Choosing the right equipment to check completed work
Once construction is underway, it's important to know that what's being built matches the design.
As-built measurement can help you check positions, levels, dimensions and other critical details before a project is completed or handed over.
The equipment you need will depend on what you're checking, how accurately it needs to be measured and how much of the site you need to capture.
What Do You Need to Check
Start by looking at what you're trying to verify.
Specific points or positions?
A Robotic Total Station can be well suited to point-based checks.
Large outdoor areas?
A GPS Network Rover can provide an efficient way to collect position information across a site.
Complex buildings or structures?
Laser scanning can capture a much larger amount of spatial information.
A combination of these?
Using different technologies together can provide a more complete picture of the completed work.
Choosing Your Survey Equipment
Robotic Total Stations
Robotic Total Stations are commonly used to check specific positions, levels and dimensions against design information.
Common applications:
- As-built verification
- Construction QA
- Position checking
- Level checking
- Structural positioning
A good option when:
You have defined points or coordinates that need to be checked accurately.
Laser Scanning
Laser scanning can capture detailed information across buildings, structures and other complex environments.
Common applications:
- As-built documentation
- Building measurement
- Existing condition surveys
- Complex structures
- Detailed spatial records
A good option when:
You need to capture a large amount of information or document complex geometry.
GPS Network Rovers
GPS Network Rovers can be useful for collecting position information across larger outdoor sites.
Common applications:
- Infrastructure verification
- Civil projects
- Large site surveys
- Position checking
- Asset mapping
A good option when:
You need to cover a larger area and have suitable GNSS coverage.
Total Station or Laser Scanner?
There's no single answer. It comes down to what you're trying to check.
| If you need to... | Consider |
| Check specific points | Robotic Total Station |
| Check position and levels | Robotic Total Station |
| Cover a large outdoor site | GPS Network Rover |
| Capture a complex structure | Laser Scanning |
| Create a detailed spatial record | Laser Scanning |
| Carry out different types of checks | A combination of technologies |
Don't Leave Verification Until the End
For some projects, it makes sense to check important work as construction progresses rather than waiting until everything is finished.
Before construction
Confirm existing conditions and establish survey control.
During construction
Check critical elements before they're covered or become difficult to access.
At completion
Confirm the finished work and collect the information needed for handover.
Before You Hire
- What exactly needs to be checked?
- What accuracy is required?
- Are you checking specific points or capturing a larger area?
- What design information will you compare against?
- Is survey control available?
- Are there line-of-sight restrictions?
- Is GNSS coverage suitable?
- How long will you need the equipment?
How TechRentals Can Help
Start with what you're trying to check.
Tell us what needs to be measured, the accuracy required and what the site looks like. Our team can help you work through the available equipment options.
TechRentals provides survey equipment hire including Robotic Total Stations, GPS Network Rovers and Laser Scanning equipment, giving you access to specialist equipment when you need it.
Whether you're checking a few critical points or working across a much larger project, we can help you find an equipment solution that suits the job.
Working on an as-built or verification project?
Talk to the TechRentals team.
