How to Create As Built Drawings: Manual Survey vs Laser Scanning

Creating as-built drawings involves documenting existing conditions and updating plans to reflect installed states. Small spaces may only require field sketches and measured dimensions. Conversely, larger buildings benefit from laser scanning, which captures surfaces as a point cloud for CAD drafting and BIM models. This workflow includes survey planning, scan alignment, and coordinate verification. While both methods produce traceable dimensions, scanning does not automatically reveal concealed systems or verify accuracy without professional interpretation and drafting.