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Pre-Design Site Survey Training Guide

Updated

Overview

A Pre-Design Site Survey uses the iGUIDE PLANIX system to capture detailed horizontal and vertical scans of a property, producing accurate floor plans, elevations, roof plans, and 3D walkthroughs ready for architecture and remodel projects. The workflow includes pre-capture prep, structured scanning, asset tagging, and Stitch processing.

This guide walks Operators through equipment, on-site preparation, recommended camera settings, scan paths, vertical and horizontal best practices, asset tagging requirements, and post-capture upload, helping deliver complete, draft-ready data for an Advance Drafting Services (ADS) project on every iGUIDE site survey. 

In This Article

Equipment 

Minimum Required

  1. iGUIDE PLANIX system (R1 or Pro) 

  2. Smart device with the PLANIX app 

  3. Camera tripod (extendable for varied capture heights) 

  4. Ball head camera mount (to rotate the PLANIX parallel to the ground for vertical scans) 

  5. Door stops (for closets and self-closing doors)

Suggested Additional

  1. Light stand tripod (for above-drop-ceiling scans)
  2. External light source (for low-light areas)
  3. Backup PLANIX battery
  4. Portable charger for the smart device
  5. Small screwdriver / tool kit
  6. Extra USB storage (PLANIX Pro)

Pre-Capture Prep

Project Information to Collect

  1. On-site contact 
  2. Disconnected spaces (roof access, mechanical rooms, basements) 
  3. Site capture requirements and limitations 
  4. Current occupancy status 
  5. Ideal capture time 

Property Preparation Requests

  1. Building unoccupied during capture 
  2. All rooms, closets, roof, and disconnected locations unlocked 
  3. Clear, unobstructed pathways 
  4. Personal and sensitive items put away

Recommended PLANIX Settings

  1. HDR (R1 + Pro): High (-5EV/+2EV) 
  2. Noise Reduction (R1): Low 
  3. Stitching (R1): Static — recommended for ADS projects to maximize measurement accuracy

Initial Site Walkthrough

  1. Familiarize yourself with the building and capture points 
  2. Identify disconnected spaces (mechanical rooms, roof access) 
  3. Validate access, open doors, and turn on lights 
  4. Identify above-drop-ceiling and unique vertical scan needs  

Plan the Scanning Route and Data Organization: 

  1. Horizontal scans: each building level (including roof) gets its own Survey floor 
  2. Exterior scans go on the main floor with interior scans (provides true wall thickness) 
  3. Above-drop-ceiling scans share the floor with regular scans, tagged for ID 
  4. Vertical scans: each elevation profile gets its own floor 
  5. Each exterior vertical scan location gets its own labeled floor (e.g., front elevation) 
  6. Each staircase gets its own floor; multi-level staircases stay together for accurate floor-to-floor heights  

Scanning the Property

Horizontal Scan Setup

  1. Set up tripod and level the ball head; attach QR plate 

  2. Adjust tripod so lens sits at ~4.5 ft (130–140 cm) 

  3. PLANIX orientation: upright 

  4. Aim one lens toward areas needing detail (windows, fixtures) 

  5. Adjust height to avoid obstacles, then return to default for consistency

Horizontal Scanning Best Practices

  1. Scan every 5–10 ft in a grid pattern with line of sight to the previous scan 

  2. Capture at least 2 scans per room, including a center scan for the virtual walkthrough 

  3. Continuously check Survey for missing coverage 

  4. Capture closets, staircases, and elevators thoroughly 

  5. For small spaces, capture in the doorway then as far inside as possible 

  6. Capture both sides of entrances, exits, and room transitions with doors open 

  7. Position the camera 3–5 ft from windows, lens facing the window; raise blinds where possible

Horizontal Scans of All Building Levels

  1. First scan should be just inside the front door 

  2. Capture interior-to-exterior transition with the door open 

  3. Capture at least 2 exterior scans at 5 and 10 ft from the entrance 

  4. Tag all building equipment with Real-Time Tags, including legible photos of labels

Horizontal Scans of the Exterior

  1. Scan every 20 ft along the perimeter, 5–10 ft from the building 

  2. One lens should focus directly on the building 

  3. Capture each corner, both wall lengths 

  4. Scan in front of all building system equipment and tag it 

  5. Scan in front of windows and doors 

Horizontal Scans Above Drop Ceilings

  1. At least 1 scan per room with a drop ceiling 

  2. Remove tiles and either extend the tripod or place the PLANIX above the ceiling 

  3. Keep tiles removed until vertical scans are also done 

  4. Replace tiles when finished

Horizontal Scans of the Roof

  1. Adjust camera height to detect low parapets 

  2. Scan the rooftop access point (door, ladder, hatch) 

  3. Scan every 5–10 ft in a grid, focused above the unit 

  4. Scan in front of all rooftop equipment (HVAC, RTU) and tag it

Vertical Scan Setup

  1. Maintain tripod height 

  2. Rotate the ball head so the PLANIX is horizontal (parallel to the ground) 

  3. Aim one lens directly at the ground 

Vertical Scanning Best Practices

  1. Keep the 2D lidar plane facing the features you're capturing 

  2. Align the first vertical scan so the floor sits at the bottom of your screen 

  3. Maintain camera orientation across the entire vertical profile 

  4. Use a floor or ceiling reference for consistent alignment

Vertical Slice of Every Building Level 

  1. Start at least 20 ft outside the front and scan every 5–10 ft in a straight line through the building and out the rear 

  2. Remove drop ceiling tiles to capture full roof deck and joist heights 

  3. Capture multiple measurement points along the slice

Vertical Scans of Staircases

  1. Capture top, bottom, and each landing 

  2. Keep the lidar plane aligned with the stair direction 

  3. Multi-section staircases — capture each section's top and bottom 

  4. Maintain PLANIX orientation throughout 

  5. Multi-floor staircases stay on the same Survey floor

Vertical Scans of the Exterior 

  1. Scan every 20 ft around the perimeter, with each location on its own Survey floor 

  2. Include 2 scans at 5 and 10 ft from the building 

  3. Capture overhangs, roof line changes, and signage 

  4. Turn the PLANIX perpendicular under overhangs to capture profile detail

Asset & Equipment Tagging

Each Real-Time Tag Must Include

  1. Descriptive asset name
  2. At least one full photo of the asset
  3. Zoomed-in, legible photo(s) of the equipment specs label 

Required Interior Assets 

  1. Electrical Panel (EP) / Load Center 

  2. Main Circuit Breaker (MCB) 

  3. HVAC — Furnace (F) / Boiler (B) 

  4. Heat Pumps (HP) 

  5. Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) 

  6. Hot Water Heater (HWH) 

  7. Water Softener (WS) 

  8. Water Meter (WM) 

  9. Incoming Water Line (IWL) 

  10. Shut-Offs (measure diameter) 

Required Exterior Assets

  1. Gas Meter (GM) 
  2. Incoming Gas Line (IGL) (measure diameter) 
  3. Hydro Meter (HM) 
  4. Transformer (TX) 
  5. Incoming Water Line (IWL) and Meter (WM) (measure diameter) 
  6. HVAC Rooftop Units (RTU) 
  7. Air Conditioners (AC) 
  8. Heat Pumps (HP)

Post-Capture 

Site Survey Checklist

  1. All building equipment tagged with full and zoomed-in label photos 
  2. Horizontal scans of every level, including the roof 
  3. Horizontal exterior scans complete 
  4. Above-drop-ceiling scans complete 
  5. Vertical slice of every level captured 
  6. Staircase vertical scans complete 
  7. Exterior vertical elevation scans complete 
  8. No missing areas in any floor's plan and quality lidar on all key surfaces

Stitch Processing

  1. Transfer project data from smart device to computer (use the R1 Data Transfer or PLANIX Pro Edit & Upload guides as appropriate) 
  2. Create a backup copy of the project 
  3. Open the project in Stitch (download from the iGUIDE Downloads page) 
  4. Confirm data organization across floors 
  5. Validate scan alignment on every floor, horizontal and vertical 
  6. Re-validate completeness — no missed areas, quality lidar on every surface 
  7. Label above-ceiling shots individually 
  8. Hide non-tour scans (duplicates, height-adjusted, too close) 
  9. Save the project and export the stitch.tar file

Creating the iGUIDE

  1. Log into the iGUIDE Portal and select Create iGUIDE 
  2. Property Industry: Architecture & Remodel 
  3. iGUIDE Package options: iGUIDE Radix, iGUIDE Premium CAD Package (includes Premium, 2D Floor Plan DWG, Point Cloud DXF) 
  4. Add-Ons: Exterior Elevations (DWG), Flat Roof Plan (DWG), Pitched Roof Plan (DWG), Reflected Ceiling Plan (DWG), Plotted Drawings (PDF), 3D Model (RVT) 
  5. Enter the property address 
  6. Upload the stitch.tar file 
  7. Wait for the email confirming the iGUIDE has been completed

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