Heritage Archive - Pointcab https://pointcab-software.com/en/tag/heritage/ ALL point clouds. ONE software. Wed, 27 May 2026 08:38:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://pointcab-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-PointCab_Favicon-32x32.png Heritage Archive - Pointcab https://pointcab-software.com/en/tag/heritage/ 32 32 From First Scan to Real Insights https://pointcab-software.com/en/from-first-scan-to-real-insights-digital-building-surveys/ Wed, 27 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://pointcab-software.com/?p=27589 USER STORY From First Scan to Real Insights: Learning Digital Building Surveys with Laser Scanning Nicole 17/04/2026 Contens An entire building ensemble as a testing groundA watchtower as a learning objectThe first step matters: planning the scan on siteWhen theory meets realityWorking with the point cloud: from export to drawingData management and sharingBetween expectations and […]

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USER STORY

From First Scan to Real Insights: Learning Digital Building Surveys with Laser Scanning

User Story. From First Scan to Real Insights: Learning Digital Building Surveys

Contens

An entire building ensemble as a testing ground
A watchtower as a learning object
The first step matters: planning the scan on site
When theory meets reality
Working with the point cloud: from export to drawing
Data management and sharing
Between expectations and reality: a steep learning curve
Conclusion: technology meets learning
Our recommendation for getting started
Project participants

What happens when architecture students work with terrestrial laser scanning for the first time? That was exactly the focus of the Building Surveying course at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences: moving away from traditional tape-measure methods and toward a digital understanding of existing buildings.

The result is not a polished showcase, but an honest look at a learning process – one that highlights both the potential and the complexity of scan-to-CAD workflows.

An entire building ensemble as a testing ground

collage of different buildings that were scanned by students

At the center of the project was a diverse building ensemble in the municipality of Bogel in Rhineland-Palatinate. Alongside the former “Alte Post,” the students also surveyed barns, a restaurant, and several additional existing structures.

The brief was deliberately open-ended. The goal was not just to capture the buildings, but to understand them spatially and translate that understanding into reliable as-built documentation – forming the basis for future design work.

One of the first challenges was access: not all interiors were accessible. As a result, many conclusions had to be derived indirectly from exterior scans, such as roof geometries, façade openings, and building heights.

A watchtower as a learning object

In parallel, the students scanned a reconstructed Roman watchtower along the Limes in Bendorf-Sayn – an intentionally chosen structure with very different constraints.

Tight interior spaces, complex lines of sight, and an active environment made it an ideal training scenario. Here, the focus was less on producing plans and more on understanding the scanning process itself:

  • Where should the scanner be positioned?
  • When are a few targets enough, and when are they not?
  • How do terrain and perspective affect registration?

These variations quickly made one thing clear: there is no single “standard” workflow.

2 ortho photos of the römerturm with real-life picture

The first step matters: planning the scan on site

Even before the scanner was set up, it became clear how critical preparation is.

Scan positions had to be chosen carefully to minimize occlusions. At the same time, practical constraints – accessibility, time pressure, and environmental factors – played a much larger role than expected.

The placement of reference targets proved particularly critical. They need to be clearly visible for registration, but not obstructive – something that sounds simple in theory, yet turned out to be surprisingly error-prone in practice.

When theory meets reality

The scanning process itself worked reliably. The real challenges came from external factors and the subsequent data processing.

Rain and wind affected scan quality, while passersby or animals occasionally moved reference targets. In some cases, scans had to be repeated because they could no longer be properly registered.

These issues became even more apparent during the alignment of individual scans. Missing links, shifted targets, or incomplete scan paths made registration far more time-consuming than expected. In addition, typical artifacts – such as people captured during scanning or incorrectly assigned reference points – had to be manually cleaned up before a consistent point cloud could be achieved.

orthophoto in PointCab Origins shows many people in the scan

Working with the point cloud: from export to drawing

Standard layer in PointCab Origins with different layouts

Once the point cloud was complete, the actual analysis began in PointCab Origins. For the first time, the students could work directly within a digital representation of the building – taking measurements and deriving floor plans. The ability to access the full geometry at any time proved to be a major advantage over traditional methods.

However, it only became clear later on that the full potential of PointCab Origins had not been fully utilized. A significant amount of time was spent manually redrawing exported PDFs in CAD software. Although vector-based workflows in Origins were tested, they were not pursued further due to time constraints. As the students later learned from tutorials, tools like the Vectorizer or even a properly aligned orthophoto import could have significantly streamlined the process.

Instead, the exported data had to be processed, scaled, and adjusted within the CAD environment. In some cases, scale issues occurred and were initially misinterpreted. Only later did it become clear that these could have been avoided entirely by adjusting the sheet format directly in PointCab Origins, which allows for accurate, scaled PDF outputs.

This highlights a typical beginner effect: without a full understanding of the software’s capabilities, users tend to build unnecessarily complex workflows.

Plans of scheune with different views

The underestimated challenge: data management and sharing

Another major issue was the size of the datasets.

The generated point clouds were large and difficult to share. Standard methods such as email or common file-sharing services quickly reached their limits (for example, 2 GB file size restrictions), which meant that external hard drives were sometimes used instead.

This exposes a key challenge in collaborative workflows:
The value of the data can only be realized if it is easily accessible – and if the necessary hardware is available.

This is where cloud-based solutions like PointCab Nebula offer a much more efficient approach. Projects can be hosted, visualized, and shared directly within the user’s own cloud environment, therefore eliminating the need for complex file transfers.

Between expectations and reality: a steep learning curve

The initial expectation of producing complete as-built drawings within a short timeframe proved to be unrealistic.

Instead, the project evolved into an iterative process: scanning, correcting, reprocessing, and redrawing. Yet this is precisely where its real value lies.

The students not only learned the workflow itself, but also gained a clear understanding of where typical issues arise, and how to avoid them in future projects.

Key takeaways included:

  • improved scan planning
  • better handling and securing of reference targets
  • more efficient use of software tools
  • a more realistic assessment of data sizes and hardware requirements
PointCab Origins Registration Editor

Conclusion: technology meets learning

römerturm in background. faro focus laserscanner in front

This project clearly demonstrates the potential of digital building surveying.

As Nicolas Wild puts it:

“Although terrestrial laser scanning originated in landscape surveying, the method can be effectively applied to construction measurement: It provides a complete geometric capture of the existing structure and, compared to manual measurement, opens up additional analysis options in the planning process. The initial investment in scanners and software may seem like a hurdle, but it will pay off as experience grows and more projects are completed.”

At the same time, it becomes evident that success depends not only on the technology but on understanding the workflow behind it.

With the experience gained from this project, the students are far better prepared for future work. Once this initial learning phase is complete, workflows become significantly more efficient, and the true strengths of laser scanning can fully unfold.

Our recommendation for getting started

Many of the challenges encountered in this project can be significantly reduced by understanding the software from the outset.

That’s why we recommend:

  • free demos to explore the full capabilities of PointCab Origins
  • contact our dedicated support to avoid common pitfalls early on
  • and cloud-based solutions like PointCab Nebula to simplify data sharing and project collaboration

This turns a complex entry into a much more structured workflow–and allows the full potential of laser scanning to be realized.

project participants

Students:
Celina Harzer, David Knopp, Maximilian Krahn, Edgar Landl, Witta Majorov, Nicolas Wild

Professor:
Prof. Stephan Jost

Advisor:
Mika Kramer

Other publications:
Nicolas Wild – Büro Stefan Wild Architekt Montabaur

Sources & further information:
– Koblenz University of Applied Sciences
– Welterbe Limes Bendorf-Sayn

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Der Beitrag From First Scan to Real Insights erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

]]> Laser scanning technology helps preserve and repurpose a historic masonry building in Crete https://pointcab-software.com/en/laser-scanning-technology-helps-preserve-and-repurpose-a-historic-masonry-building-in-crete/ Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:33:04 +0000 https://pointcab-software.com/?p=9807 Laser scanning technology helps preserve and repurpose a historic masonry building in Crete Nicole Oktober 1, 2021 12:33 Postgraduate students at the Technical University of Crete used a combination of a Trimble Laser Scanner, PointCab Origins Pro, and Autocad to obtain and document the exact geometry of a historic masonry structure with the purpose of […]

Der Beitrag Laser scanning technology helps preserve and repurpose a historic masonry building in Crete erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

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Laser scanning technology helps preserve and repurpose a historic masonry building in Crete

Postgraduate students at the Technical University of Crete used a combination of a Trimble Laser Scanner, PointCab Origins Pro, and Autocad to obtain and document the exact geometry of a historic masonry structure with the purpose of its structural rehabilitation.

The island of Crete, Greece is known for its beautiful landscape and rich history. It’s the birthplace of the first European advanced civilization, the Minoans, and was shaped by the Mycenaeans, Romans, Osmans, and many more. The traces of these cultures can still be found all across the island in different archeological remains.

One of them is a two-century-old residential masonry, built during the Osman rule. It has been abandoned for the last 70 years and is the former residence of the wealthy Seimeni family. As one of the few remaining buildings of that type of local architecture in the region, it bears great historic value. In order to preserve and repurpose the building, exact documentation of its geometry was required, among other factors, in order to assess its structural integrity and the degree of necessary strengthening interventions. The building is planned to be restored in the next years and to be used as a local folk art museum.

Postgraduate student Eirini Chorianopoulou, supervised by Professors Maria Stavroulaki and Nikos Skoutelis decided to exploit the benefits of the latest laser scanning technology available. Since there were parts of the building that could not be approached and a distant measurement technique was needed, using simpler tools and techniques would not suffice. Therefore, an accurate digital representation of the building in its condition before the restoration could be captured. 

This will give future visitors the chance to understand and compare the prior and current state and appreciate the work that will be done in order to preserve the authenticity of the structure after its restoration. With the purpose to obtain the geometric properties of the structure, the Trimble X7 3D laser scanner was employed. A number of 25 scans were used to generate the point cloud. All the data was imported as e57 format files and edited in PointCab Origins Pro. Accurate plans, sections, and elevations of the structure were created at all necessary levels and were exported as .dwg files for further editing in Autocad. Postgraduate researcher Evangelos Nitadorakis, responsible for handling the point cloud evaluation, found himself satisfied with the results that the use of PointCab’s Origins software provided: 

“The accuracy of the generated sections allowed the identification and quantification of pathology indicators such as wall inclinations not visible with the human eye and remote measurements in parts of the structure that are not easily accessible. In addition, the delta analysis tool helped to distinguish even the slightest deviations in vertical levels. Furthermore, with a proper combination of all the data from Origins, an exact 3D model of the structure was created in a FEM analysis software and structural and dynamic analysis were conducted in order to assess the fragility of the structure under various loading cases. Employing PointCab Origins, we appreciated the easy handling, the speed of data processing, and the quality of the outcomes.”

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]]> Facade elevation of a listed industrial building https://pointcab-software.com/en/facade-elevation-of-a-listed-industrial-building/ Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:54:57 +0000 http://2020.pointcab-software.com/?p=7282 USER STORY Facade Elevation of a Listed Industrial Building: Precise 3D Survey for Renovation Planning Contents Requirements: Documentation of facadeChallenges of Capturing a Listed FacadeSurvey Execution: 25 Scan Positions and Efficient Data CaptureFrom Point Cloud to Digital Plans Using PointCab Origins and GeografWhy Detailed Facade Documentation Matters for Preservation Projects Requirements: Facade Documentation of Listed […]

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USER STORY

Facade Elevation of a Listed Industrial Building: Precise 3D Survey for Renovation Planning

Text: User Story. Facade Elevation of Listed Industrial Building

Contents

Requirements: Documentation of facade
Challenges of Capturing a Listed Facade
Survey Execution: 25 Scan Positions and Efficient Data Capture
From Point Cloud to Digital Plans Using PointCab Origins and Geograf
Why Detailed Facade Documentation Matters for Preservation Projects

Requirements: Facade Documentation of Listed Building

Facade of heritage building in Magdeburg

In Magdeburg, a historic industrial building subject to preservation orders was undergoing conversion into residential loft apartments. To comply with heritage requirements and support renovation planning, highly accurate, true-to-scale documentation of the building’s facades was essential. Traditional measurement approaches were not feasible due to the narrow working space and the structure’s height, so a 3D laser scanning survey was commissioned. The 3D laser scanning survey, as well as the processing and modeling of the point cloud data was carried out by Laserscanning Europe.

Challenges of Capturing a Listed Facade

Fassade-Industriegebäude-Magdeburg

The building’s complex geometry presented multiple challenges:

  • The facades reach up to 17 m in height, making direct manual measurement risky and limited by space.
  • The east facade features multiple offsets and sloping sections, requiring detailed mapping to capture elements such as window surrounds and wall protrusions.
  • As a listed structure, all renovations must align with heritage preservation requirements, which demand accurate documentation of existing conditions before design can proceed.

These conditions made non-contact 3D laser scanning the only practical method to achieve comprehensive and precise data.

Survey Execution: 25 Scan Positions and Efficient Data Capture

Faro-Laserscanner-vor-Fassade-Industriegebäude-Magdeburg

The team performed a total of 25 laser scanner setups across the three principal facades, covering a facade area of 1,720 m². Only one surveyor was needed on site, and the total scanning time was approximately 5 hours.

The result was a dense and complete point cloud representing all facade details – including irregularities and features that are critical for both preservation and renovation planning.

The rapid creation of scaled orthophotos allowed for quick analysis in Geograf.
Eric Bergholz
CEO, Laserscanning Europe GmbH
Dez. 2018

From Point Cloud to Digital Plans Using PointCab Origins and Geograf

man sitting in ftonz of laptop. PointCab Origins is open.

Once the laser scanning was completed, the raw point cloud data was processed with PointCab Origins:

  • True-to-scale orthophotos were generated automatically.
  • The orthophotos and extracted measurements were imported into the CAD system Geograf within one hour.
  • Detailed 2D plans, including facade drawings and crack documentation, were created at a 1:50 scale.

This workflow enabled architects and engineers to immediately begin modeling and detailed planning for renovation and conversion. The CAD deliverables supported both the artistic design and the technical compliance needed for a listed building.

Why Detailed Facade Documentation Matters for Preservation Projects

For any structure under heritage protection, understanding the existing condition – especially at high resolution – is vital:

  • Preservation orders require that original characteristics be respected in renovation.
  • Irregularities (cracks, offsets, sloping segments) must be precisely recorded before any intervention.
  • A digital record supports historical documentation and prevents speculative or inaccurate reconstruction.

By using 3D laser scanning and rapid orthophoto generation, the project team not only met the strict accuracy requirements but also sped up the planning process, saving time and reducing risk during subsequent project phases.

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Der Beitrag Facade elevation of a listed industrial building erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

]]> Surveying Dunelm House https://pointcab-software.com/en/surveying-dunelm-house/ Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:43:31 +0000 http://2020.pointcab-software.com/?p=7170 USER STORY Surveying Dunelm House – home of the Durham Univerity Students’ Union (DSU)​ Contents Dunelm House: Why a Precise 3D Survey Was Needed​The Challenge: Complex Roof and Difficult Site Conditions​How the Survey Was Completed: Laser Scanning + GPSFrom Point Cloud to Plans: Deliverables in Four DaysHow the Digital Survey Supports the Renovation Process​ Dunelm […]

Der Beitrag Surveying Dunelm House erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

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USER STORY

Surveying Dunelm House – home of the Durham Univerity Students' Union (DSU)​

User Story: Dunelm House

Contents

Dunelm House: Why a Precise 3D Survey Was Needed​
The Challenge: Complex Roof and Difficult Site Conditions​
How the Survey Was Completed: Laser Scanning + GPS
From Point Cloud to Plans: Deliverables in Four Days
How the Digital Survey Supports the Renovation Process
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Dunelm House: Why a Precise 3D Survey Was Needed

riverside building, dunelm house

Dunelm House (1966) is Durham University’s well-known students’ union building. Designed in the post-war modernist style, it sits directly on the steep banks of the River Wear. Furthermore, it is connected to the equally iconic Kingsgate Bridge.

The structure is characterized by exposed concrete and terraced floor levels. A multi-angled, irregular roofscape follows the natural slope of the riverbank. This bold design makes Dunelm House architecturally significant  – and challenging to measure.
When leaks appeared across several roof areas, a detailed digital survey was needed. The aim was to document the current condition and guide the renovation.

The Challenge: Complex Roof and Difficult Site Conditions

dunelm house

The student building’s roof consists of intersecting levels, changing slopes, and unconventional angles. Combined with its sloping riverside location, this makes traditional measurement methods unreliable and slow.

To capture the structure accurately and efficiently, the project required a modern surveying approach capable of documenting every plane and surface with precision.

How the Survey Was Completed: Laser Scanning + GPS

The survey was carried out by Bury Associates Ltd using two FARO Focus3D laser scanners. To record the terrain and ensure accurate referencing across the entire site, the team also used total stations and GPS equipment.

This hybrid surveying method made it possible to capture:

  • the full exterior geometry of Dunelm House,
  • its complex multi-level roof structures,
  • and high-precision topographic context along the River Wear.

The result was a detailed point cloud covering the entire building and its surroundings.

We think PointCab Origins is the fastest way to extract plans and sections from point clouds.
Bury Associates Limited
Dez. 2018

From Point Cloud to 3D Model: Deliverables in Four Days

After the scanning process, the data was processed using PointCab Origins, which enabled the team to deliver complete documentation in just four days.
 The deliverables included:

  • orthophotos,
  • 2D floor plans,
  • sections and elevations,
  • and a full 3D Revit model created from the processed Origins data.

By exporting PointCab’s results into Autodesk Revit, the project team gained a BIM-ready model with the accuracy needed to analyse the leaking roof and plan the renovation.

How the Digital Survey Supports the Renovation Process

The Dunelm House project shows how 3D laser scanning, precise site measurement, and point cloud processing can deliver fast, reliable results — even for buildings with complex shapes and challenging site conditions.

With the combination of FARO scanners, survey instruments, and PointCab Origins for evaluation, Bury Associates delivered a complete set of renovation-ready outputs, including a detailed Revit model.
This provided architects and engineers with a solid digital foundation for repairing and preserving one of Durham’s most distinctive architectural landmarks.

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Der Beitrag Surveying Dunelm House erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

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