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AdviceCADFloor PlansHow toLeica Disto D2MatterportQuestions

How to Take Notes While Scanning?19585

US Building
Survey, LLC
Olathe, Kansas
rhelling private msg quote post Address this user
I'm just looking for a little advice/guidance...picking some brains. ;-)

We scan commercial buildings for as-builts. We utilize Pro3 cameras, but honestly...we rely most on our Disto lasers. I would love to have staff just go out and scan a property, upload to Matterport and get a CAD file...and we're done - but 'real life' is very different. There's too much additional information to gather and sometimes the scans and/or model don't really reflect what's going on (in regard to wall thickness, cooler boxes, low walls, structure hgts, etc.)

I'd love to be able to scan the property and add notes on the scanned image. This way, when the model/plan was actually generated...there could be some checks and balance. Staff could better understand and complete the big picture of what's going on out at the site.

Right now it's: Scan with the Pro3, then actually laser the space with a Disto laser and a sketch pad of paper full of drawings and notes. I know...it seems completely redundant, but it's the only way to actually gather all the information needed accurately.

Is anyone doing this any differently with success?
Post 1 IP   flag post
ron0987 private msg quote post Address this user
@rhelling have you looked at the Leica BLK3d. We just purchased one to cut a few of those steps out. It gives you several back up capabilities. It’s overall design function was go to job take photos and you can measure in the 2D photos, so instead of manual measurements you can measure on screen at the job or walk away and take measurements later.

You can buy the desktop software for about $150 and download photos any time. If you photographed it you can measure it.


It also has a built in Disto to allow you to take measurements or better yet input measurements to the screen overlay of pdf and or build your own floor plan quickly and accurately.


Its brand new cost is about $5500 but a few weeks back saw one sell on EBay for about $1200. Not much more then the best Disto. I personally think very under utilized tool. I have used it for exterior over hangs and getting measurements off the ceiling. Plus if I forget something again if it’s visible in the photo you can measure it.

As for notes you can add notes but I think what we are going to do is buy a cheap digital record that can transcribe the notes to word or pdf. A quicker easier method to take detailed notes.
Post 2 IP   flag post
US Building
Survey, LLC
Olathe, Kansas
rhelling private msg quote post Address this user
@ron0987

That's really interesting. I'm going to have to try that out...

I'm assuming you're NOT creating a model...it's just photos, right?

I'm trying to think...I'm not sure it saves steps, but it seems to create a great backup situation in case something was missed, etc. I'm not sure I'd be ready to snap a bunch of photos and just rely on that - have the tech/cad guys back in the office figure it out. But I suppose that would be possible.

Thanks for the input/ideas.
Post 3 IP   flag post
ron0987 private msg quote post Address this user
@rhelling totally understand I use it instead of taking measurements at job, it reduces that step, I have not used it with the desktop which allows you to take measurements and then put notes on photos and send photo as PDF with note. Where I used it in past when some asked if measurements were taken or to verify the measurements that were made. I used it a couple of times with confidence in its accuracy that instead of taking Disto measurements and then note them, you skip the notes. It probably works best for small to medium spaces that can be captured in several photos.

No I am not using it to create 3d models. But talking about your tech drawing staff with the desktop software they can take the measurements that they need saving on job time. But it does take a little learning curve. Once you have the work flow and confidence down it is good tool. It also saves repeat trips to job when something is missed, which doesn’t happen a lot. I have more requests for detailed measurements that were not specific in original scope of work.

Good luck hopefully you come up with something that works. Please post what you come up with.
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