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Laser scanning for construction surveying

We have doubled the grant rates for short course tiers 1 – 3. To address rising costs, you can now receive higher rates on course achievements from 1st April 2023

Grant Tier

Achievement date before 1 April 2023

Achievement date on or after 1 April 2023

Grant Tier 1

Grant Tier 1 Refresher

£30

£15

£60

£30

Grant Tier 2

Grant Tier 2 Refresher

£70

£35

£140

£70

Grant Tier 3

Grant Tier 3 Refresher

£120

£60

£240

£120

Overview

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge to support the following: the principles and practices of laser scanning for use in construction specific contexts and covers the practical elements, relevant theory, use of software and considerations when working in a public area.

Duration

3 days of 6 learning hours.

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge to support the following: 

The principles and practices of laser scanning for use in construction specific contexts and covers the practical elements, relevant theory, use of software and considerations when working in a public area 

Scope: 

  • general theory 
  • planning a survey 
  • onsite planning and actions 
  • carrying out a laser scan survey 
  • registration  
  • processing the data.

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s): 

  • supervision  
  • management and leadership.

Delegates pre-requisites

Delegates must have successfully completed the 2-day course CAD for Site Engineers, or have a working knowledge of 3D coordinate geometry, surveying and setting out principles and 3D mapping and modelling software.

Instruction/supervision

As a minimum, course trainers must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have: 

  • an award in education and training (or equivalent, as per requirements for approved training organisations)   
  • successfully completed training to this standard 
  • at least 2 years relevant industrial experience 
  • a verifiable CV.

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment.

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for delegates to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and delegate/trainer ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable delegates to achieve the learning outcomes.

The following delivery methods may be used in the delivery of this standard: 

  • classroom 
  • a blend of classroom and e-learning 
  • a blend of classroom and remote.

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more practical training. 

This standard is considered to be set at an advanced level.

Assessment

Methods of assessment considered appropriate for training delivered against this standard are:  

For the successful completion of training, the trainer must be satisfied that the delegate has achieved all learning outcomes. 

Quality assurance

Assured 

Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard.  

CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard.  

Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk-based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.

Classification 

Lifetime.

Approval date

June 2021.

Review cycle

On request or 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

The delegate will be able to:

  • list the applications, advantages and limitations of laser scanning and describe scenarios where it can and cannot be used
  • explain the IT requirements and restrictions
  • describe the capabilities and limitations of different types of laser scanning targets including spheres and checkerboards
  • list different methods for establishing control points and their suitability in different situations
  • explain the difference between registration points and control points
  • explain when to use the inclinometer and when not to
  • explain how laser scanning technology works
  • explain factors which need to be considered when scanning in a public area with people and traffic
  • describe the effect of light conditions on image quality
  • list factors which affect scan quality and image quality
  • use scanning terminology correctly including identifying and naming the parts of the scanner
  • list the range of possible deliverables a customer may require
  • explain the relationship between surveying with an optical instrument, GNSS use and laser scanning
  • describe types of laser scanner and their uses e.g. (hand-held, terrestrial, mobile, aerial)
  • identify the purpose and required deliverables of the survey
  • plan a laser scan survey from start to finish considering scanning requirements, type of equipment, placement of equipment and control, permits, safety measures, road closures
  • demonstrate how to validate existing control points
  • demonstrate how to establish ground control points
  • plan the safe work area
  • identify and plan for visual obstructions
  • demonstrate how to place the spheres and checker boards correctly
  • plan the set-up positions considering target types, overlap and visual obstructions
  • set up the configuration/profile for each scan
  • demonstrate and explain how to place the laser scanner appropriately
  • illustrate how to transfer the raw data from the equipment to a computer and prepare for processing
  • evidence how to transform scan data to point cloud explain the different methods of registration (target based, cloud to cloud, mixed)
  • evidence how to tie laser scan survey data in with drawings, local grid, previously created point clouds and existing features
  • establish how to clean the scan data (remove people, cars etc)
  • demonstrate and explain how to colourise the scan data
  • select the most suitable software based on the required deliverables and the capabilities and limitations of the different types of software available
  • demonstrate how to carry out a grid transformation
  • list the different file types used and explain how different file types interact
  • establish how to superimpose a construction drawing onto scan data
  • record how to convert the point cloud to 3D data for use in BIM
  • record how to export a 3d visual tour which can be viewed by anyone
  • demonstrate and describe how to carry out checks on the data to check the instrument conforms with the manufacturer’s specification (i.e. calibration, check that it has not been knocked or moved)
  • evidence how to carry out measurements, and compute volumes 

Related standards

  • CAD for site engineers 
  • Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Awareness 
  • Total station for construction 
  • Robotic total station training.