Easily create as-built drawings using digital twins.
As the saying goes, even the most meticulously planned construction project can quickly go wrong. While your team may spend countless hours designing structures or planning renovations, unexpected challenges can arise in just one day, making design and construction two very different things. Accurate as-built drawings ensure the entire process, challenges, and everything else are handled correctly, preventing future chaos.
Unfortunately, difficulties in processing as-built drawings often lead to undesirable outcomes. From communication problems to outdated technology, many challenges can result in hasty or incomplete as-built drawings during construction.
Whether you're renovating or building a site from scratch, accurate as-built drawings can benefit you in many ways and make them easy to put together!
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What are as-built drawings?
As-built drawings, or redline drawings, are part of the as-built documentation and accurately depict the structure as it is being built, not as it is being designed. If any changes occur to the original plans during construction, the as-built drawings should reflect these design changes. Ideally, the as-built drawings and as-built documentation should also include a detailed log of the reasons for the changes, along with supplementary explanations.
Before finalizing the as-built drawings, a completion survey is typically conducted. During this process, the contractor or architect will conduct a thorough investigation and document the location, surface height, and dimensions of utilities, among other things. Surveyors will also note any discrepancies between the drawings or building plans and the existing structural conditions.
Ultimately, anyone reviewing the as-built drawings should be able to understand the specifications of the structure or site, and why any changes were made.
Six things that should be included in every as-built drawing
As-built drawings are only useful if they contain the necessary up-to-date information. Remember, as-built drawings and documentation are used for record-keeping and to provide information for future renovations and maintenance.
By including the following information, you can ensure that the final as-built drawings are as useful as possible, regardless of who views them.
• Original Design: As-built drawings should reflect the original specifications and provide points of comparison between the as-built and the design.
• Changes: Any changes that occur during construction, including modifications and additions, should be detailed in the as-built drawings.
• Dimensions: As-built drawings should include the accurate dimensions of the space, as these are crucial for future renovations, maintenance, and record keeping.
• Material Specifications: Includes detailed information on all materials used in the construction project, including material type, manufacturer, quality grade, etc.
• Location Information: Provide detailed information on the location of as many elements as possible, including HVAC systems, load-bearing beams or structures, utilities, etc.
• Photos: Includes photos of completed projects, as well as relevant photos documenting any changes made.
For as-built drawings, less is more. If in doubt, please add notes and detailed information regarding changes, materials, etc. What you least want is uncertainty or questions about why specific revisions were made, years later, when the information in your mind is no longer fresh.
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Who is responsible for the as-built drawings?
The person responsible for as-built drawings largely depends on the reason for needing the drawings and the type of construction. When building a new structure, as-built drawings are usually completed by an architect or designer. If the project is a renovation, it is usually the general contractor or architect, depending on the scope of the renovation.
Regardless of who creates the documentation , as-built drawings offer numerous benefits to all roles involved in construction.
• Architects: As-built drawings can serve as a reference point for future projects, enabling architects to gain a deeper understanding of future renovations and similar projects.
• Designers: Incomplete information can limit design and even jeopardize safety. As-built drawings provide designers with precise measurements and specifications, helping them make informed decisions without limiting their designs.
• Contractors: With as-built drawings available before construction begins, contractors can properly plan the project and anticipate potential challenges in advance. This also allows them to purchase the right materials ahead of time and even prevent safety issues.
• Building owners/managers: As-built drawings enable building managers to have a more detailed understanding of their structure, predict maintenance needs and budgets, and make more informed purchasing and sales decisions.
While accurate as-built drawings can bring many role-specific benefits, they also play a greater role throughout the construction process.
The Importance of As-Built Drawings
Few places are as busy and bustling as a construction site, especially large projects involving dispersed teams. As-built drawings are important regardless of one's role in a construction project, for many reasons.
More effective management and maintenance of your portfolio <br />If you manage multiple properties, as-built drawings become extremely valuable for a variety of reasons.
As-built drawings provide you with detailed records of each building, enabling you to plan the maintenance and upkeep budget for each site.
The detailed information provided by the as-built drawings also allows you to understand the value of each building. This is extremely useful for estimating the value of your investment portfolio and determining insurance coverage. This detailed information can also help you identify which investments will yield the highest returns, what your annual costs might be, and which structures pose the greatest risk.
Accurate and detailed record keeping <br>In short, as-built drawings are an extremely accurate and detailed record of a project. This brings various benefits, from helping to diagnose maintenance problems to serving as proof of the project, and even assisting in purchasing or selling, etc.
Establishing a reference for maintenance and repair work <br />In building maintenance and repair, a little knowledge can be very helpful. As-built drawings can help you diagnose problems, predict problems, and solve problems more effectively when they arise.
Let's say you have a power problem in your room. Without as-built drawings, you're left with only the original plans (if you have them), which show where the utility box should be, but don't capture any last-minute wiring changes. Accurate as-built drawings allow you to quickly see these changes, whereas design documents leave your maintenance team searching endlessly.
Using this as a starting point for planning and implementing renovations , just like maintenance, refurbishment relies heavily on the latest information. As-built drawings clearly show the materials used, the location of load-bearing supports, and more. All of this can help you easily plan and execute your renovations, reducing the likelihood of unexpected challenges along the way.
For example, suppose you want to add new wall-mounted storage to a room. If substandard materials were used during the initial construction and this wasn't documented, you could end up damaging the walls and the new storage. Accurate as-built drawings can prevent this kind of mess.
Help stakeholders understand the changes . Project stakeholders are not always on-site during the construction process, so unplanned changes can lead to unpleasant surprises.
Annotated as-built drawings can help stakeholders understand any unplanned changes. This understanding can reduce friction between staff and stakeholders and reaffirm that you are still building everything to standards.
Used as a reference point for communication and collaboration
Communication and collaboration are crucial in the construction industry. If an unplanned change occurs on a construction site one day, and different workers begin work the next day—whether planned or unplanned—the as-built drawings will keep everyone informed.
The same applies to distributed teams and teams managing multiple work locations. By keeping as-built drawings accessible as much as possible, you can ensure that all team members and stakeholders are on the same page, regardless of their location or any changes.
Reduce the risks associated with inaccuracy . Inaccurate information can lead to minor and catastrophic risks during construction. By maintaining accurate as-built drawings, you can ensure that everyone is equipped with the information needed to complete the work – whether it's managing the building, handling maintenance, or determining how to safely renovate the structure.
Helping with Government Compliance <br />States and states may have different authorizations for structures. These regulations can affect new construction and renovation projects, especially large buildings. Typically, you need to obtain a permit before breaking ground, but also provide proof afterward that the project has been completed in accordance with regulations. As-built drawings are a good supplementary document, which can include and show any changes you make to meet all requirements.
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Solving 3 main as-built drawing challenges
While as-built drawings exist to provide information and make projects easier, this is only true if they are completed as completely as possible. Overcome the following as-built drawing challenges to ensure you provide your team with all possible information.
Documentation incomplete <br>If you are creating as-built drawings, ensure you collect all available information. Ideally, you will be able to obtain this information from sources on the website. This may require measuring the space and interviewing experts handling various aspects of the project.
If you cannot find the person you need or obtain the information, please note this situation and set a reminder to follow up as soon as possible.
Lack of coordination : Poor coordination between teams can lead to communication errors, inaccurate information, and a failure to capture high-level details. Avoid this by establishing communication protocols. Utilize digital communication channels such as instant messaging or video chat to ensure your team can quickly share information. Implement best practices and stakeholder involvement across processes to ensure that the right message reaches the right people when milestones are reached.
Outdated technology <br>When creating as-built drawings, outdated construction techniques can cause many problems. Manual measurements may be inaccurate and time-consuming, paper-based record keeping makes collaboration difficult and increases the likelihood of using outdated information, and a lack of communication tools further complicates collaboration.
Avoid this by using modern solutions to address old problems. For example, the measurement modes in Matterport digital twins allow any viewer to obtain Matterport scan measurements from anywhere, from any device. These scans can be performed quickly and easily by anyone, meaning you can even get updated measurements daily. Meanwhile, instant messaging and video chat capabilities make communication easier, and digital record saving helps you utilize the latest documents without the risk of easily losing your records.
How Matterport can improve the as-built drawing process
As-built drawings are only useful if they are accurate and complete, and completing them correctly can be a tedious manual process. David Kuoppamaki, owner of Kuop Design, says that using Matterport's digital twin can significantly reduce the need for manual measurements by 80%, shorten drafting time by 50%, eliminate the need for manual photography, and help improve the accuracy of bids.
The Matterport Pro 3D Surround Scanner is a quick and easy way to capture spatial and photographic data about a property in minutes. It is significantly cheaper than traditional LiDAR scanning, costing only about 10% of the price of a LiDAR, and greatly simplifies the workflow.
In this video, Kuop Designs introduces their workflow:
Additional features such as measurement patterns marked in the virtual space itself and Matterport Notes improve collaboration by providing context for each space.
Matterport digital twins can also be converted into BIM (Building Information Modeling) and e57 files. With e57 files, you can access highly detailed point clouds. Through Procore and Autodesk integration, you can easily convert Matterport scans into as-built drawings. These features ensure everyone has access to the information needed for accurate as-built drawings, enabling distributed teams and multi-site groups to collaborate easily.
Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture successfully streamlined workflows and improved company efficiency by using Matterport's digital twin and color point cloud to create Revit models. This saved them countless hours on renovation work and allowed them to see further benefits from net new construction. Bayer Crop Science also saved 75% on engineering project planning costs thanks to the as-built drawings and BIM files provided by Matterport's digital twin.
As-built drawings can benefit your team in many ways, regardless of their role. Use Matterport to manually guess from as-built drawings and see how you can provide everyone with the information they need when they need it.
Frequently Asked Questions about As-Built Drawings
1. What are the differences between as-built drawings and construction drawings?
Construction drawings are drawn before a project begins or is completed, while as-built drawings are usually drawn after the project is completed.
2. What are the differences between as-built drawings and record drawings?
Record drawings are typically approved by the architect and follow the as-built drawings. As-built drawings are usually drawn after the project is completed, but may not be as concise as record drawings.
3. What are the steps in the as-built drawing process?
To create as-built drawings, you would typically first review the original design specifications, note any changes that occurred during construction, and then draft a more detailed set of drawings.
Choose Pro3 for unprecedented scanning speeds, resulting in significant cost savings and increased productivity.
Quickly and confidently create as-built BIM and CAD models using Matterport.
In the ever-evolving field of architecture and architectural design, professionals constantly seek tools that offer accuracy, speed, and efficiency. The Matterport Pro3 camera is one such groundbreaking tool that has shaken up the industry. This innovative device sets a new standard in 3D scanning, particularly in creating Building Information Modeling (BIM) or Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models. In this article, we'll delve into how the Matterport Pro3's superior scanning speed not only saves time but also helps create models faster and with greater confidence.
Advantages of Matterport Pro3
Unprecedented Speed: The Matterport Pro3 boasts exceptional scanning speeds, with each scan lasting less than 20 seconds. Traditional laser scanners can be slow or unpredictable in varying weather conditions, such as low light levels or strong winds. Relying solely on traditional survey scanners means that capturing site data can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and often requires multiple site visits. With the Pro3's extended scanning range of up to 100m² and reliable performance in all lighting conditions, you can capture spaces at unprecedented speeds, reducing workdays to minutes.
Seamless integration with BIM and CAD saves time not only in scanning. Matterport Pro3 scans can be directly converted into as-built BIM or CAD models using the Matterport Revit plugin, making the conversion from scanned data to usable models smoother and faster. This seamless integration minimizes the need for extensive post-processing, ensuring faster project turnaround times. Commercial subscription plans also include integration with Autodesk Construction Cloud and Procore.
High precision ensures that the Matterport Pro3's speed doesn't come at the expense of accuracy. The camera's high-resolution capture capabilities ensure that every detail, no matter how small, is accurately recorded. This high precision means that architects, engineers, and building professionals can confidently use this data to create models, knowing that what is being represented is true to life. The Pro3 is ideal for rendering large projects with high precision (+/- 20mm @ 10m) and creating high-fidelity digital twins (100K dots per second).
Comprehensive scanning minimizes the need for field visits. Due to its speed and comprehensive capture capabilities, the Pro3 typically eliminates the need for multiple field visits. Furthermore, the Pro3 includes a rechargeable battery pack , saving not only travel and setup time but also reducing costs associated with repeated visits.
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The Future of Design and Construction
As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, tools that offer both speed and accuracy are invaluable. The ability to quickly capture real-world sites and convert them into digital as-built BIM or CAD models has profound implications:
Enhanced collaboration: When teams can quickly access accurate website information, they can collaborate more effectively.
Wise Decisions: By gaining access to accurate models more quickly, professionals can make more informed decisions early in the project lifecycle.
Reduce rework: Errors caused by inaccurate site data can lead to costly rework. Fast access to accurate data minimizes this risk.
In an industry where time is often equivalent to money, Matterport Pro3 offers the speed and efficiency to be an indispensable tool for modern professionals. As we push the boundaries of design, construction, and architectural spaces, tools like Pro3 ensure we achieve our goals with confidence, accuracy, and efficiency.
Whether you're an architect looking to create detailed as-built models or a construction professional hoping for smooth project execution, Matterport Pro3's fast scanning capabilities could be a game-changer.
The normal range is 20m; the extended range is only available in the E57 file.
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