The essential practical course for anyone looking to understand and apply laser scanning in real construction environments. Learn how to plan, capture, process, and use laser scan data for site engineering, as-built surveys, quality checks, and BIM workflows. Gain hands-on experience with terrestrial scanners, targets, and software while understanding the theory and best practice behind accurate 3D data capture.
Quick Facts
Duration: 3 days
Format: Classroom theory and practical field sessions
Location: UK & Ireland-wide training centres and on-site options.
This practical 3-day course covers everything you need to know about laser scanning for use in construction-specific contexts. It includes both the theoretical principles and the practical techniques required to plan and execute a successful scan, process point cloud data and produce usable deliverables.
You’ll learn how to work safely and effectively in live environments, including public areas, and how to integrate scan data with total station, GNSS, CAD, and BIM workflows. The course includes detailed sessions on planning, capturing, cleaning, registering, and exporting laser scan data for use in construction, design, and verification tasks.
This course is ideal for engineers, surveyors, and construction professionals expanding their digital surveying capabilities.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, delegates will be able to:
Principles and Applications
List the applications, advantages, and limitations of laser scanning in construction
Describe how laser scanning technology works and when it should or shouldn’t be used
Explain the relationship between traditional surveying, GNSS, and laser scanning
Identify IT requirements, equipment types, and file compatibility for scan data
Planning and Preparation
Plan a laser scanning survey from start to finish, considering equipment, permits, control, safety, and access
Identify survey deliverables and plan scanner positions based on overlap and visual obstructions
Select and position spheres, checkerboards, and control points correctly
Understand scanning considerations in public areas and factors affecting accuracy and image quality
Fieldwork and Data Capture
Set up and configure the laser scanner for each scan
Carry out scans safely and effectively, considering lighting, reflectivity, and environmental conditions
Transfer raw data to the computer and prepare it for processing
Perform instrument accuracy checks to verify manufacturer specification
Data Processing and Output
Transform scan data into a registered point cloud using target-based, cloud-to-cloud, or hybrid registration
Clean and colourise scan data, removing unwanted elements such as people or vehicles
Align scan data with control networks, gridlines, and existing drawings
Superimpose 2D drawings onto scan data and convert point clouds into 3D BIM-ready models
Compute areas, distances, and volumes directly from point cloud data
Export 3D visual tours and deliverables in appropriate formats
Who This Course Is For
Site engineers and engineering surveyors
BIM coordinators and digital construction specialists
Construction managers and design coordinators
Surveying and mapping professionals expanding into 3D data capture
Anyone responsible for quality assurance, as-built verification, or digital records
If you are new to total stations or 3D modelling, we recommend completing the Total Station for Construction and AutoCAD for Site Engineers courses first.
Plus 12 months’ access to our full eLearning library
This covers everything taught on the course and much more, including total station, AutoCAD, GNSS, and digital surveying topics.
You’ll also join our technical support and mentoring community, giving you ongoing help as you apply your new skills on site.
All scanning equipment and software are provided for the duration of the course. If your company uses a specific system, we can tailor the practical exercises accordingly.
Funding
CITB has made several updates in recent months to how short-duration training is organised and funded. This has led many people to be uncertain about what they can claim. Funding is still available for many employers, and our courses continue to meet the CITB Assured training standards.
We are keeping fully up to date with the latest guidance, so if you are unsure about what funding applies to you, just contact us and we’ll explain it clearly and confirm your eligibility quickly.
Next Steps
This course is also available as in-house training anywhere in the UK and Ireland, and can be tailored to reflect your company's specific requirements.
Every learner on our practical courses receives a copy of Setting Out For Construction: A Practical Guide to Site Surveying, written by our founder and director Saffron Grant.
This industry-recognised textbook is packed with real-world examples, diagrams, and proven best practice methods. Many engineers keep it close at hand on site as a trusted reference throughout their career.
The book is also available to purchase separately for anyone wanting a comprehensive, practical guide to setting out.
