Frequently Asked Questions
ON-SITE SURVEYING - WHAT, HOW, WHY, WHERE
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We primarily capture your building using terrestrial 3D laser scanners. The scanner is set up in every room and in front of the facades (setups), capturing up to two million 3D data points per second. In addition, high-resolution panoramic photos are taken as needed. Using specialized software, we register and combine the individual setups into a complete project point cloud—a digital representation of your building accurate to the millimeter. The 2D plans or 3D models you require are then created from the project point cloud in the CAD software of your choice.
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Our scanners have a measurement accuracy of ±2–3 mm at a distance of 10 meters. The point cloud therefore captures your building with millimeter precision—including all irregularities such as crooked walls, sagging, level differences, or asymmetrical window reveals.
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The duration depends on the size, level of detail, and complexity of the object.
Guidelines:
Single-family home (interior and exterior survey): ½ to 1 workday
Apartment building (6 stories, interior and exterior): 1–2 working days
Larger properties (schools, office buildings, industrial facilities): 2–5 business days; if necessary, scanning with multiple scanners simultaneously
We will let you know the exact duration when we send you the quote.
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No. Only items that completely cover load-bearing structural elements (e.g., a large cabinet directly in front of a load-bearing wall) should be moved temporarily if possible. In practice, this is rarely necessary.
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Generally speaking, yes; the surveying takes place in occupied rooms, during normal office hours, and in active commercial spaces (the scanners operate quietly and without physical contact). However, if there is a very high volume of foot traffic, conducting the survey on weekends or at night is beneficial for both parties. We do not charge any extra fees for this.
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Yes. In addition to interior surveys, we also capture facades, roofs, grounds, and outdoor spaces. For hard-to-reach areas or large surfaces, we use drones equipped with photogrammetry. The combination of terrestrial Laserscanning drone data results in a complete digital representation of the entire property.
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We use 3D laser scanners from Leica Geosystems and the latest generation of GNSS modules. Depending on the project requirements, these are supplemented by drones for photogrammetry. All equipment is professionally calibrated and regularly maintained. The individual scans are registered (merged) using specialized software systems. description
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Yes. We operate throughout German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland, and Ticino. For larger or more complex projects, we collaborate with surveying partners to ensure capacity and speed.
results, CAD systems, time-based
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From the point cloud, we can analyze the following design documents:
2D floor plans (all floors)
2D cross-sections (at any point)
2D facade views
Reflected floor plans
Site plans
3D CAD models
3D BIM models (with tagged components)
Point cloud as digital as-built documentation
360° photo documentation and 3D web viewer
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We provide files that are natively compatible with the following CAD systems. Upon request, we are also happy to work directly with your office template.
ArchiCAD (.pla/.pln)
Revit (.rvt), Navisworks (.nwd)
AutoCAD (.dwg)
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The most common scales are 1:100 and 1:50. We prepare the plans in accordance with SIA 400.
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2D plans are traditional floor plans, sections, and elevations—as vector data in CAD. They are suitable for most planning phases and are the most affordable (though not always the most cost-effective) solution. A 3D model depicts the entire building in three dimensions—including walls, ceilings, windows, doors, and other building components. From this, any number of sections, elevations, and perspectives can be generated. A 3D model is more complex to produce but offers maximum flexibility for complex projects.
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This depends on the size of the project, the desired level of detail, and the workload of the drafting team. Therefore, delivery dates can only be confirmed once the order is placed.
Guidelines:
Single-family home, 2D drawings (floor plans, sections, elevations): approx. 3 weeks
3D building model of a single-family home with derived 2D floor plans: approx. 4 weeks
Apartment building, 2D plans: approx. 4 weeks
3D building model of an apartment building with derived 2D floor plans: approx. 5 weeks
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Yes—that’s one of the major advantages of 3D laser scanning. The point cloud serves as a complete digital twin of your building and remains permanently available. If you need additional cross-sections, views, or a 3D model at a later date, we can generate them from the existing data—without the need for another on-site survey.
Prices, quotes
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The cost depends on the size, complexity, and scope of services required. Here are some guidelines for reference:
Single-family home surveying + 2D floor plans, sections, elevations: starting at approx. CHF 4,000
Single-family home survey + 3D building model with derived 2D floor plans: starting at approx. CHF 5,500
Apartment building surveying + 2D floor plans, sections, elevations: starting at approx. CHF 7,500
Apartment building survey + 3D building model with derived 2D floor plans: starting at approx. CHF 10,500
We always offer fixed, all-inclusive prices. No hidden costs, no hourly billing, and no additional fees.
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No. In most cases, existing documents (old plans, photos, sketches) that include the address and a brief description of the property and the planned work are sufficient. For particularly large or complex properties, we offer a preliminary site visit—though this is rarely necessary.
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Please contact us by email or phone. Please provide a brief description of your property:
Property address
Number of floors (including basement and attic)
Desired type of analysis
Your CAD system (ArchiCAD, Revit, AutoCAD, etc.)
Scheduled procedure
Desired delivery date
We will provide you with a non-binding, all-inclusive quote within 72 hours.
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As a lean company with minimal overhead, we are able to offer very competitive prices—while maintaining comparable quality—especially for small to medium-sized projects.
APPLICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, COORDINATE SYSTEMS
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3D laser surveying is worthwhile whenever precise as-built plans are required:
Renovations and Remodeling – A Reliable Planning Basis Instead of Outdated Plans
Building applications and preliminary studies – scaled floor plans and sections for government agencies
Energy-efficient renovations (Minergie, MuKEn) – precise floor areas and volumes
Historic buildings – stone-specific facade surveys and detailed documentation
Conversions and expansions
Real Estate Appraisals – Cubic Volume, Floor Area, and Floor Area Ratios
As-built documentation for government agencies and facility management
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A point cloud is a three-dimensional representation of the building, consisting of millions of individual measurement points. Each point has exact spatial coordinates (X, Y, Z) and contains color information from the scanner photos. The point cloud depicts your building exactly as it is —with all deviations, irregularities, and signs of age. The 2D plans and 3D models are then created in CAD from this point cloud. The point cloud remains permanently available to you as digital as-built documentation.
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With manual measurement, individual dimensions are recorded using a laser distance meter, tape measure, or protractor. This method inevitably measures only selected points—the rest is interpolated. In contrast, 3D laser scanning captures the entire visible surface with millions of measurement points. As a result, crooked walls, deflections, and level differences are precisely documented. The result is significantly greater reliability of the design documents—and thus fewer surprises on the construction site.
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LOD (Level of Detail/Development): Describes the level of detail in a 3D model. Before preparing a quote, we’ll discuss with you which LOD makes sense for your project—often, less is more.
BIM (Building Information Modeling): A 3D model with intelligent components—every wall and every window is a separate object with its own properties (material, fire resistance, manufacturer, etc.). BIM models are particularly well-suited for integrated planning involving multiple specialists.
SIA 400: Swiss standards of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects. SIA 400 governs the presentation of construction drawings. Our drawings and models are prepared in accordance with these standards.
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If you prefer to create your own plans and models, we can provide you with the point cloud as raw data—this is the fastest and most cost-effective option. We deliver the registered point cloud in all standard formats (E57, RCP, LAS, XYZ) for direct use in your CAD/BIM software.
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Upon request, we georeference the survey data in the Swiss national coordinate system LV95/LN02. This is particularly important for projects that are to be combined with official survey data, geographic information systems (GIS), or orthophotos. If georeferencing is not required, we work with a local project coordinate system.
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All collected data will be treated confidentially and archived for 12 months after the project is completed. Since the point cloud serves as valuable long-term documentation of your building, we recommend archiving it—this will allow for further analysis in future projects without the need for a new survey.