Wednesday, 22 August 2012

How Laser Scanning Of Buildings Can Help In Adaptive Reuse

By Zofiad D. Knapp


A great tool to use when beginning to design ways to use an old building is new ways is Laser scanning. When thinking about how to transform an old, energy wasting building into something new, that is generally termed adaptive reuse. Finding out the details of the building, like how it was constructed and completing a survey of the building and site is the first step. Using 3D imaging to detail the site can be the first important step in fostering energy changes to the site.

There is a growing body of evidence that points to the energy waste associated with many buildings. Experts figure that buildings are responsible for using more than 40 percent of all types of energy. Additionally, buildings use around 30 percent of all water used and give off more than 40 percent of all greenhouse emissions. Those are very wasteful amounts. To further the sustainable nature of building now being built, many people are redesigning these energy wasters to become energy efficient. Creating drawings of the buildings that are accurate is the first step in the process.

The best thing about Laser scanning is that it produces the absolute best images of a site. The greatest advantage of the 3D images that result from this process is that a building can be seen from every angle. This can help in several ways when updating for sustainability. There's no longer a need to try things out on the actual property since the changes can be executed right then on the drawing and designers can see how it changes the building.

Too, whenever changes are made they can be done on the rendering instantly, which is not the case with normal as built drawings. And with this instant modification comes the ability to analyze data and see if changes can actually make a positive impact on the building and its environmental footprint. And the final benefit is that drawings from sites that are 30 years old or older rarely show the way the building actually functions any longer. The drawings that are available typically don't show all of the changes that have been made over the years.

Utilizing 3D renderings created through scanning with lasers can provide the most accurate and up-to-date information about a building. For older properties, there may not be information available that reflects their actual construction and modifications. Attempting to reuse and repurpose properties requires knowing how they were actually built to be successful. Even before reconstruction begins, designers and owners can see what impact the changes will have on the building in question. This can result in money and energy reductions.




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