The BridgeFab team will come to your job site and 3D scan the area to streamline documentation, planning and modelling of the process. We use surveying equipment that allows us to measure the site, and using drafting software, virtualise 3D space to create the specifications in 3D modelling and detailing software.
3D laser scanning provides surveying of a site by fully capturing the measurements of the job site.
Scanning a job site provides specific details and plans for complex job sites, and the data allows for production of precise 2D and 3D to-scale drawings and digital models.
3D software for more accurate, more efficient fabrication and erection.
Using 3D scanners, we can overlay a photo of the existing site with a 3D image of the proposed structure. This software and technology allow us to better draft and fabricate your project in a timely fashion.
The main benefit of seeing what your boutique steel will look like overlayed on a photo is that our team can always make sure everything they are doing is accurate – down to the how many rivets are required.
Advantages of 3D scanning
Our team uses 3D scanning software and lasers, which are powerful, accurate, and quick to document a job site for a new building or extension to an existing building. The cameras we use are able to capture the largest and smallest spaces of the job site.
3D scanning also allows for virtual walkthroughs of the site and for the site to be correctly measured digitally – this reduces site visits, travel time and sign-off times.
- Capture and receive data quickly
- Accurate measuring for large and small spaces
- Unmatchable accuracy and precision
- Reduction of structural steel design risks
- Produces precise navigable 3D models
- Can design built drawings of the project
- Improvement in both architectural and engineering decision-making
- Ability to convert 3D scans into modelling software
- Improves workflows (less visits to the job site)
Frequently Asked Questions
3D scanning is a technology that captures precise measurements of physical objects or environments using lasers or cameras. For structural steel projects, it offers benefits such as:
- Precision: Accurate measurements ensure precise fabrication and construction.
- Efficiency: Facilitates detailed planning, design, and clash detection, reducing errors and project timelines.
- Cost Savings: Minimises rework and site visits, leading to lower project costs.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Improves communication among stakeholders with clear, visual project data.
Overall, 3D scanning enhances project accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration in structural steel fabrication and construction.
3D scanning offers significant advantages over traditional methods in structural steel fabrication. It enhances accuracy by providing precise measurements and detailed data capture, reducing errors that commonly occur with manual methods. The technology speeds up the process by efficiently capturing comprehensive site information in a single scan, minimising the need for multiple visits and manual measurements. This capability is particularly beneficial for handling complex geometries and existing structures, allowing for accurate modelling and clash detection early in the project timeline. The detailed 3D models generated facilitate better visualisation and planning, improving decision-making throughout the fabrication and construction phases. Additionally, 3D scanning produces thorough as-built documentation that supports future renovations, maintenance, and compliance needs, ultimately leading to cost savings and streamlined project timelines.
3D scanning contributes to cost savings and project timelines in several key ways. Firstly, it reduces the need for repeated site visits and manual measurements by capturing comprehensive data in a single scan, minimising labour hours and travel costs. This efficiency accelerates the initial data collection phase, allowing design and fabrication processes to commence sooner. By providing accurate measurements and detailed 3D models early in the project, 3D scanning helps identify potential clashes and design issues upfront, preventing costly rework during construction. The precise data also supports more accurate material estimates and reduces material waste. Overall, these factors combine to streamline project workflows, optimise resource allocation, and shorten overall project durations, resulting in significant cost savings and improved project timelines.
What does this mean for large construction projects?
Traditionally, a draftsperson or site engineer would be required to take manual measurements to draw-up a design layout which would then be used to determine required materials.
As any project manager would understand too well, these measurements and plans are open to human error often causing issues within the supply chain.
Contemporary steel industry innovators are now able to use advanced scanning and digital imaging technology to take a 3D snapshot of the site. This information is used by a draftsperson who then creates a complete digital representation of the worksite.
The data and information are fed to the new machinery, which cuts and processes a precise amount of material ready for transportation back to the site.
Traditionally, a small mistake in measurement could potentially cause a range of issues:
- Extending completion dates
- Blowing budgets
- Over or underestimating required materials
With new technology and machinery, human error is completely removed from the equation.
Contact BridgeFab for structural steel projects
At BridgeFab we can take care of the structural steel process from start to finish – so contact us today or call on (07) 3373 8777.