Point Taken: 3D Laser Technology Serves Historic Valspar Project

What Is 3D Laser Scanning in Construction?

3D laser scanners analyze real-world objects and gather distance data in the form of a point cloud. Point clouds are collections of millions of tiny dots that represent the surfaces of objects and spaces.

From this data, project teams can create and analyze highly detailed 3D models. The models can be adjusted, coordinated and used to support accurate fabrication and installation.

For existing buildings, 3D laser scanning can provide information that traditional record drawings and field measurements may not capture, particularly when structures have settled or changed over decades of use.

The technology is an important tool within Building Information Modeling and Virtual Design and Construction. Learn more about Kraus-Anderson’s Building Information Modeling team and the role of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Services in early coordination.

Why Was 3D Laser Scanning Used for the Valspar Building?

The Valspar structure was more than 100 years old. It had settled enough that the floors were visibly uneven and columns were no longer straight. The record drawings had not been updated in more than a century.

The new design also required mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to remain within a tight space above suspended ceilings, with no room for inaccuracies.

An accurate existing structural model was essential to the success of the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing design, fabrication and installation.

The Valspar project later became the Valspar Applied Science and Technology Center, a historic laboratory renovation that combined advanced research space with preservation of the existing industrial structure.

How Did 3D Laser Scanning Improve the Construction Schedule?

Scanning the entire 170,640-square-foot structure, including both buildings, and creating a 3D structural model took six weeks.

That timeline was substantially shorter than the traditional process of taking field measurements, marking up drawings and transferring information to a computer-aided design drafter.

Brad Harvey, Kraus-Anderson project manager for Valspar, estimated that the traditional process could have added six months to the construction schedule because of the building’s size and structural variations.

“As a result of the scan, we learned that the floor levels were off by 8 inches from one end to the other, and the building was 8 inches longer than it should be,” Harvey said. “Our MEP subcontractors were able to bring the scanned building model into their software and accurately coordinate their ducts and pipes before they fabricated them.”

Ultimately, the process helped the work proceed more smoothly while saving time and money.

For broader context on laser scanning and existing-condition documentation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology provides information about 3D imaging and measurement technologies.

When Does 3D Laser Scanning Add Value to a Construction Project?

3D laser scanning can require significant upfront investment, but it may provide meaningful time savings on projects with complex existing conditions, limited mechanical, electrical and plumbing space, irregular structures or major renovation scopes.

As with all technology, Kraus-Anderson evaluates project challenges and the cost-benefit of multiple solutions before selecting the appropriate approach.

In this article, Heather Kossila explained how 3D laser scanning supported the Valspar historic laboratory renovation by documenting existing conditions, creating a 3D structural model, improving Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing coordination and helping avoid schedule delays. Learn more about the Valspar Applied Science and Technology Center, Building Information Modeling and Virtual Design and Construction and historic building renovation.