Is it possible to survey entire industrial sites?

Industrial sites are among the most challenging projects in building surveying. Large production halls, sprawling facilities, complex piping systems, and ongoing production processes place high demands on the planning of a survey.

The answer, therefore, is yes—even entire industrial sites can be precisely surveyed using 3D laser scanning. Careful planning and choosing the right time to conduct the survey are crucial.

For this project, an entire industrial site had to be digitally captured. A particular challenge was that the large production machines caused significant vibrations during operation. These would have compromised the accuracy of the laser scans.

For this reason, the entire survey was deliberately scheduled for the weekend, after production had ceased and the machines had been shut down.

While many were already starting their weekend, our surveying team was just getting to work. Using three RIEGL VZ-400i laser scanners, a total of 928 scan positions were recorded over the weekend. This allowed the entire site to be digitally captured in its entirety and with high accuracy.

The large number of scan positions was necessary to fully cover all buildings, production areas, technical facilities, and complex structures, while avoiding shadows.

Why Precise Industrial Surveying Is So Important

• Industrial facilities are constantly changing.
• New machines are installed, production lines are modified, and technical systems are expanded.

A comprehensive digital as-built survey therefore provides a reliable foundation for:

• Renovations
• Expansions
• Production adjustments
• Maintenance planning
• BIM projects
• Documentation of Technical Systems

The more precise the as-built data is, the more efficiently subsequent planning can be carried out.

Planning Instead of Production Downtime
Good preparation is crucial, especially for industrial projects. Often, simply setting up a scanner isn’t enough.

Well in advance, we work with the client to determine:

• when scanning will take place,
• which areas are accessible,
• how production interruptions can be minimized,
• and what level of accuracy is required for the project.

This allows even very large industrial sites to be captured efficiently and without unnecessary operational disruptions.

Conclusion
This project clearly demonstrates that modern 3D laser scanning technology delivers reliable results even for large industrial sites.

With careful planning, the right timing for the survey, and multiple laser scanners deployed simultaneously, even complex production facilities can be fully digitized.

The 928 scan positions from this project now serve as a precise foundation for future renovations, expansions, and technical planning.