What to Include in a Handheld 3D Scanning Project Brief
A well-defined brief prevents re-scans, disputes, and deliverables that do not meet your needs. Use this template to prepare a comprehensive project brief before requesting quotes from scanning providers.
Section 1: Project Overview
| Field | What to Include | | --- | --- | | Project name | Full project or property name | | Full address | Complete postal address including postcode | | Purpose | Renovation, BIM modelling, clash detection, heritage documentation, insurance, other | | Intended use of data | How will the scan data be used by your design team or client? | | Primary contact | Name, email, phone for day-to-day communications | | Approver | Name and contact for sign-off on deliverables |
Section 2: Scope Boundaries
| Field | What to Include | | --- | --- | | Exact floors and zones | List all floors, room numbers, or zones to be scanned | | Interior vs exterior | Specify which external areas are included (roof, garden, boundary walls) | | MEP and above-ceiling | Is above-ceiling MEP capture required? | | Explicit exclusions | Any areas to be excluded (secured zones, private residential areas) | | Listed building status | Confirm whether the property is listed or in a conservation area |
Getting scope boundaries right upfront prevents disputes about what was included in the survey and avoids surprise charges for areas scanned outside the scope.
Section 3: Accuracy Requirements
Specify your accuracy requirement using the USIBD Level of Accuracy framework:
| LOA Level | Tolerance | Typical Use | | --- | --- | --- | | LOA10 | 50mm | Space planning, rough area calculations | | LOA20 | 15mm | Architectural design, planning applications | | LOA30 | 5mm | MEP coordination, fabrication, detailed engineering | | LOA40 | 2mm | High-precision industrial, heritage recording |
For most architectural and building projects in the UK, LOA20 (15mm) is sufficient. MEP coordination and structural engineering typically require LOA30 (5mm).
Section 4: Deliverables and Formats
Be specific about what you need to receive:
| Deliverable | Format | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Registered point cloud | E57 (open standard) + RCP/RCS (Revit) | Always request E57 as vendor-neutral master | | Colourised point cloud | RGB included | Confirm if colour is required | | Coordinate system | OS National Grid or local datum | State which is required | | Cleaned point cloud | Noise and moving objects removed | Confirm cleaning standard | | 2D drawings | PDF + DWG | Floor plans, elevations, sections | | BIM model | Revit RVT | Specify LOD: 100, 200, 300, 350, 400, or 500 | | IFC export | IFC | For open BIM workflows | | QC or registration report | PDF | Accuracy verification and coverage map | | Scan position map | PDF or DWG | Shows where scans were taken |
Section 5: Timeline
| Milestone | Target Date | | --- | --- | | Site access window | [Date range] | | Fieldwork completion | [Date] | | Draft deliverable | [Date] | | Review period | [Number of days] | | Final deliverable | [Date] |
Confirm how many revision rounds are included in the quoted price — typically one round of corrections is included.
Section 6: Site Access and Logistics
| Item | Details | | --- | --- | | Access hours | Normal hours or out-of-hours required? | | Secured areas | How are these accessed? Escort required? | | PPE requirements | Hard hats, high-vis, steel toe caps? | | Parking and loading | Available on site? | | Ceiling tile removal | Who is responsible? | | On-site contact | Name and phone number |
Section 7: Safety and Insurance
- Confirm provider has £1M+ general liability insurance
- Check professional indemnity coverage for survey and BIM deliverables
- Request Certificate of Insurance before fieldwork commences
- Complete any required site induction before arrival
- Hazardous materials (asbestos) surveys may be required in older buildings
Section 8: Payment Terms
- Fixed fee vs time-and-materials — fixed fee is recommended
- Typical payment schedule: 50% on instruction, 50% on delivery
- Confirm what constitutes a change order and how additional costs are approved
- Rush fees for expedited turnaround
Section 9: QA and Acceptance
Agree measurable acceptance criteria before instruction:
- Registration accuracy report confirming achieved tolerance vs specified tolerance
- Coverage map showing all scanned areas and any voids
- Spot-checks on key dimensions against on-site measurements
- Review and rejection process with clear timeframes
Deliverables Checklist
Use this checklist when reviewing the final delivery:
- [ ] Registered point cloud in E57 (open standard) plus RCP/RCS for Revit
- [ ] Colourised point cloud (RGB) if specified in brief
- [ ] Coordinate system documented (OS grid or local datum)
- [ ] Cleaned point cloud (noise and moving objects removed)
- [ ] 2D drawings: floor plans, elevations, sections (PDF and DWG)
- [ ] BIM model at agreed LOD (typical LOD 300–350 for architecture)
- [ ] Scan position map showing capture locations
- [ ] QC and registration report with accuracy verification
- [ ] Named contact for post-delivery queries
Scanner Selection: BLK2GO vs GeoSLAM
| Feature | Leica BLK2GO | GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon | | --- | --- | --- | | Accuracy | ±5–15mm | ±1–3mm | | Range | 10m | 100m | | Environment | Indoor only | Indoor and outdoor | | Points per second | 420,000 | 300,000 | | Best for | Rapid facility docs, small sites | Larger sites, outdoor scanning, engineering precision | | Survey-grade | No | Near-survey-grade |
For most architectural projects, GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon provides better value due to its longer range and higher accuracy. BLK2GO is appropriate for small, fast indoor captures where speed is critical.
2025 UK Scanning Costs
| Service Type | Price Range (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | | On-site or day rate | From £800/day | | Point cloud only | £750–£1,250/day | | Scan-to-BIM LOD 200 | £600–£800 per floor | | Scan-to-BIM LOD 300 | £800–£1,000 per floor | | Scan-to-BIM LOD 350–400 | £1,000–£1,200+ per floor | | Rush fee (express turnaround) | +30–50% |
Prices exclude VAT. Each floor is typically priced separately. Listed buildings and complex interiors may attract a premium.
Preparation Checklist Before Scan Day
- [ ] Asbestos survey completed (required for older buildings)
- [ ] Site access confirmed with all keys and codes available
- [ ] Parking arranged for scanning team
- [ ] Site induction booked if required
- [ ] On-site contact available throughout the scan
- [ ] PPE available if required
- [ ] Furniture and obstructions moved where possible
- [ ] Reflective targets placed in accessible locations (if required by provider)
- [ ] Areas to be excluded clearly marked
- [ ] Deliverables brief confirmed in writing
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use this template for a listed building survey?
Yes — this template is suitable for all property types including listed buildings. For listed buildings, specify LOA20 or tighter accuracy, note the listing grade, and include any additional documentation requirements your conservation officer has specified.
Q: What LOD do I need for a planning application?
For planning applications, LOD 200 (approximate geometry) is typically sufficient for the design drawings submitted with the application. LOD 300 (accurate geometry) is required for building regulations and detailed design packages.
Q: How do I verify the point cloud accuracy?
The QC and registration report should include the registration error expressed as a deviation in mm, confirmed against your specified tolerance. You can also spot-check key dimensions against on-site measurements to verify the scan is accurate.
Q: What if I need to re-scan part of the site?
Agree the re-scan policy before instruction. Typically, re-scans required due to poor coverage are the provider's responsibility; re-scans required due to scope changes are charged at the day rate.
Q: How long should I allow for review of deliverables?
Allow 5 working days for review of CAD drawings and 10 working days for BIM models. Build this into your project timeline before instructing the scan.