For decades, the construction industry has relied heavily on 2-dimensional drawings to plan and build complex spaces. While these drawings are familiar, they often fall short when it comes to understanding how a building truly functions in three dimensions. One of the most common issues we see is design collisions where plumbing pipes pass directly through areas where ductwork is supposed to be installed. Structural elements appear where mechanical systems were planned. Utilities are discovered in locations that don’t match decades-old drawings. These problems are rarely visible on paper. They are usually discovered during construction when it’s too late to avoid delays, redesigns, and added costs. The result is a reactive cycle that impacts owners, consultants, and contractors alike.

By using Leica 3D scanning, you can confidently eliminate these issues prior to building the project. If you have a renovation, industrial production line, multi-family, or hotel project, you can incorporate every feature within your building, integrating the new design with what already exists, all within your 3-dimentional computer software. This helps you visualize and understand your project holistically and how it will function once it’s complete.

Jowett Farms came to us with the goal of improving and expanding their pork processing production line. Their team had many great but what was the solution? The farm needed to stay in operation, so which step should be taken first in the phases of construction? Their team was challenged by the project’s complexity and where to start. At first, it seemed like a 20,000 sq ft addition to fit all the required sausage equipment was the answer, but then a hanging cooler emerged as the bigger priority and next step. Seeing this challenge -and prior to getting too far down any one direction, resulting in significant cost with design consults, they contacted us and we captured their existing space 3-dimensionally with Leica 3D scanning.

Every single wall, door, rail, and equipment was captured accurately with the ability to measure distances from your screen. The response was, “Wow, I can’t believe it! In the past, we would have to scrub up and walk down to the production floor to physically measure the location of existing equipment. Now we can view the entire building with a single click.” This was a paradigm shift in how we were thinking and developing this construction project. To no surprise, now that we had access to this tool, it was the catalyst for deciding the best direction forward. Instead of a new addition or hanging cooler, the 3D scans revealed a way of utilizing their existing space more effectively. Through creative thinking, the Jowett family re-constructed their production line and saved about 5,000 square feet of floor area, allowing them to fit additional sausage equipment into the space and postpone the larger 20,000 sq-ft expansion until a later date. It was an absolute joy watching the idea develop where the entire team was aligned and confident in the plan and the next steps. Everyone agreed that we found the best solution forward, all thanks to accelerating the creative planning with visually seeing their space in 3D with Leica Scanning

With this, designers and owners can eliminate all guesswork, visualize the complexities, proactively find solutions, and move ahead with confidence with the best solutions. Why wouldn’t you consider utilizing this amazing technology on your next project? If you are curious, innovative and forward thinking, just like the Jowett Family, we would be happy to share our experience in more detail.