 10 kilometers of a highway or major road corridor.

• 1-2 kilometers of a London Underground or utility tunnel interior.

• Up to 15,000 sq m (approx. 160,000 sq ft) of a single floor on an active construction site for as-built verification.

• 5,000 - 10,000 sq m of a complex industrial plant with extensive piping and machinery.

• Two to three entire medium-sized bridges or pedestrian overpasses.

• Up to 400 linear meters of a detailed high-rise façade.

• A complete multi-story heritage building with intricate interior and exterior features.

• Over 50,000 sq m (approx. 12 acres) of an open site for earthwork or stockpile analysis.

• Up to 1,850 sq m of an open-plan office space.

• A complex multi-story building with numerous rooms and features.

• Several hundred meters of a street scene or building façade.

Our mobile and vehicle-mounted scanners allow us to capture large, complex areas far more rapidly than traditional surveying methods.