LASER FOCUSED ON CLIENT NEEDS...
For Graham & Hyde Architects, successful projects begin with the gathering of accurate field information, which is then employed to create precise construction documents. According to a recent AIA survey, half of all architectural projects are renovations to existing buildings. This project type brings with it an increased field verification burden, but technological tools have effectively lightened this load for Graham & Hyde. By utilizing Li-DAR scanning technology to capture existing building conditions, Graham & Hyde continues its' commitment to precision and accuracy.
What is Li-DAR?
Light Detection & Ranging is a sensing method that uses a pulsed laser to measure ranges at various distances. A Li-DAR instrument consists of a laser, a scanner, & a GPS (global positioning system) receiver. Li-DAR is most often used in aviation to acquire data over broader areas.
There are two types of Li-DAR. Topographic Li-DAR typically uses a near-infrared laser to map land. Bathymetric Li-DAR uses water-penetrating green light to measure seafloor and river elevations. The Li-DAR tool allows professionals to examine environments with accuracy, precision, and flexibility. Graham & Hyde utilizes the Topographic Li-DAR.
The Benefits of Accuracy
Li-DAR can measure slopes, quantify curves & determine angles, allowing G&H a degree of precision unmatched by a tape measure and traditional surveying methods. The accuracy achieved allows us to identify potential issues with a building that impact a design and ultimately project costs.
The data from Li-DAR scans can be integrated seamlessly with many of the digital tools that Graham & Hyde already employs. Not every project requires 3D scanning. However, in spaces where the original plans are not available and existing conditions are complex, leveraging Li-DAR technology becomes invaluable, allowing Graham & Hyde to put laser focus on meeting client needs.
"How can we measure a building from the early 1900s with multiple additions and irregular features? Out-of-plumb walls, skewed angles, and varying elevations make conventional measurement methods difficult. Our Li-DAR system solves these issues in minutes." – Vince Fournier, G&H Senior Technician
THE EXPLOSION NEAR ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
After St. Mary Catholic Church (built in 1912) was shaken by a nearby gas explosion, it underwent a drastic interior renovation the following Fall.
A few weeks before the initial tragedy, in a grand display of providence, a consultant completed a 3D Li-DAR scanning demonstration for G&H, using the interior & exterior of St. Mary Catholic Church as his subject. Even more fortunate, these scans would be critical to the renovation, as original construction documents no longer existed.
The 3D point clouds were utilized to generate floor plans, as well as accurately recreate plaster details, wood shapes, and intricate ceiling moldings. With this project, technology and tradition intertwined, breathing new life into the architectural beauty that is St. Mary Catholic Church, Canton.
From this project on, G&H was sold on the benefit of 3D point cloud technology. Reconstruction documentation was precise due to the exacting tool.