Mobile Mapping – Revolution In Motion Summary:

Our Client based in central London required our services to map all highways surrounding their properties in a number of very busy, densely populated locations. The project was required to facilitate the redevelopment of various buildings, so it was vital to provide accurate complete data for BIM (Building Information Modelling).

Challenges:  

During the design phase of any project, engineers need an accurate plan of what is already there. They use this data to redesign the layout of roads and pavements, enabling the project to continue and ensure it complies with building and highway regulations. The first phase is to map what is already there. Severn Partnership have over 30 years of experience in doing this, but in a busy urban environment there are still many challenges to overcome:

  • Access onto the highways with limited or zero impact to the general public.
  • Safe working method to employees and members of the general public.
  • Fast and accurate method to minimise disturbance and avoid social concern.
  • Cost effective.
  • Discreet and Secure approach.

Scan to BIM (Scan2BIM)

 The first phase of BIM is creating a 3D Model. Laser scanning is the best method, enabling large areas to be surveyed rapidly and accurately creating ‘point clouds’. These point clouds are millions of individual coordinates measured on anything the laser reflects off, such as buildings and roads. Multiple laser scans across a large area combined into a single cloud, which is then used to create a 3D model. Using this method two teams spent a week surveying the highway, street furniture and building facades around 2 blocks and 1/2km of main road in central London.

How can Mobile Mapping be of use?

 In its simplest form, Mobile Mapping combines laser scanning technology with GPS and motion sensors into a single unit that is easily mounted onto any vehicle. This vehicle is then simply driven around the chosen area at normal speed, generating a point cloud as it goes.

How is the approach beneficial?

To understand the benefits, the original challenges need to be reviewed:

  • Access – none is required because it acts in the same way as any other public vehicle.
  • Safety – All data is collected from the safety of the vehicle.
  • Speed – Mobile mapping an area that takes days or weeks by static methods, now only take hours.
  • Cost – The speed of data collection, means less cost.
  • Discretion and Security – The vehicle drives the route with no disruption, compared to teams of surveyors showing a presence in a public place for extended periods.

The results are obvious. Mobile Mapping is a rapid data capture solution that offers a viable solution in many situations.

Applications:

  • Topographical Surveying, Elevations & DTMs (Digital Terrain Models).
  • GIS / Asset mapping & management.
  • Building Information Modelling for AEC & Infrastructure.
  • Street scene & rights for light mapping.
  • Corridor / transportation surveys – Wayleaves & Easements for cables & pipelines.
  • Condition assessment.
  • Inland waterway mapping.
  • Disaster management planning.
  • Forensic investigation.