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Knowledge Base

Surveying Guides & Articles

Plain-English guides on measured surveys, laser scanning, BIM and everything in between — written by experienced surveyors.

Measured Building Surveys

How Much Does a Measured Building Survey Cost in the UK?

Typical UK prices from £395, what affects the cost, and what to look out for when comparing quotes from different surveyors.

April 20266 min read
Measured Building Surveys

What Is a Measured Building Survey and Do I Need One?

A plain-English guide to measured surveys — what they are, when you need one, what drawings you receive and how long it takes.

April 20265 min read
Surveying Guides

Measured Survey vs Topographical Survey — What's the Difference?

Not sure which survey you need? This guide explains the difference between measured and topographical surveys, and when you need each.

April 20265 min read
3D Laser Scanning

What Is 3D Laser Scanning and Why Is It Better Than a Traditional Survey?

How laser scanning works, what point cloud data is, when it's the right choice, and what outputs you receive from a scanning survey.

April 20266 min read
Surveying Guides

How to Prepare for a Building Survey — What You Need to Know

Access requirements, what happens on survey day, how long it takes, and when you'll receive your drawings — everything you need to know.

April 20265 min read
Equipment & Technology

How We Capture a Building — The Leica BLK360 Laser Scanner Explained

How the BLK360 works on site, what it captures, how accurate it is, and why it produces better data than traditional survey methods.

April 20266 min read
Equipment & Technology

From Scan to Point Cloud — How We Process Data in Autodesk ReCap

What happens after the scanner leaves site — importing, registering and cleaning raw scan data to produce a usable point cloud in ReCap.

April 20266 min read
Equipment & Technology

From Point Cloud to CAD Drawings — How We Produce Your Survey in AutoCAD

How the registered point cloud is used in AutoCAD to produce accurate floor plans, elevations and sections — the complete drawing production workflow.

April 20267 min read
Equipment & Technology

Scan to BIM — How We Build an As-Built Revit Model from a Point Cloud

The complete scan to BIM workflow from Leica BLK360 on site through ReCap processing to a finished as-built Revit model — every step explained.

April 20267 min read
Surveying Guides

How Building Surveying Has Changed — From Tape Measure to Laser Scanner

A look at how building surveying has evolved over the past century — from offset tape surveys to EDM, handheld lasers and modern 3D scanning.

April 20267 min read
Surveying Guides

Laser Scanning vs Traditional Survey — Why Modern Methods Produce Better Results

A direct comparison of 3D laser scanning and manual measurement — accuracy, completeness, speed and what it means for the data your design team receives.

April 20267 min read
For Architects

Measured Building Surveys for Architects — What You Need to Know

What to specify, what to expect, how CAD files are structured and how to get the most from your survey data in AutoCAD and Revit.

April 20266 min read
Topographical Surveys

How Much Does a Topographical Survey Cost in the UK?

Typical UK prices from £595, what affects the cost, what you receive and what to look for when comparing quotes.

April 20266 min read
3D BIM Models

What Is a BIM Model and Do I Need One?

A plain-English guide to BIM — what it is, what an as-built model contains, LOD 200 vs 300, and when you need a model vs 2D drawings.

April 20266 min read
Surveying Guides

How to Choose a Building Surveyor in the UK

What to look for, what questions to ask, what equipment to expect and what red flags to avoid when commissioning a surveyor.

April 20266 min read
Surveying Guides

Survey Drawing Scales Explained — 1:50 vs 1:100

What drawing scale should your survey be? A clear guide to standard scales for planning applications and design work.

April 20265 min read
Surveying Guides

What Are As-Built Drawings and Why Does Your Project Need Them?

As-built drawings explained — what they show, who needs them and when they are required for planning, refurbishment and building regulations.

April 20265 min read
Surveying Guides

How Long Does a Measured Building Survey Take?

How long will the surveyor be on site, and when will you receive your drawings? Clear timelines for different building sizes.

April 20264 min read
Surveying Guides

Building Survey vs Measured Survey — What's the Difference?

Confused by the terminology? A clear explanation of the difference between an RICS building survey and a measured building survey.

April 20264 min read
Topographical Surveys

What Is a Topographical Survey and When Do I Need One?

A plain-English guide to topographical surveys — what they capture, what drawings you receive and when they are required.

April 20265 min read
3D BIM Models

IFC vs Revit — What File Format Does Your Design Team Actually Need?

The difference between .RVT and .IFC file formats, when to use each, and what to confirm before commissioning a BIM model.

April 20265 min read
Planning & Surveys

Do I Need a Survey for Planning Permission?

What drawings planning authorities require, when a measured survey is essential and what happens if the drawings are inaccurate.

April 20265 min read
Planning & Surveys

Do I Need a Survey for a House Extension?

A clear guide for homeowners — why a measured survey is needed before designing an extension, what it involves and what it costs.

April 20265 min read
Specialist Surveys

Survey for a Listed Building — What Do You Need?

Why listed buildings require a different approach — higher detail, laser scanning and what conservation officers expect to see.

April 20266 min read
3D Laser Scanning

What Is a Point Cloud? A Plain English Guide

What point cloud data is, how it's captured, what file formats it comes in and how architects and engineers use it in AutoCAD and Revit.

April 20265 min read
Commercial Surveys

Measured Survey for a Commercial Property — What's Different?

Commercial surveys explained — scale, programme, CAD standards, floor area certification and what to specify when commissioning.

April 20266 min read