Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1397815
SOLUTION Despite the initial challenges, managers at Boyé Geometre remained convinced that laser scanning technology should be part of the firm's workflow. They had already seen multiple benefits of laser scanning: time in the field was reduced and the team could capture every detail of a building, which made it possible to conduct virtual revisits to the site at any time. The firm decided to focus on the deliverables they knew well: 2D CAD plans, elevations and cross-sections of buildings and infrastructure. This time, however, the value of their products was enhanced by extraordinary detail and reduced delivery times. At the same time, the team worked to develop the necessary skills to provide 3D products for the BIM market. Already proficient in creating 2D CAD models from conventional data, Boyé Geometre technicians enhanced their skills in point cloud registration and producing orthophotos for the models. Using the scanning technology, the firm could offer its clients greater detail and improved efficiency. In 2015, Boyé Geometre added a Trimble TX8 laser scanner and Trimble Realworks ® software to its workflow. The firm quickly achieved higher productivity from the RealWorks-TX8 integration. RealWorks provided reliability and ease of use in dealing with large amounts of data. Its powerful algorithms eliminated the need for reference targets in the field. The TX8 allowed the team to acquire millions of points per second while providing the measurement range needed for their projects. The TX8 also proved to be an extremely reliable instrument and enabled Boyé Geometre to complete surveys in a variety of weather conditions. Along with its Trimble TX8, Boyé Geometre worked to acquire the skills needed to produce 3D deliverables. The firm developed the ability to integrate RealWorks with SketchUp ® software and began to use the RealWorks point clouds to generate SketchUp models. From there, they could easily extract classic 2D models or provide clients with full 3D deliverables. "Once you create the 3D model with SketchUp, very little time is required to generate 2D models," says Guillaume Boyé. "SketchUp's user-friendly 3D environment and plugins for the management of RealWorks point clouds helped our team overcome the challenges we initially encountered in seeking to enter the 3D world."