As-Built Documentation and 2D Drawings from Laser Scans

How do laser scans become 2D drawings?

If your existing drawings are missing, outdated, or never matched the building, you need measured 2D plans, sections, and elevations before design or permitting can start. FieldScan crews capture the existing conditions using a Leica RTC360, register the point cloud, and slice that 3D data into 2D orthographic projections. We draft over these slices in AutoCAD or extract them directly from an Autodesk Revit model to deliver standard DWG and PDF files.

A point cloud in E57 or RCP format contains billions of measurements accurate to 0.08 in (2 mm). A raw point cloud is too heavy for standard contractor workflows. By bringing the scan data into AutoCAD, drafters cut horizontal sections for floor plans and vertical sections for elevations. The resulting drawings align directly with the measured reality of the building. Because of this, wall thicknesses, structural column placements, and window openings reflect the actual built environment. If you only need a basic layout to plan office partitions, extracting a 2D floor plan directly from a sliced point cloud is the most efficient path.

What is the difference between drafting in AutoCAD and modeling in Revit?

AutoCAD delivers a flat 2D representation of a specific slice of the building. Revit builds a full 3D database from which 2D drawings are generated automatically.

Drafting directly in AutoCAD is faster when the only deliverable required is a 2D DWG floor plan for space planning or basic permitting. The drafter traces the RCP point cloud at a specified height, capturing walls, doors, and permanent fixtures. Revit requires more initial hours because the team models the actual volume of every element at LOD 200 or LOD 300 before generating any 2D output. The advantage of Revit appears during design iterations. When you move a wall in a scan-to-BIM model, the floor plan, elevation, and section drawings update simultaneously. Send us your project address, and we will tell you the turnaround time difference between a 2D CAD drafting scope and a full Revit modeling package.

When is 2D documentation the wrong choice?

Flat 2D drawings fail when your primary project risk is vertical interference. This is specifically true regarding MEP coordination in tight ceiling plenums.

A standard DWG floor plan shows where an overhead duct runs, but it cannot effectively display where that duct conflicts with a sloped structural beam or a newly designed fire sprinkler line. If your design team relies on Navisworks Manage for multi-trade clash detection, a 2D drawing provides zero utility. Clash detection requires full 3D geometry modeled to at least LOD 350, where hangers and connection interfaces are mapped out. Using flat elevations for mechanical room overhauls forces your contractors to guess the vertical clearances. Choose standard 2D as-builts for architectural space planning, and mandate full 3D modeling for mechanical coordination.

What factors determine the timeline and cost of as-built drafting?

The primary variables are total square footage, the density of interior partitions, and the requested level of detail for MEP elements. Each of these factors directly impacts the required processing hours.

Capturing a 50,000 square foot open warehouse takes minimal drafting time because the layout consists mostly of perimeter walls and structural columns. A 10,000 square foot medical clinic requires significantly more hours to draft due to the sheer volume of interior walls, exam room casework, and complex ceiling plans. Access restrictions play a role too. Secured facilities often limit our 3D laser scanning crews to night shifts. Specifying that all exposed conduit and piping must be drafted into the 2D deliverables will multiply the processing hours. We scale our drafting scopes across San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, and the Inland Empire based on the exact detail your permitting office requires. If your exterior site requires an ALTA map, our licensed California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) partner manages the formal land surveying deliverables while we draft the building interiors. Tell us what elements you plan to demolish, and we will scope the capture to focus only on the permanent fixtures you are keeping.