Boston – As the technology has increased in use over the past few years, laser scanning has become recognized as a versatile and powerful tool to support the design process. From transportation projects to Building Information Modeling (BIM) projects, laser scanning allows land surveyors to collect millions of data points that represent a real-world object or environment. The collected data can be used to construct digital, two- and three-dimensional models useful for a wide variety of applications – and laser scanning has proven to be especially useful for performing site inventory for historic restoration or rehabilitation projects.
Paul R. LeBaron, PLS, Director of Land Surveying at Nitsch Engineering, said, “Laser scanning is particularly well-suited for projects that involve an historic building because the technology allows us to pick up the architectural details of the property in a non-destructive, accurate, and comprehensive manner.”
One example of how laser scanning can support historic renovation/rehabilitation projects can be seen on a project in Wellesley, which is being designed by Ann Beha Architects. Nitsch Engineering used laser scanning to record interior and exterior architectural details of a historic house owned by Wellesley College.