Using 3D laser scanners and highly accurate point cloud data, building surveyors can undertake laser scanning services to assist your design phase. Speak to Arbtech today about arranging a 3D survey on your site.
Last updated: April 2026
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Using 3D laser scanning technology, our recommended partners can capture a million points of data every second to create a highly accurate point cloud of your site. The advanced 3D survey provides the precise measurements you need for floor plans, elevations and BIM models, helping your project run smoothly from the start.
Whether you are renovating a home or planning a large-scale development, our 3D surveys remove the guesswork and help you avoid costly errors during the design phase.
The team we work with works fast and delivers reliable site information to help you get planning permission over the line.
Fast and non-intrusive data collection.
Highly accurate 3D point cloud data and LiDAR technology.
Expert advice to determine the exact level of detail (LOD) you need.
Comprehensive deliverables including Revit and 3D BIM models.
Get in touch with us today for a free quote and let an experienced team help you move your project in the right direction.
From extensions to renovations and everything in between, all new development projects demand precision. If you decide to rely on old paper plans or manual measurements, you introduce serious risks into your plans, and the assumptions that your information is correct could lead to errors, delays and unexpected additional project costs.
Without highly accurate data, your next project could stall, as construction projects are likely to experience issues from the architectural plans not corresponding to the reality of the site’s current dimensions. By relying on 3D survey services, we can guarantee that clients get an accurate representation of the site based on the condition during the planned works.
After delivering accurate and verifiable site information from 3D laser scanning surveys, we can record the dimensions of existing buildings, help your project run smoothly and even go as far as to conduct other building or land surveys if they are needed to support your development.
Known by many similar names – such as a 3D laser scanning survey, a 3D laser survey scan, a 3D building survey, a 3D scanner survey or a 3D scanning survey, a 3D survey is essentially digital photography, except measurements are included.
A non-contact method of measuring a structure or piece of land, 3D building surveys involve an easy-to-understand method that uses specialised laser scanning equipment to reality-capture detailed information about an area.
More specifically, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology is used to generate accurate 3D point cloud data, with a laser scanner rapidly firing laser beams to measure the distance to every surface it hits, including roofs, trees, walls and any other features.
With 3D laser surveys, the process is extremely fast, collecting a million points of data every second, resulting in laser scan data formed from a dense cloud of dots. The 3D point cloud will be the most accurate data of your site, and with it, a building surveyor can turn the readings into precise drawings.
It is common for 3D laser building surveys to be used to ensure high accuracy, save money and mitigate risks on any complex project.
Our team can refer you to a sister company for services that offer a wide range of benefits for architects, engineers and property owners, such as:
The accurate measurements and reliable results prevent expensive errors during the design and build phases.
The laser scan data gives you a permanent digital record, removing any need for costly and time-consuming return visits to inspect the site additional times and gather missed dimensions.
The approach we take means we capture data efficiently and remotely, covering hard-to-reach, high-level or potentially hazardous areas.
The insight a building survey gathers captures every component of the site to provide accurate and reliable results, and it could even help with other future services, like measured building surveys or the creation of detailed flood plans and drainage plans
As a result of 3D surveying, we can provide you with a full measured survey service that is completed with speed and exceptional accuracy.
For more information on how we carry out 3D surveys, what equipment we use and the software we utilise for processing the data, check out the details below.
Our approach follows a clear and efficient process to deliver high-quality results:
Speaking to you directly to discuss your needs and determine the correct level of detail (LOD).
After in-depth conversations with you, our experienced team ensures that we gather the exact information you need, whether you need help with floor plans or advanced 3D BIM (Building Information Modelling).
Undertaking a site survey to capture data efficiently in a fast and non-intrusive way.
Laser scanning equipment will be vital, as well as a total station and GPS equipment to link all measurements to a professional land coordinate system.
Formatting the massive volume of scan data.
Specialised photogrammetry software aligns all the separate scans into one unified point cloud data file.
Formatting the raw data into easy-to-use outputs.
The 3D survey data taken from the visit could include cross-sections, contour lines, detailed drawings or Revit models.
We rely on advanced technology to maintain millimetre-level precision and high quality, selecting the ideal tool for the job every time we are instructed to collect 3D survey data.
In terms of the types of 3D building survey equipment we use, common examples include:
Not only that, but if we need to incorporate other surveys, we may require additional tools, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) in utility mapping or other GPR surveys.
Once the raw data is collected from the site, our skilled technicians use industry-leading 3D survey software to turn the massive point clouds into usable plans:
Offering a seemingly endless list of services to clients all over the country – such as ecology survey, tree survey and measured building survey services – Arbtech is the right solution for supporting your planning needs.
Our commitment is to provide simple, reliable and high-quality 3D laser scanning survey services, along with countless other solutions to help get planning permission over the line and assist in overcoming other obstacles to development work.
If you want more information about how we undertake our 3D laser surveying services, check out the section below, where we talk about our consultants, our fees and our communication options.
The dedicated team we work with comprises land and building surveyors who hold the necessary accreditations and are experts in laser scanning services.
Whoever you’re given to work on your site, you will get the same required level of attention to detail and someone as qualified, suitable, knowledgeable and effective as anyone else in our partner company’s team.
Like with Arbtech, the company we rely on for building surveys works as a cohesive unit, collaborating with other professionals to ensure that you get the exact data needed for your planning application.
The cost of 3D laser surveying is bespoke and based entirely on the complexity and scale of the site in question.
Planning projects involving a basic structure on a small site requires less time and fewer points of data, leading to lower project costs. Alternatively, however, larger and more complex buildings that require far more attention and vastly larger amounts of data points will naturally cost more.
You can get an indication of the 3D survey price on your site by speaking to our experienced team directly. If you get in touch, give us key details like your full address and explain the specifications of your proposed development and why you want 3D surveys, and we can give you an accurate fee.
By calling on Arbtech to help with your development, you’re opting for access to a team of experienced and advanced professionals who possess a proven track record for supporting planning applications, creating materials to help the design stage, and removing any boundaries that would otherwise harm your plans.
The 3D laser scanning services provided by our partners result in advanced 3D models that can contribute to the early stages of your project, with deliverables in the form of a Revit or BIM model. On top of that, if you need additional services for your development, our partner can continue offering assistance with topographical surveys, GPR surveys and countless other options.
If you want a team known for effectively and efficiently helping numerous private and professional individuals and businesses in planning, choose Arbtech. With building surveys, it’s the same situation, but with us acting as a moderator between clients and service providers. Under a calculated approach and with heightened quality control, your 3D survey will give you everything you need. Ask for a free quote by emailing us, calling us or filling out a quote form on our website, and we will push you in the right direction.
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