Precision is integral to the AEC industry and delivering precision in the face of time pressure is a constant challenge. With laser scanning technology, highly accurate scans can be created within minutes.  

This is helpful for a variety of applications, including documenting as-builts, construction verification, historical preservation, facilities management, and safety/risk management. From capturing current conditions to monitoring progress, creating a digital archive, or conducting quality control, laser scanning provides benefits throughout the project lifecycle and delivers the clearest possible picture. 

And, as more and more companies look to automate their warehouses and other facilities, the use of 3D laser scanners is critical to the success of warehouse fit outs.  

Building or rehabbing a robotic-equipped warehouse or facility involves a variety of design and engineering considerations, and an important one is ensuring that the concrete floor within the facility is absolutely flat and level. As noted by the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the quality of a concrete floor depends on achieving a durable surface that conforms to specific, defined flatness standards, including ASTM E1155 and TR-34.  

Why is floor flatness/levelness so important?  

A level concrete floor in an automated facility is much more than a visually appealing nice-to-have; it's a critical requirement in providing the right conditions for the robotic systems to operate efficiently and safely. That's why these types of concrete floors must be built to a much higher tolerance than a normal concrete slab.  

Testing concrete floor flatness using 3D scanners is a game-changer for robotic-equipped facilities. Laser scanners can quickly collect millions of points that form a precise, digital rendering of the space. Instead of requiring a technician to capture floor data by manually walking through a 600,000 square foot warehouse with a mechanical device, something that typically takes a week or more, a survey professional with a scanner can capture the entire warehouse in a single day.  

And all of that detailed point cloud data can be used to easily calculate the floor flatness/levelness of the floor, even when the concrete has just been poured and is still wet. End result? Concrete grinders know exactly where to remediate, and are able to quickly address the issues found.  

Eliminate Project Delays  

High-speed, accurate data collection is not the only benefit associated with using 3D laser scanners on these types of projects. Scanned data can be easily extracted, visualized, and shared with clients for additional phases of the project. And, if there are any changes to the floor in the future, contractors won't have to physically revisit the site to perform additional tests. The data is already there, ready to be tested again---another huge time-saver.  

Did you know that RoboFlat™, KCI's easy-to-use cloud solution, leverages 3D laser scanning data to quickly and accurately calculate floor levelness/flatness in robotic-equipped facilities? RoboFlat supports a variety of floor standards, including custom standards that can be tailored to meet a specific robotic system's specifications, and delivers advanced visualizations. Find out more about RoboFlat or start a free trial to see how it works!