Any Surveyors/Architects etc on here...

[chonok]

Could do with a bit of advice..

Haven't got a clue where the best place to ask this is, although thought someone on here might be able to point me in the right direction.

I run an Architectural Services company, I am a one man band and things are becoming extremely busy at the moment.

I have to do a lot of existing surveys of peoples homes and have always used the old fashioned method of a tape and pencil.

Looking to increase all rouns productivity and this was one area that I thought could be improved. I have thought about sub-contracting out the surveys, but would rather not if I can help it as sometimes it's more hassle than it's worth.

Been looking at getting a decent laser measuring device, something like this:

http://www.laser-measure.co.uk/leica-disto/leica-d...

This looks the best for my needs. I only need it to measure modest size homes, but the one feature that really appeals to me is the transfer of data to AutoCAD.

If you have a laptop there, does it actually draw up the survey as you measure it?

Will it really save me time? If not, I will just opt for the cheaper version without bluetooth...

Thanks

[surveyor]

Not without a lot of user involvement using AutoCAD....

http://www.mobilecadsurveying.co.uk/surveying-solu...

With this software - particularly with a tablet or convertible PC it's a different story.

Plus side is very quick back at the office. Downside is for me at lease, I can sketch quicker, so end up spending more time on site.

9/10 I use paper. 1/10 I'll get the bluetooth laser out...

I'd be happy to have a chat if it helps you out...

[Chrisgr31]

Its amazed me for some time that there isn't a cheap system that allows a surveyor to draw a plan onsite, put the dimensions on and then it calculates floor areas draws the plan to scale etc.

However Lieca Distos are good bits of kit and very reliable. In fact I also find it unbelievable that anyone is still using a traditional tape.

Just to confim I usea Disto (owned by me personally after I left the work one at work one day when out on 3 days of inspections), and a piece of paper and pen

[surveyor]

Chrisgr31 said:

Its amazed me for some time that there isn't a cheap system that allows a surveyor to draw a plan onsite, put the dimensions on and then it calculates floor areas draws the plan to scale etc.

However Lieca Distos are good bits of kit and very reliable. In fact I also find it unbelievable that anyone is still using a traditional tape.

Just to confim I usea Disto (owned by me personally after I left the work one at work one day when out on 3 days of inspections), and a piece of paper and pen

It's quite difficult to do. I branched out into drawing Lease Plans a couple of years ago, so now measure more than ever...

There are a few ipad type app's, but they never seem particularly easy to use - especially maintaining accuracy and certainly don't communicate with the disto. Another one involved taking pictures and by choosing the corners it would draw a plan. I tested it, and gave up after 3 minutes. Any furniture defeated it.

The system I have is very sophisticated, but the software was a grand, the computer nearly that, and the bluetooth Disto on top...

I now luxuriate in 3 Disto's. An older model, a backup - both of which have an external viewfinder, and the bluetooth disto. Today I've been measuring and locating mobile mast sites so a mixture of the older disto and old fashioned tape measure.... Particularly enjoyed (not) the roof of a ten story office building..

Part of the problem is that there are not enough users to make any software low cost...

ETA

Now I've said all this, since I last looked this has become available... http://www.orthograph.net/ Looks interesting and at $99 it's either very cheap, or a complete waste of money....

Edited by surveyor on Tuesday 20th May 20:24

[Chrisgr31]

surveyor said:

ETA

Now I've said all this, since I last looked this has become available... http://www.orthograph.net/ Looks interesting and at $99 it's either very cheap, or a complete waste of money....

Interesting now all we need is a guinea pig to test it for us!

[sleep envy]

We've had a couple of existing buildings 3D surveyed which the data converts straight into a BIM.

Very accurate, can find out what the hard and software is if you want.

[surveyor]

Chrisgr31 said:

Interesting now all we need is a guinea pig to test it for us!

I'll have a good look at it tomorrow. If it looks as good as my initial glance I'll try it. How it deals with complicated non-square shapes is a deal breaker for me...

sleep envy said:

We've had a couple of existing buildings 3D surveyed which the data converts straight into a BIM.

Very accurate, can find out what the hard and software is if you want.

mega £.... more than my sort of work will justify.

[surveyor]

surveyor said:

Chrisgr31 said:

Interesting now all we need is a guinea pig to test it for us!

I'll have a good look at it tomorrow. If it looks as good as my initial glance I'll try it. How it deals with complicated non-square shapes is a deal breaker for me...

sleep envy said:

We've had a couple of existing buildings 3D surveyed which the data converts straight into a BIM.

Very accurate, can find out what the hard and software is if you want.

mega £.... more than my sort of work will justify.

It's taken me a while as helpfully my old Bluethooth Disto used the wrong sort of Bluetooth to talk to the Ipod. £450 resolved that. Done a survey of the house tonight and in theory it will be used in anger tomorrow (subject to property not being too awkward....).