Planimetric documentation of any type of immovable property is essential for any intervention that may be carried out, whether as part of an extension, reform, restoration or archaeological excavation.
In the event that the property being worked on is a protected heritage element (BCIN – Cultural Property of National Interest or BCIL – Cultural Property of Local Interest) this need becomes a duty since by law it is required to carry out the the most detailed planimetric documentation possible of the protected property in question. The aim of this legislation is to be able to have a quality and precise record of the state of the property before and also after the project that has been carried out there.
In addition, in cases of BCIN and BCIL, all this planimetric documentation must be attached to the reports made by the technicians who have directed the intervention on the building and which they must subsequently deliver to the public administration.
There is currently a wide range of techniques, tools and devices to capture all the data needed for real estate documentation. Each of them has its advantages, disadvantages and characteristics and that is why it is always best to know which one to use according to each case or, even better, to combine them in order to obtain the best possible results. Below, the techniques and tools we use and their main characteristics are:
1. Topography:
Topography is the technique that allows you to document and study the shape and characteristics of the terrain and also those of any type of structure based on the use of georeferenced and millimetric precision tools such as total stations and GPS. Through the CAD programs, the data obtained in the field work are later translated into all types of floor plans, from plans, elevations, sections, level curves,…
2. Geographic Information Systems (GIS):
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are all technologies used to create, administer, analyze and represent all types of cartographic data in a georeferenced manner. GIS tools are responsible for connecting all this information on a map by integrating its descriptive and locational data. Software such as QGIS or ArcMap are very useful to carry out digitizations of building plans, sites, spaces,… and also to work at the same time with a large amount of cartographic and georeferenced information that can be classified by layers and type
3. Aerial photogrammetry (drone flights):
Photogrammetry is the technique used to take measurements through photographs and thus determine the geometry of an object or physical space.In a photogrammetric survey, the photographs taken of a real estate make it possible to create its 3D model and from there obtain all kinds of information relevant to its documentation process. In this case, when dealing with large objects (facades, buildings, plots,…) a very good option is to obtain these photographs using a drone since in this way you can access angles, points of view and heights impossible to photograph with a normal camera. The other big advantage is the speed with which the drone can perform entire photogrammetric surveys, since in some cases you can opt for automatic rather than manual flights.
4. Laser scanners:
Laser scanners, like photogrammetry, are another type of device that allows you to create 3D models of all kinds of items. The difference, however, is that the information is not obtained by means of photographs but by the emission of light pulses. Once the light hits a surface and bounces off the scanner gets the precise X, Y and Z value and location of that particular point relative to the scanner position. Scanners are used a lot especially in architectural and engineering projects where a large amount of information must be obtained in a short time (large structures, exteriors + interiors of buildings,…)
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