CONVENTIONAL SURVEY STILL CHOICE METHOD FOR MANY PROJECTS
With high-definition ( HD ) laser scanning becoming more common as a surveying tool for spatial data collection , why would anyone still opt for conventional survey on a project ? Experts say it all depends on individual goals and needs . involved surveying a high-traffic interchange in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . Using HD scanning was the more feasible choice because it was far safer and faster than the conventional survey method . “ It ’ s a tool that we need sometimes , but we don ’ t use it every day .”
“ HD scanning is not a replacement for conventional methods . It ’ s just an alternative ,” said James Cappeart , a surveyor at Ayres Associates , who estimates that the survey group completes 10 % to 15 % of projects with the HD scanner .
– Jennifer Schmidt
“ In some cases , HD scanning is a much better solution , but conventional survey is not going away ,” he said . “ Just because it ’ s shiny and new doesn ’ t mean it ’ s going to replace the world .”
Many projects , particularly those of a smaller magnitude , are best served with traditional survey methods . For instance , if a client needs just a single city block surveyed for a reconstruction project , HD scanning would provide far more data than necessary .
“ It just doesn ’ t make sense to use HD scanning to collect that data ,” Cappeart said . “ Our conventional methods can do it just about as quickly and with a lot less office time on the back end to prepare our deliverable .”
Conventional methods are often the most viable choice for rural projects , such as a survey through a cornfield or at a site with a great deal of high vegetation where data is needed behind or underneath grass or tree limbs . Many bridge surveys can be done either way but don ’ t need the level of detail collected in an HD scan , leading surveyors to complete them with conventional methods .
“ There are some applications that HD scanning is made for ,” Cappeart said , citing a recent example that