Scanning Technology

Reliable designs and as-builts require an accurate representation of existing conditions. A single high-definition survey or 3D laser scan builds an accurate foundation that enhances spatial representation.

With the addition of laser scanners to our field surveying methods, WLG is able to accurately collect a tremendous volume of detailed survey data. Providing significant cost reduction to our clients by increasing the productivity of field crews and expediting the work-schedule by reducing the need for encroachment permits and minimizing physical footprint into potentially hazardous conditions.

Especially effective in topographic survey and mapping applications; transportation corridors, tunnels, and bridges; complex pipe networks; as well as electric substations and transmission structures and intricate and detailed architectural structures, all of which previously have proven a daunting task to survey, are now easily scanned and translated into a 3D CAD environment.

3D laser scanning is becoming an integral part of almost every topographic survey project, reducing costs and providing significantly superior quantity and quality of topographic survey data; office technicians are often able to find detailed information in the scan point cloud that otherwise might have required additional field survey.

WLG performed laser scanning through four acres of the Mitsubishi Cement facility in order to obtain as-built information of their existing facilities and to help facilitate construction for improvements to their existing facilities. WLG also facilitated scanning of the inside of the pre-heater tower for their 30-foot diameter pipe that preheats materials for combustion. WLG provided a point cloud of 30+ scans and 3D modeling of the existing structural beams in order to facilitate the design of a new catwalk near their kiln sampling access hatch inside the preheater tower. The scan data was delivered to the engineers in .E57 format and the structural components were delivered in Autodesk Revit format.

Client: Southern California Edison (SCE)
WLG has served SCE by providing on-call field surveying and office mapping support services for the past 17 years.We were tasked with performing a high profile and time sensitive project at the Port of Long Beach (POLB). The Cerritos Channel Crossing Project Involved topographic survey, detailed facility and wire survey, boundary base map and utility mapping for over 100 acres including the NRG Generation Station and SCE substations on Terminal Island. WLG was also tasked with detailed transmission tower survey which involved locating more than 18 transmission towers and 42 conductors along a 1.25-mile stretch commencing at the NRG Generating Station located Terminal Island and proceeding north across the Cerritos Channel and terminating at Anaheim Street. The wires spanning the channel are supported by the tallest towers in the SCE network. The project goals when achieved are to go even taller. This will raise the clearance of the electric conductors to a height in which some of the largest cargo ships in the worlds may pass beneath. As part of the work order, it was WLG’s responsibility to review, scan and organize over 200 legal documents de-tailing ownership and rights over land located on Terminal Island. A unique solution to compile the voluminous documents was to create a spreadsheet and “smart PDF”. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was generated to organize and categorize each document by year, grantor, grantee, and purpose. Additionally, the digital copy of each document was hyperlinked in the spreadsheet for easy accessibility. An interactive color-coded PDF map was also generated using AutoCAD Civil3D and Adobe Acrobat Professional. The PDF map featured hyperlinks to the following: Relevant Services Performed:
Client: CGM Development
WLG provided laser scanning, and 3D modeling to provide our client with information needed for a building redevelopment project. Laser scanning and Autodesk Revit was utilized to create a 3D model of the existing exterior “shell” of a complex building, which was used for BIM and to support redesign of the exterior for ADA compliance and facade renovation. The client requested detailed 3D models of their entryway and windows, which provided an opportunity for WLG to demonstrate its superior 3D modeling capabilities. Services included boundary and topographic surveying, mapping, laser scanning, 3D modeling in Revit, and BIM support and management.
Client: Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD) contracted WLG to provide high-resolution surveying and scanning of the Los Coyotes Water Reclamation Plant in Cerritos. The underground galleries needed to be mapped at a precision high enough for their engineers to perform electrical conduit routing designs and conflict analysis. WLG survey crews tied into existing 3D site control, established new control underground, and scanned approximately 550 feet of tunnels and galleries in one day rather than the estimated five to six days using traditional survey techniques. WLG personnel then took the raw data from 27 scans, brought it into FARO Scene software registering the 3D point cloud to meet the 6mm (0.02’) precision, and exported the required POD and E57 files for the clients use. A full survey control report accompanied the large data set on a thumb drive for delivery. The final product saved the client numerous expensive trips to the field to capture measurements. The client can simply open the 3D point cloud and makes measurements at their desk.
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