From construction window to (3D) laser and tablet

Construction companies, including medium and small ones, will have to digitize. Narrow profit margins, failure costs, low manpower: digitization is a necessity. It is best to start at the beginning of every project: with the dimensioning in the field. What is expected of you as a digital sizing professional?

You usually plot construction drawings with two or three colleagues. With water pastels, wires, jalons and a wooden construction frame. But soon that way of working will change, because construction companies don't survive otherwise. Ad: "If, as an owner, you don't know how to leverage craftsmanship with accurate, fast and digital workflows, soon you won't be able to collaborate on beautiful, profitable projects. It's as simple as that." But then what will be your role as a bespoke owner?

The digital dimensioner does the same job, only with tools to be more accurate and faster.

How does a measure maker do his work digitally?

Step 1
Surveying the construction site to check construction drawings.

Ad van Gils, Digital Construction trainer at Topcon: "With a total station, the carpenter or foreman can do that with one colleague, with a 3D laser or Robotic total station he can even do it by himself. Within a fraction of the time. The surveyor sends his measurements into the Cloud and in the office the work planner compares the measurement with the digitally created construction drawings. Do they not match? Then the architect has to go back to the drawing board and high failure costs are avoided."

Step 2
Plotting with laser and tablet

The next step is for the job planner to make sure the foreman has the verified construction drawings available on his tablet. Now he can use 3D laser equipment to plot exactly the right elements and points on the construction site, down to the mm.

TIP: Allow yourself - or your employees - time for a short Topcon training session with the new device. You'll quickly recoup the time!

Less manpower and errors, more job satisfaction and efficiency

Measurers who start working digitally need less time and colleagues to measure and stake out so the workload is lower. Digital measuring is less physically demanding and it gives much more certainty about the accuracy and reliability of the measurements, which are also recorded step by step. "As soon as something goes wrong on the construction site, people are quick to look at the dimensioner. Now you can prove without a doubt that you did your job right."

How valuable do you want to make yourself?

In the construction industry, there is a huge shortage of experienced dimensioners who can work digitally. Do you have the drive as a gauge manager? Master the following steps:

1. Start digital 2D and still plot the height with a water leveler or rotating laser.

Mastered?

• Plot - with the same device and a short course from Topcon - heights digitally as well.

Did you get through to him?

• Start with digital scanning and GPS measurement
• Scale up to a larger company or pick up many more jobs for your employer

Dimensioners like this give the company an opportunity to join the BIM revolution." The BIM way of working in which projects from foundation to completion are recorded using the same digital methodology will soon be the norm.

Wondering how to take the first step in digitizing your sizing?

Then download the white paper here: How to turn a 2D drawing
A 3D model? From Topcon.