LiDAR Scanning

Authored by Mike Marun, Designer

NKB prides itself on maintaining a toolchest of technology that elevates our services offered and ensures the highest level of quality on project work. One of those cutting-edge tools is our Faro S-150+ LiDAR scanner. LiDAR scanning (which stands for light, distance, and reflection laser scanning) is used to document the existing conditions of a space and compiles a series of imagery and point clouds into a 3D model of the space or structure. The model provides accurate measurements, layouts, and a ‘point in time’ record of a space to be referenced throughout the life of the project by our design team. LiDAR scanning is a service NKB has proudly offered for the last four years. This method not only ensures a high level of accuracy for our client’s projects, but also reduces the need to re-visit sites after initial fieldwork is complete.

Being a new designer that joined the NKB team in June 2022, I was eager to learn new skills that would be of use to the team, and LiDAR scanner training was the perfect fit. The training process was straightforward and proved to be worthwhile after learning from one of our firm’s project managers, Jim Resig. Jim showed me the basics of how to use the LiDAR scanner, how to piece together the digital scans, and how to construct the digital model from the scan. With these newly learned skills, I was easily able to jump into project work and help guide our projects to elevated levels of accuracy.

An excellent example of NKB’s work with the LiDAR Scanner is our effort to scan three buildings with the Buffalo Public School District. NKB was tasked with restoring the building envelopes of these buildings, including exterior brickwork, roof repairs/replacement, and documenting the interiors of three schools within the district. NKB team members visited the schools to take the LiDAR scans that would then be translated into an accurate representation of the existing conditions of the schools into our in-house design platform (REVIT). The model created in Revit uses the LiDAR scans to document all the complexities of the buildings, from exterior ornamentation to the roof-mounted equipment. Within the three buildings, the LiDAR captured approximately 500,000 square feet of interior space, and the detailed 3-4 story facades of each building.

LiDAR scanning is a critical tool in the NKB toolkit that elevates accuracy, quality, and efficiency of projects. As technology evolves, NKB continues to honor our commitment to providing the highest quality products to our clients. We are proud to be at the forefront of utilizing this technology, as it is certain to become a common practice in the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction.