How the surveying office GeoTech is replacing traditional surveying with rmDATA Reality3D and conquering new business areas.
"Our boss realized a few years ago that the future of surveying lies in laser scanning," says Lukas Schönleitner from GeoTech Bogdan e.U., a small surveying office from Wolfsberg in Carinthia specializing in construction site surveying. GeoTech uses the entire rmDATA range for projects: rmGEO for calculations, rmDATA GeoMapper for creating plans, GeoDiscoverer for geodata queries and, of course, rmDATA Reality3D (3DWorx) for deriving geometries and various evaluations from point clouds.
However, the first mobile scanner did not meet the requirements for accuracy. The vision remained and so the company invested in a high-quality, technologically sophisticated device six years ago - a decision that has paid off.
But the hardware alone was not enough. At the time, GeoTech was working with a combination of software that Schönleitner describes in retrospect as "slow and outdated". The challenges were obvious: the team wanted to become faster with 2D as-built plans, handle BIM projects more efficiently and open up new areas of application. Above all, however, they wanted to replace the classic measuring method with the total station.
New paths with rmDATA Reality3D
GeoTech found the solution in the rmDATA product family, specifically in rmDATA Reality3D (3DWorx). "The continuous improvement of the product convinced us," says Schönleitner. The intuitive navigation through the point cloud, the comprehensive, automated recognition of objects in the 3D design and the simple generation of sections in particular made the difference. "The point cloud navigation in Reality3D is much more performant and intuitive than in comparable products," emphasizes the young surveying technician.
Getting started with the software was surprisingly easy: "A short training session with the account manager and 'learning by doing' were enough: after just three projects, I was well versed in using rmDATA Reality3D."
From the field: when point clouds become perfect models
The range of projects is impressive. Architects, planning offices and master builders need 2D floor plans and sections, sometimes also BIM models in ArchiCAD, Allplan or Revit. The collaboration with a timber constructor, who needs a precise database for conversions and extensions, is particularly exciting.
A concrete example illustrates the development of a new domain: "Three to four years ago, we were still recording individual points for the timber constructor with the total station and they were drawing them up in their 3D software," explains Schönleitner. "We took over this high workload from the timber constructor. He now receives a ready-made database in the same amount of time." Interesting detail in passing: the timber constructor includes this service in his offer and can easily justify the added value.
Creating a complete 3D model of an attic including the entire roof substructure - with all purlins, beams and details - now takes around 20 hours. Of this, only around 13 hours are spent on evaluation and plan creation, the rest is recording including registration. "Such projects would have been unimaginable in the past," says Schönleitner, "because the effort involved with traditional measuring methods would have been unprofitable."
The result is impressive: The timber constructor receives a 3D model of the entire roof substructure, extracted purely in Reality3D and prepared as a BIM model. Thanks to the precise measurement, he can offer a high degree of prefabrication and delivers submission plans, execution plans and work plans as an "all-in-one service". "The feedback: the data is perfect! A very satisfied customer," says Schönleitner happily.
Efficiency that pays off
"Tracing a line or measuring a value in the point cloud in Reality3D is much easier than recording outside on site at minus ten degrees," Schönleitner sums up. The figures speak for themselves: with classic 2D as-built plans, GeoTech is at least 30 percent faster than with conventional recording and evaluation methods.
The surveying expert is particularly enthusiastic about the practical features: "How easily and quickly you can get to heights, switching between sections - the software interface is very easy to understand." The automatic recognition of objects such as columns, walls or purlins also saves valuable time.
The efficiency gains enable GeoTech to make offers that would previously have been unthinkable. "Compared to traditional recording, our offers are significantly cheaper," explains Schönleitner. This is what makes construction in existing buildings profitable in the first place - and at the same time provides significantly more information for everyone involved.
New business segment developed
GeoTech now handles more than 40-50 projects per year in this area - from individual detached houses to large projects such as the recording of an entire plant with production halls. The 3D laser scanner is in use almost every week and is well utilized. Some clients only want the pure point cloud as an e57 file and continue working in their own software - that's no problem either.
"Architects in the Wolfsberg area already know us as a reliable data supplier," says Schönleitner with pride. The feedback speaks volumes: "Perfect data delivery," confirm the architects.
Schönleitner also recognizes the trend that young families tend to build in existing buildings and use what is already there. "Scanning is definitely a domain that is on the rise. We have opened up a new area of business."
Conclusion: the right decision at the right time
"We backed the right horse six years ago with laser scanning and rmDATA Reality3D and are working at full capacity," summarizes Lukas Schönleitner. The decision to largely replace traditional surveying with laser scanning has paid off in every respect - in terms of time, cost and customer satisfaction.
The cooperation with rmDATA is also impressive: "The software solutions from rmDATA are well thought out, easy to use in practice and the products are constantly being developed further. If you have any questions, you get help quickly and easily."
GeoTech's recipe for success can be summed up in a simple formula: Innovative technology + intuitive software = new business models + satisfied customers.
Images on the left: From point cloud to model: deriving as-built plans, sections and geometries with rmDATA 3DWorx; below: Laser scanning is part of the fixed repertoire of the surveying office © GeoTech Bogdan e.U.
“With rmDATA Reality3D, we are at least 30% faster at creating inventory plans!”
“We backed the right horse six years ago with 3D laser scanning and rmDATA Reality3D, and today we are working at full capacity.”
“A brief training session with the customer service representative and learning by doing were sufficient: after just three projects, I was already proficient in using rmDATA Reality3D.”
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About the GeoTech surveying office
The technical office for surveying GeoTech Bogdan e.U. from Wolfsberg offers geodetic services and measurements of distances and positions using modern GPS technology. The company, based in Wolfsberg, specializes in technical surveying and construction site surveying (detached houses, halls, industrial plants). The team carries out stakeouts and surveys of all kinds using total stations, GNSS devices and 3D laser scanners. GeoTech has made a name for itself in the region as a reliable data supplier and expert for point clouds from 3D laser scanning.
