How Laser Scanning is Changing Construction Teams and Workflows

Laser scanning plays a pivotal role in reshaping how projects are executed and how teams operate.

The technology is not just a tool but a transformative force that’s changing the way in-house teams are built and how construction projects are managed.

“There are too many benefits to list,” says Logan McGuinness, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) manager for The Weitz Company, an architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) firm based in Des Moines, Iowa. “The uses for it are immense.”

McGuinness and Joshua Marriott, director of VDC and field solutions for Weitz, recently shared their perspectives on how laser scanning is evolving the function of roles and the flow of information in a Tech Insider interview.

In just a few years, they say their jobs and the work they do have changed tremendously.

“It allows us to efficiently capture as-built data in a timeframe that is much more feasible than trying to capture anything by hand or relying on trade partners to provide updated drawings or models,” McGuinness says. “It’s a really valuable tool.”

As laser scanning becomes integral to construction, the demand for specialized in-house teams with advanced expertise is growing.

About three years ago, Weitz started building out their VDC team in earnest and brought laser scanning in-house. With that, the need has increased for VDC team members to be stationed on-site at projects full-time to capture work as it happens.

One of those projects was the University of Florida, where five buildings were going up simultaneously.

“Every week, we had boots on the ground, laser scanning some part of the buildings that were under construction,” Marriott says.

This approach is becoming more common, as the benefits of laser scanning are realized and applications grow.

“You really have to have a full-time person, and they’re scanning all day long every day,” he says.

Laser scanning is leaving its fingerprints all over how projects are executed by enhancing accuracy, providing assurance, and improving communication across the board. Here’s how: 

• Single Source of Truth: Laser scanning eliminates guesswork with access to reliable, accurate data.  

“It’s a definitive source of truth for the project team, for trade partners, for all stakeholders,” McGuinness says.  

Now, if there’s a question or problems arise, the scans will reveal what the reality is. 

• Millimeter-Level Detail: The precision of laser scanning captures minute details that traditional methods might miss.  

For example, scanning slabs before concrete is poured ensures that every aspect is documented with millimeter-level accuracy. 

“You can’t overlook the value that those scans provided,” Marriott says. “The team was consistently referring to that data to look at areas that were covered up.” 

• Enhanced Communication: With fast-moving construction schedules and teams and partners spread out geographically, laser scanning data allows for better collaboration. 

“It’s all about communication,” McGuinness says. “The ability to communicate what we’re doing and how we’re doing it with all the stakeholders brings peace of mind.”

The digital information that laser scanning captures can be easily shared with designers, architects, field teams, project management — essentially anyone contributing to the project — which minimizes confusion or miscommunication about on-site conditions.

“A picture says a thousand words, but when you take that picture to the next level and you add another dimension to it, whether it’s through video or a point cloud, that speaks a million words,” Marriott says.

One of the standout advantages of laser scanning is its ability to identify and correct potential issues before they lead to costly rework, which can result in substantial savings.

For example, on one of Weitz’s projects, the VDC team identified a concrete roof slab that was sloping too far for a prefabricated section of curtain wall to fit.

“We were able to identify that in a laser scan before the curtain wall was installed and before any embeds were installed,” McGuinness says.

She says they were able to grind down the slab in time for the curtain wall’s installation and keep moving forward.

“Laser scanning gives us an opportunity to allow our trade partners to correct their work if there is anything off so that it does not hinder the installation of any other trades,” McGuinness says. “The amount of data that you capture that ends up being useful to all stakeholders for problem-solving and catching things you wouldn’t otherwise is invaluable.”

The next step is for the construction industry to embrace integrating VDC as a standard part of construction projects and workflows.

“I definitely see this being of value to any project in the future,” Marriott says.

That shift is already underway, supported by ongoing education regarding laser scanning’s benefits and a new generation of construction professionals entering the field.

“We’ve got multiple scanners now, and we have a team that is using them, and they’re traveling quite a bit to go to these projects and get things done,” Marriott says. “The more the team uses the systems and understands their capabilities, the better we’re able to confidently commit to our project teams, ‘Here is what we can do for you, and here’s how it’s going to benefit you.’”

As time goes on, McGuinness says she sees it becoming easier to incorporate VDC services into project budgets from the outset.

“A lot of that is proving our worth on projects that we do have and proving ROI and having use cases to present to our project teams and executives, as well as any outside stakeholders,” she says. “We need to continue to show them this is what we did, this is how it worked, this is the value it provided, and that’s why this is a necessary service.”

To learn more about how laser scanning can benefit your team and projects, connect with a building construction specialist.