3D Laser Scanning Services

IC Bus - Tulsa

Tulsa is now, based on volume, the School Bus Manufacturing Capitol of the WORLD. This comes after final deal negotiations in April of 2024 between the city of Tulsa and the Navistar Corporation to keep the manufacturing plant in Tulsa (ICBus | IC Bus - IC Bus in Oklahoma). That’s a big deal! School transportation is a critical business. They carry our most precious cargo. When parents give their trust to transport their children, it’s imperative that the bus, for safety and every other standard, is of the highest quality.

Already boasting an average of 68 buses a day with a maximum of 74 on a perfect day, IC Bus planned to expand their manufacturing capabilities to meet the needs of their customers. They also wanted to maximize use of their current assets before building more space. The current journey of a bus through the factory assembly line, from start to finish, is nearly a mile! Integral to that journey are hoist cranes used throughout the factory to move bus shells, seats, engines, transmissions, and a multitude of other assemblies. The challenge for the design team was to coordinate the numerous attachment locations needed for the new cranes and hoists within the congested space. The best option was to bring in a LiDAR team to measure critical areas, notably the roof trusses from which the new cranes will be attached/suspended.

Rogue was able to enter this space and quickly scan three areas totaling approximately 35,000 ft2. LiDAR eliminated the tedious act of scouring the giant factory on lifts and struggling to determine what trusses would be best used or where new steel could be attached. The trusses within the plant are assembled from structural steel riveted together with plates. They are about 15 feet deep with the bottom being 40 feet above the floor. From the ground, the trusses look the same; however, laser scanning reviled each was unique. There were several inches of variation in gusset plate size and location. The new structure could not attach to these gusset plates. The new steel also needed to avoid lights, cable tray, and numerous auxiliary structures that have been added over the years. Had brackets and support steel been perfricated from ground measurements and old drawings, the assemblies would not have fit, and the project would have been delayed. Imagine the wasted time, material, and equipment expense in that scenario.

With the LiDAR point clouds, our CAD/BIM team generated the desired documentation allowing the project design team to quickly evaluate and determine where to position the equipment and support structures.

Historic Northeast Lofts

Located in the heart of Kansas City, MO, the Historic National Cloak and Suit Company property is ready for a new chapter. Built over 100 years ago, the main building once contained a hospital, cafeteria, rec room, courts and ground for sports, and more for the over 2,000 employees that worked there.  Starting in World War II and continuing through 1953, the property served as a quartermaster’s depot and included a unit for processing the personal items of our nation’s fallen.  In 1948, the adjutant general’s department of the Army established the Kansas City Records Center there.  Following a feasibility study in 1977, the General Services Administration deemed the building unusable and abandoned the site.  For the past few decades, it has served as a self-storage center.

Now shadows of their former selves, the 7 buildings across the 22-acre property presented numerous challenges for Rogue Visual Design’s reality capture teams.  Each day began with a thorough safety check of the areas to be documented.  Standing water, ice, large open shafts, interior vegetation, thousands of dead birds, subzero temperatures, and cavernous spaces engulfed in darkness all presented unique risks which needed to be planned for. Numerous UAS/drone flights, and several scanning teams crisscrossed the site methodically documenting each building inside and out.

The LiDAR data, Revit models, and orthomosaics images Rogue delivered to the design team provided precise existing site conditions.  Our RTC360 laser scanner pierced the darkness and dilapidation.  Photos from our aerial drone were processed into an orthomosaic site map and orthomosaic elevations of the 12-story main building’s exterior walls.  Rogue’s work saved the project stakeholders an incalculable amount of time and money.  They were not required to make numerous site visits, spend hundreds of hours measuring, or construct scaffolding to conduct a preliminary inspection of the building’s exterior.  Rogue’s expertise and experience offered the necessary lifeline.

The LiDAR data, Revit models, and orthomosaics images Rogue delivered to the design team provided precise existing site conditions.  Our RTC360 laser scanner pierced the darkness and dilapidation.  Photos from our aerial drone were processed into an orthomosaic site map and orthomosaic elevations of the 12-story main building’s exterior walls.  Rogue’s work saved the project stakeholders an incalculable amount of time and money.  They were not required to make numerous site visits, spend hundreds of hours measuring, or construct scaffolding to conduct a preliminary inspection of the building’s exterior.  Rogue’s expertise and experience offered the necessary lifeline.

BNSF - Alliance, NE

Over the past 170 years, nearly 400 railroads merged or were acquired to form the BNSF Railway. When it is time for maintenance, many diesel locomotives and coal cars operating on BNSF railroads today will pass through a repair facility in Alliance, Nebraska. A visit to the facility reveals that the Alliance shop performs brake replacement, oil changes, wheel replacement, and heavy diesel maintenance.  

The task at hand for Rogue Visual Design might seem daunting for the inexperienced.  We were charged with laser scanning more than 300,000 square feet of parts storage, numerous office spaces, repair shops, and maintenance bays with massive locomotives and rail cars moving through. Not content to stop there, the team flew a drone over roughly 60 acres of property surrounding the facility, collecting vast amounts of data. The flight combined with LiDAR scans of the structure provided the modelling team the information needed to create a detailed Revit model of the building's architectural, structural, and fire sprinkler systems. Given the immense size of the building and the numerous spaces within it, this may seem like a monumental task, but it is a typical day's work for Rogue's skilled BIM team.   

Through our partnership, BNSF will benefit from the installation of a new fire suppression system. The integration of spatial data collected by our reality capture specialists into the Revit model, offers a robust foundation for analysis. Engineers can identify potential obstructions, locate optimal system placement, and determine the most effective routing of pipes. The data also ensures systems are designed to meet safety regulations and address specific project requirements. This process identifies conflicts between fire suppression components and other building systems, such as electrical, HVAC, or structural elements. By resolving clashes during the design phase, costly and time-consuming modifications during construction can be avoided, leading to a more efficient and streamlined process.

The amalgamation of Revit models, LiDAR scans, and Drone technology provides a wealth of information that can be harnessed for performance optimization. This data-driven approach empowers engineers to fine-tune their projects.  The blend of tools presents an unparalleled opportunity for the construction and engineering industry. By leveraging these powerful technologies, professionals can save valuable time and money throughout the project lifecycle. The benefits are significant, from accurate site documentation to streamlined design processes and improved construction site management. By embracing this innovative technology, construction and engineering professionals can deliver projects with unparalleled efficiency, unrivaled accuracy, and reduced costs. Moreover, the data collected can be leveraged for future projects further maximizing its value and utility.

Pitt @ 1902 Broadway - Pittsburgh, KS

Pitt @ 1902 Broadway Building D is one of several apartment buildings across the street from the campus of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. The 45,000-square-foot, three-story brick edifice, built around a central courtyard, was set to undergo significant remodeling by the property owner.  The architectural firm engaged for this renovation needed accurate floor plans as none existed for the building. To remedy this, the architect reached out to Rogue Visual Design to document the interior and exterior of the apartment building.

Apartment buildings, by their very nature, pose a detailed task due to the multitude of scans required for thorough interior documentation. Building D, composed of 57 distinct apartment units, each housing a variety of smaller spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets, was no exception.  Additionally, the hallways, stairwells, laundry, and a variety of other rooms also required scanning.  Despite the building being 75-80% occupied by residents, our experienced team efficiently completed over 1,000 separate laser scans to accurately represent these myriad spaces.

With the LiDAR scans collected and registered, our BIM team developed and delivered the LOD 300 Revit model to the architect within a matter of days. This 3D model provided the owner and the architect with the most up-to-date as-built conditions of the building.

Rogue Visual Design holds immense pride in the unmatched accuracy and meticulous detail captured by our state-of-the-art 3D Laser Scanners and our highly skilled team. The completion of over 1,000 scans within an apartment complex is an affirmation of our proficiency, a testament to our adaptability. Our wide-ranging experience, documenting millions of square feet, instills in us the confidence that we can scan and deliver high-quality models for any project, irrespective of the building's size.

At Rogue Visual Design, we consistently bring a robust blend of experience, efficiency, and reliability to each task. We stand ready to apply this same meticulous attention to detail and problem-solving approach to future projects, delivering results that consistently exceed expectations.  We look forward to bringing this same approach to your next project.

Central Plains Cement Company – Alternative Fuel Pipe Reconfiguration

For well over a century, Central Plains Cement Company has been supplying Portland cement of varying grades for industrial, civil, and personal concrete projects throughout the Midwest. Staying at the forefront of the cement industry, Central Plains has been pioneering the use of alternative fuel sources (ground solid waste) to fire their cement kilns. This innovative approach has not only reduced dependence on traditional fossil fuels but has also led to significant reductions in production costs.

The kiln, being the primary source of CO2 emissions in the cement production process, is a crucial area of focus for both Central Plains and the wider industry. Central Plains sought to reconfigure the alternative fuel pipe to a new inlet spout, aiming for a more efficient burn and greater heat recovery. In response to this need, the experts at Rogue Visual Design were called upon to employ our precision 3D laser scanning (LiDAR) to aid in the design of this new configuration. The challenge at hand involved obtaining precise location, alignment, and bolt orientation of both the existing flange connection and the new spout. 

Documenting the pipe and spout configuration around a kiln, which can reach temperatures exceeding 1450 degrees Celsius (2640 degrees Fahrenheit), is a complex and potentially hazardous task. However, our highly skilled LiDAR scanning team was able to meticulously capture the entire pipe, spout configuration, and the intricate surrounding area without compromising on safety. The ability of our scanners to collect this data from a safe distance meant that the kiln did not need to be shut down, ensuring uninterrupted operations for Central Plains. 

The detailed data acquired allowed Central Plains to minimize the kiln's downtime by prefabricating possible pipe configurations. This empowered them to try out different designs configurations until they identified one that perfectly suited their needs. With the pipe geometry meeting their expectations, Central Plains requested our team's expertise once again to scan the temporary pipe. The abrasive nature of the material being transported necessitated a robust material choice for the permanent alternative fuel line. Using the new LiDAR data, our team delivered a second registered point cloud and a 3D AutoCAD model of the approved pipe. The plant was then able to fabricate a new pipe using more durable material based on our detailed model. 

Central Plains Cement Company recognizes the value our experienced LiDAR scanning teams and advanced equipment bring to projects with challenging conditions, such as this one. We have demonstrated the ability to accurately, efficiently, and safely document existing conditions for complex projects, often within a matter of hours. We do this while maintaining a safe working distance, minimizing or even eliminating operational downtime. If you have a complex project that requires precise measurements without equipment downtime, consider going Rogue. We deliver results fast, safely, and with unparalleled precision. Let Rogue Visual Design be your partner for your next challenging project. 

A&M Manufacturing

Many of our clients specialize in Mechanical Electrical Plumbing (MEP) projects.  One such client was selected by A&M Manufacturing, in Spring Hill, Kansas, to design upgrades to plants electrical equipment. This would require connecting the newly installed equipment with the transformer and other electrical equipment outside of the building. The proposed upgrade included adding a Master Control Center (MCC) room within the manufacturing facility which would increase their production capacity.  A&M Manufacturing, a subsidiary of The Clorox Co., is a major supplier of Fresh Step and Scoop Away Kitty Litter for the central United States. As with many of our projects, the existing documentation for the building either did not exist, or lacked enough detailed information to plan the electrical upgrades. To remedy this lack of crucial information on the building layout, the electrical engineer contacted Rogue Visual Design to collect 3D laser scans (LiDAR) of the building and the surrounding environment. More specifically, the Rogue scanning team was tasked with documenting two optional paths for the electrical connections between the equipment inside and outside of the building. When we assessed the site conditions prior to scanning, we discovered ice and snow-covered portions of the roof. These extremely slippery conditions presented a safety challenge to our original plans for documenting the rooftop route. However, our flexible and experienced scanning team devised a way to scan the roof from safe vantage points without setting foot on it.  We then meticulously pieced together the roof scans with those taken at ground level and the building interior. A 3D Revit model of the area was then developed from LiDAR data set and delivered to the MEP engineering team.  They were able to effectively evaluate both optional routes and design the most efficient build for the electrical connections. Assignments such as this are typical of MEP projects. Our clients need to know the true existing “as-built” conditions to design the most efficient way to complete the needed upgrade. Let the Rogue Visual Design Team help you with your next MEP project.  We will deliver an industry leading Revit model that will meet or exceed your design expectations.