Through our expertise in producing Revit models from pointcloud data we have carried out airport surveys and provided 3D models of the Baggage Handling Areas including the conveyor voids at both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. These are complex areas with :
- Varying floor levels
- Extremely difficult access
- Numerous individual mechanical and electrical items very few of which are standard or identical
We also had to install new coordinate systems tied to the Airport grids as well as linking the passenger side check in areas and the airside conveyor systems.
The 3D Revit BIM Model
Revit is a superb design tool for “new build” applications but requires new skills for modelling existing features which are not
- flat
- straight
- in an existing library
Originally the 3D models were to be used for the replacement of existing and the installation of new X-ray machines however the scope grew to include all of the conveying systems and surrounding areas including instrumentation, lighting, switches etc. This presented unique challenges for the Revit model as none of these features were standard and families had to be created from scratch.
Access
The setting out of the control and the scanning had to be carried out at night due to the use of numerous fork lift trucks and the constant use of the conveyors. Access in these areas was also very congested and required some out of the box thinking to capture all of the features. it was also recognised that resulting 3D model was also useful in identifying access routes through the maze of conveyors in the event of an accident or emergency.
The total system also covered more than one level and scanning routes were often blocked off which meant finding a way to the other side of the “blockage” whist being able to tie the resulting scans to the one prior the the blockage.
Advantages of Laser Scanning for Airport Surveys
The advantages of using laser scanning in these confined areas was :
- The data could more accurately be captured and represented compared to a more traditional survey
- Faster capture of data compared to manual measurement by teams of engineers
- Complex features could be accurately captured and subsequently modelled
- The scanner could be placed in “awkward” locations to provide the data/measurements that would not have been possible to obtain manually
