Point cloud accelerates construction process

Written by Admin | Jul 1, 2025 9:00:00 AM

One construction task, two almost identical construction sections, two surveying methods: A 3D survey with point cloud and direct transfer to the SEMA timber construction software accelerated the construction process for the addition of a story to a diaconal building in Osnabrück by several weeks.

Two of the four attic wings of the nursing home (built in 1994) were extended and expanded in 2018 and 2024, respectively, for the deaconry's nursing school while the building was still in operation. Planning and execution were carried out by architect Andrea Wessendorf and carpentry firm Bäker GmbH & CO KG. Both construction phases were comparable in terms of use and cubature. The measurements were taken manually in 2018 and by 3D laser scan in 2024.The result: While the manual measurement of the complex construction took two people a day and a half each, the 3D laser scan delivered precise data in just one and a half man hours.

After the manual measurement, the irregular existing timber structure had to be digitally remodeled for the SEMA 3D model - a process that took two days. The laser scanner, on the other hand, automatically generated a point cloud in the SEMA format, from which the floor plan, height differences, deflections, purlin position and staircase could be precisely read. The architect's plan could be superimposed and checked for collisions with high precision. New components were designed directly.

The result: Around one week of time saved.

The precise 3D scan significantly increased the degree of prefabrication in the second construction phase. Walls were completely prepared in the carpentry shop with windows, shutters, window sills, base plaster and reinforcement - only the finishing plaster and paint remained on site.

The result: The three painters only needed one and a half weeks to complete this work. Without prefabrication, it would have taken twice as long.

The single-sided planked ceiling elements with prepared roof connections and initial roof sealing were completed on site - possible collision points with the old building had already been eliminated in advance thanks to the point cloud. A flatness analysis based on the point cloud also enabled the precise preparation of blocks, which were screwed under the sleepers during operation to compensate for a height differences of up to 4.6 cm.

The result: The existing roof could be removed and rebuilt as rainproof within a week. Five years of improvisation were still necessary, but by 2024 everything was precisely planned: for optimized quality, precisely fitting construction elements and a smooth installation process. In view of the tight budget, carpenter Hugenberg is certain: "If it had been implemented as in the first construction phase, it would not have paid off at the current costs. The precise measurements saved an enormous amount of time and money."

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