Highbury Estate
Islington, London
Capture:Terrestrial laser scanning of the lower and mid-level facades registered with UAV capture of the upper storeys on one OSGB36 control network.
Our Services
Point cloud and 3D laser scanning survey.
Terrestrial laser scanning, UAV LiDAR, photogrammetry. Engineering accuracy.
3D laser scanning and dense, georeferenced point cloud capture across buildings, structures, plant and infrastructure — the source data for CAD drawings, BIM models, deformation monitoring and digital twins. E57, LAS, LAZ, RCP delivery.
±2 mm
TLS hard-detail accuracy
E57 · LAS
Industry-standard delivery
RICS
Regulated practice
What it is
In-depth guide: Point Cloud Capture Methods Compared →
What is a point cloud survey?
A point cloud survey captures a dense, georeferenced set of XYZ points describing the surface geometry of a site, asset or structure — typically millions of points per scan. The capture method may be Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), UAV LiDAR, UAV photogrammetry or a combination of all three, registered to a known coordinate system — usually OSGB36 / ODN.
The point cloud is the single source-of-truth for everything downstream: CAD drawings, BIM models, structural sections, clearance envelopes, deformation comparisons against previous captures, FM data and hosted measurable web models. Working from a registered point cloud rather than from drawings means every measurement is traceable to the original capture, not to a redrawn interpretation.
This page covers ground-based 3D laser scanning and point cloud delivery. For airborne capture over corridors, vegetation and earthworks see our drone and aerial LiDAR survey page; for hosted 3D meshes and digital twins see reality capture and 3D modelling.
Angell Surveys is a RICS-regulated practice (Firm 681790). Registration accuracy and check-point residuals are reported alongside every deliverable.
Terrestrial Laser Scanning
What is a 3D laser scanning survey?
A 3D laser scanning survey uses a static terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), set up at planned station positions around or inside a building, structure or plant, to record millions of measured points per station. The scans are registered to survey control and merged into one point cloud, from which floor plans, sections, elevations, BIM models and deformation comparisons are produced.
Static Terrestrial Laser Scanning
High-density structural capture for bridges, buildings, tunnels, plant rooms and confined structures requiring millimetre-level resolution and complete surface coverage. Station positions planned to eliminate shadow zones; target-based or cloud-to-cloud registration to survey control.
Handheld SLAM Scanning
Mobile scanning in motion for rapid building capture, internal walkthroughs and hard-access interiors where static set-ups are impractical. Registered back to the TLS or GNSS control network.
Confined-Space & Indoor Capture
For GPS-denied tanks, vessels, sewers, shafts and process plant we deploy collision-tolerant indoor UAV platforms with onboard LiDAR and SLAM positioning, producing a live 3D point cloud of the interior without manned entry. See confined space inspections.
Scan-to-CAD and Scan-to-BIM
2D floor plans, sections and elevations, and Revit or IFC models produced directly from the registered cloud. Modelled geometry is checked back against the source scan and reported with the deviation achieved. See scan to BIM and Revit modelling.
Deliverables & Methods
What we deliver and how.
| Method | Typical Accuracy (1σ) | RICS Band | Point Density | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) | ±2 mm | A | 1–10 mm spacing | Buildings, structures, heritage, confined-space, engineering-tolerance work |
| SLAM Handheld | ±5–15 mm | C / D | 5–20 mm spacing | Rapid building capture, internal walkthrough, hard-access interiors |
| UAV LiDAR | ±15–20 mm | D | 100–300 pts / m² | Vegetated terrain, large corridors, ground-under-canopy |
| UAV Photogrammetry | ±10–25 mm | D / E | 200–500 pts / m² | Large open sites, solar farms, earthworks, low vegetation |
Accuracy bands referenced from the RICS Measured Surveys of Land, Buildings and Utilities (3rd edition) framework. Every deliverable references the source method and the actual measured residuals against independent check points — not theoretical accuracy. Hybrid capture (TLS + UAV LiDAR + UAV photogrammetry) is routine on larger projects so the appropriate band can be matched to the deliverable need per area.
E57 / LAS / LAZ / RCP
Industry-standard interchange formats: E57 (ASTM E2807), LAS / LAZ for aerial and corridor work, Autodesk RCP / RCS for Revit and Civil 3D integration.
CAD & BIM Drawings
2D AutoCAD DWG plans, sections and elevations derived from the registered cloud. 3D Revit / IFC at LOD 200–400 for federated BIM workflows.
Deformation Comparison
Cloud-to-cloud or cloud-to-design-surface differencing reports movement, settlement and structural deformation against a baseline. Repeat capture cycles supported.
Hosted Web Models
Cloud-hosted, browser-measurable 3D models for stakeholder review. Annotations, sections and measurements without specialist software.
Our Process
How we work.
01
Survey Design
Target accuracy, deliverable format, coordinate system and access window agreed. Capture method (TLS / UAV LiDAR / photogrammetry / hybrid) matched to the deliverable need.
02
Control & Capture
Survey control established to project datum. Scans / flights executed with field QA confirming coverage. Check points observed for independent accuracy verification.
03
Registration & Processing
Scans registered to a unified coordinate system. Cloud cleaned, classified and processed to deliverable format. Registration accuracy reported alongside the data.
04
Delivery & Hosting
Point cloud, derived drawings and accuracy report issued. Hosted measurable web model published for stakeholder review where required.
Sector Applications
FAQ
Point cloud survey questions.
What is a point cloud survey?
A point cloud is a dense, georeferenced set of XYZ points describing the surface geometry of a site, asset or structure. A point cloud survey captures that geometry using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), photogrammetry, or both combined, and registers the result to a known coordinate system. The output is a single, measurable, dimensionally accurate 3D record of the as-built — used as the source data for CAD drawings, BIM models, deformation monitoring, clash detection and digital twin creation.
What formats do you deliver point cloud data in?
E57 (ASTM E2807, the industry-standard interchange format) is the primary deliverable. LAS and the compressed LAZ variant are issued for aerial and large-area work. Autodesk RCP/RCS is supplied for Revit and Civil 3D integration. PTS and PTX exports are available where the receiving software requires them. Coordinate system is project-specified — typically OSGB36 / ODN, a contractor-defined site grid, or a building-local datum.
How is point cloud data captured?
Three primary methods. (1) Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) — static high-density scanners (Leica RTC360, Faro Focus) for engineering-tolerance building, structure and confined-space work. (2) UAV LiDAR — aerial laser scanning for large-area corridor, vegetated terrain and ground-under-canopy capture. (3) UAV photogrammetry — derived point clouds from overlapping imagery, suitable for open sites with low vegetation and well-textured surfaces. Most projects combine methods — TLS for tight-tolerance control, UAV for area coverage.
How dense and how accurate is the point cloud?
TLS produces 1–10 mm point spacing at typical building-survey distances with ±2 mm hard-detail accuracy. UAV LiDAR produces 100–300 points per m² with ±15–20 mm absolute accuracy. UAV photogrammetric point clouds produce 200–500 points per m² with ±25–30 mm absolute accuracy on hard detail. We pick the capture method to match the accuracy specification — never the other way around. The accuracy statement on every deliverable is measured against independent check points, not advertised.
What do you derive from the point cloud?
2D CAD plans, sections and elevations; 3D BIM models in Revit (LOD 200–400) and IFC for federated BIM coordination; DTM/DSM surfaces for civils import; structural sections and clearance envelopes; deformation comparison reports against a previous capture or design surface; and hosted measurable web models for stakeholder review. Every derived deliverable references the source point cloud so the chain from capture to drawing is auditable.
What is the difference between a 3D laser scanning survey and a LiDAR survey?
Both use laser ranging. In UK practice "3D laser scanning" normally means a terrestrial laser scanner set up on the ground to capture a building, structure or plant at millimetre resolution, delivered as an E57 or RCP point cloud for CAD and BIM. "LiDAR survey" normally means airborne capture from a UAV or aircraft over a wider area, delivered as a classified LAS or LAZ cloud with a bare-earth terrain model. Angell Surveys covers terrestrial scanning on this page and airborne capture under our drone LiDAR survey service.
Are you RICS regulated?
Yes. Angell Surveys is regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) — verify our registration at ricsfirms.com/office/681790/Angell-Surveys-Ltd. Point cloud work is delivered under the RICS Surveys of Land, Buildings and Utilities professional statement with documented registration accuracy and independent check points reported alongside the data.
Request a Quote
Point cloud survey, scoped and quoted within 24 hours.
Most scoping responses sent within one business day.
RICS-regulated work, led by Philip M. Angell MRICS.