Challenge: An architecture firm was tasked with creating a renovation design which included a new office tucked into the attic space of a compact 1940’s home. There were no existing plans or clear information regarding roof framing details.
Solution: Vertex 3D Solutions was asked to perform a 3D LiDAR scan of the interior and roof top of the home to accurately capture the details of the existing structure. From the resulting point cloud data, we then drafted a full 3D model using Revit software. Additional drone images of the roof and surrounding site were captured to aid in visualization and design.
Deliverables:
Outcome: The architectural team was able to bypass the complex challenge of accurately documenting the existing space and instead jump straight into the new design, saving countless hours and avoiding the nearly impossible task of precisely measuring a tight attic space. Avoiding the crawl through the fiberglass insulation was an extra bonus!
The homeowners were thrilled with the visualization tools provided by the 3D models and grateful for a cost saving option to jumpstart their new design.
Challenge: A New York firm was designing tenant improvements for a health spa chain with multiple locations across Atlanta. They needed an accurate as-built of each space, including floor plan verification, dimensions, photos, and utility locations. Collecting this data would have required costly travel and several days of site documentation.
Solution: Vertex captured the space using a Matterport 3D LiDAR scanner and hi-resolution photos. Utility locations were documented with photos and dimensions confirmed. For sites that required it we then drafted 2D plans using Revit to produce dimensionally accurate floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and point cloud sections.
Deliverables:
Outcome: The architectural firm eliminated the need for travel and skipped the time-consuming as-built process, allowing them to dive straight into the new design. This saved time and money while freeing them up to focus on other projects until the spa as-builts were ready.
The spa chain owner was able to explore each location remotely through the 3D Matterport walkthrough, enhancing visualization and communication with the design team.
Challenge: Commercial construction sites often span large areas, with extensive staged materials and numerous personnel. As a result, consistently documenting progress and changes can be challenging.
Solution: Vertex recently conducted a progress scan to document the completion of the structural steel phase on a commercial site, capturing high-resolution images and 4K video with a DJI Mavic 3E drone.
Deliverables:
Outcome: The contractor and owner were thrilled with the clear visual documentation at the structural steel milestone. Excited to highlight the progress, the owner plans to showcase video clips and images in reports and use them to attract potential tenants with compelling marketing spots.
Challenge: A structural engineer sought Vertex 3D Solutions’ help in documenting the existing conditions of a large, partially constructed custom home riddled with issues. The three-story structure and towering foundation required a thorough inspection to determine necessary structural repairs. Located an hour from the engineering firm, the project would have required multiple site visits. Adding to the challenge, the home sat atop a steep ridge, with one side featuring over 70 feet of exterior wall, making inspection access more difficult.
Solution: Vertex captured the interior space and porches using a Matterport 3D LiDAR scanner. We also completed a drone scan of the exterior with a DJI Mavic 3e. The Matterport scan was processed into a 3D walkthrough, and the drone survey into a detailed 3D mesh model.
Deliverables:
Outcome: The engineer was able to inspect every interior and exterior section at his convenience, right from his desk. Tools within both 3D platforms enabled close examination from any angle, virtual dimensioning, markups, tags, screenshots, and easy sharing. Beyond improving efficiency and reducing costs, these models served as an invaluable communication tool for the contractor handling repairs.
Challenge: Contractors routinely document plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-ins with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of photos for future reference. Once walls are in place, finding the right image can become a tedious search, hoping the necessary detail was captured from the right angle. A custom home builder reached out to Vertex 3D Solutions wanting to automate this process and at the same time provide an incredibly valuable tool for his clients.
Solution: Vertex documented the rough-in locations and the entire interior space just prior to insulation using a Matterport 3D LiDAR scanner. The Matterport scan was processed into a 3D walkthrough.
Deliverables:
Outcome: Digital as-built capture saved a tremendous amount of time—not just during the initial documentation but also by eliminating the need to sort, categorize, and store files. The 3D walkthrough significantly reduces rework costs and enhances efficiency during the trim-out phase. Clients love having an ‘X-ray’ view of their walls for future reference.
Challenge: A landscape architecture firm required a topographic analysis with 1-foot topographical lines for a 25-acre property featuring a large central hill. The goal was to support a feasibility study detailing possible driveway location and options for several new cabins along the hilltop’s edge.
Solution: Vertex conducted a 3D surface modeling mission using a DJI Mavic 3E, enhanced by a survey-grade Emlid base and rover system for onsite true RTK location correction. Ground control points (GCPs) provided geolocated orientation for the scan data. Our drafting team then utilized Autodesk Revit to assemble a design-grade topographic reference plan, supported by high-resolution terrain data from hundreds of drone images.
Deliverables:
Outcome: While the data was not certified, the drone-based analysis produced a detailed topographic study of the property with precision comparable to traditional survey methods-completed in less time and at a lower cost.
Note: Legal property boundaries and certified elevation data were available as an upgrade through our partnership with a licensed land surveyor.
