- It has to be all or nothing
- Make it performance vs. prescriptive – results, not methods
- Rely on the expertise of the laser scanning services provider
- Must provide results that the client can act on – not the other way around
First of all this blog post is not meant to provide the technical details for how to specify 3D laser scanning services. Quite the opposite. There are a couple of references that I will provide at the end of this post that are more along those lines, like the Caltrans Survey Manual.
This post is, however, intended to advise primarily owners who need to understand that in the hands of an experienced 3D laser scanning services provider (LSSP) the 3D laser scanner hardware and software is simply “another tool in the surveyor’s toolbox.”
In general, architects, engineers, contractors and owners (AECOs) have not been trained in the theory of the use of total stations, GPS or other sophisticated surveying engineering tools. They relied on the surveyor to provide that knowledge. The same applies in this case. It is the responsibility of the LSSP to provide the 3D laser scanning expertise and deliver 3D results that the AECO can use to make informed decisions.
Unless you are a technical agency, like Caltrans where you have the in-house expertise to prescribe the hardware, software and methodology in detail, then specifying the required overall performance and deliverables, while relying on the LSSP to handle the technology is the recommended, best approach.
For more information on specifying terrestrial laser scanning services click here.
You can also reference the USIBD standards and specifications by clicking here.
For more information on specifying mobile laser scanning services click here.
