Using 3D Scanning to Assess Structural Damage

At ES Denver we use cutting edge technology in our engineering inspections to assess structural issues with a property. The Matterport 3D Scanner is one example of the tools we use to gather data during a site visit.

 
s-l640.png
 

Often it can be difficult to see if the walls of a building remain square or if they have shifted as a result of foundation or other structural problems. The high resolution 3D point cloud obtained from a scan allows any movement of walls to be quickly and easily detected and measured. In addition to providing fast and easy quantitative measurements, 3D scan data sometimes also uncovers additional structural problems that require a repair.

 
Matterport_Point_Cloud.png
 

In the example above, a residence was undergoing foundation repairs. A previous engineer had estimated a wall to be 15” out of plumb, and the building was going to be condemned. But the 3D scan showed that the south wall of the residence was actually only 9” out of plumb, and a repair was possible. Using this data, ES Denver was able to design a cost effective repair plan for the homeowner to stabilize the foundation from further movement, and a historic building was saved.

At ES Denver we are committed to integrating the latest technology into our design process. Call us to day to discuss you project’s engineering needs.