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LiDAR for
Construction
Construction projects live and die by the accuracy of their spatial data — from the pre-construction survey that sets the earthworks baseline to the final as-built documentation that closes the contract. AB Surveying and Development provides aerial, mobile, and terrestrial LiDAR surveying for developers, EPC contractors, and project owners across the Philippines — delivering the site surveys, volume calculations, progress monitoring, and as-built documentation that keep construction projects accurate, compliant, and on budget.
Challenges we solve
Common Challenges for LGUs & Urban Planners and How LiDAR Addresses Them
Challenges
Earthworks volume disputes between owners and contractors are costly and difficult to resolve
Pre-construction site surveys don't capture enough detail for accurate design and cost estimation
How LiDAR Helps
Earthworks volume disputes are among the most common and costly sources of contract conflict in Philippine construction — arising from the inherent imprecision of conventional survey methods and the difficulty of independently verifying volumes once material has been moved. When owners and contractors are working from different survey baselines or using inconsistent measurement methods, payment disagreements are almost inevitable. LiDAR surveys capture the complete site surface before earthworks begin and at regular intervals throughout — producing a dense 3D model from which volumes are calculated with documented accuracy. Both parties work from the same dataset, disputes are resolved with data rather than argument, and payment certification becomes a straightforward comparison between consecutive surface models.
Many construction projects begin with topographic surveys that lack the resolution to support accurate design — missing drainage features, underestimating slope variability, and failing to capture micro-terrain that drives significant earthworks cost. Design assumptions built on imprecise survey data propagate through every downstream engineering decision, surfacing as costly variations during construction when the ground doesn't match the model. Aerial LiDAR pre-construction surveys capture the complete site topography at sub-meter resolution — providing designers, estimators, and geotechnical engineers with a terrain model accurate enough to base final design decisions on, reducing the frequency and magnitude of construction variations.
As-built documentation is incomplete, slow, and often done after handover rather than during construction
As-built documentation is frequently treated as an afterthought in Philippine construction — rushed at project closeout, delegated to contractors with conflicting interests, and often limited to selective measurements rather than a complete geometric record. The result is as-built drawings that don't reflect what was actually built — creating problems when defects emerge during the warranty period, when renovations or expansions are planned, or when regulatory compliance needs to be demonstrated. LiDAR as-built surveys conducted progressively during construction capture the full geometry of completed works at each stage — producing a complete, independent, and defensible as-built record from foundation to finished structure.
Construction progress is difficult to measure objectively across large or complex sites
On large construction sites — land development projects, infrastructure works, and industrial facilities — tracking actual construction progress against programme is inherently difficult. Visual inspection is subjective, partial surveys miss activity in distant parts of the site, and contractor self-reporting is not independently verifiable. Regular LiDAR progress surveys produce a complete 3D snapshot of the site at each measurement interval — allowing project managers to compare actual progress against the programme baseline, certify contractor payments with confidence, and identify areas of schedule risk before they become critical path issues.
Existing structure surveys for renovation or expansion require accurate as-built data that doesn't exist
Renovation, refurbishment, and expansion projects for existing buildings and structures frequently begin without reliable as-built data — original drawings have been lost, modified without documentation, or were never accurate to begin with. Design teams working from inaccurate existing conditions data routinely encounter costly surprises during construction — structural elements in the wrong position, clearances that don't match assumptions, and services that conflict with new works. Terrestrial LiDAR surveys of existing structures capture every surface, dimension, and spatial relationship with millimeter accuracy — providing designers with a complete, trustworthy model of existing conditions on which renovation and extension design can be based with confidence.
LiDAR Surveying Applications in Construction
From pre-construction site survey through to final as-built documentation, LiDAR supports every phase of the construction project lifecycle.
Pre-Construction Site Topographic Survey
Aerial LiDAR baseline survey of construction sites — capturing terrain, vegetation, existing structures, and drainage features for grading design, foundation layout, and construction cost estimation.
Construction Progress Monitoring
Repeat LiDAR surveys at defined intervals — producing measurable, georeferenced progress records for payment certification, schedule tracking, and programme comparison.
Existing Structure Survey for Renovation
Terrestrial LiDAR 3D documentation of existing buildings and structures — capturing complete as-existing geometry for renovation design, extension planning, and structural assessment.
Drainage & Utilities As-Built Mapping
LiDAR capture of drainage networks, utility corridors, and underground service routes before backfilling — producing accurate as-built records of buried infrastructure for future maintenance reference.
Earthworks Volume Calculation
Pre- and post-earthworks LiDAR surface models for precise cut-and-fill volume calculation — supporting contractor payment certification, progress tracking, and variation documentation.
As-Built Survey & Documentation
LiDAR capture of completed construction works — producing accurate, comprehensive as-built records for project closeout, regulatory compliance, warranty management, and future reference.
Slope & Embankment Monitoring
Repeat LiDAR surveys of cut slopes, embankments, and retaining structures — detecting surface deformation and providing early warning of instability during and after construction.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Data Capture
Terrestrial LiDAR point cloud data for BIM model creation and clash detection — providing the accurate existing conditions dataset that underpins effective BIM-based design and construction coordination.
What Our Clients Get:
3D Colorised Point Cloud Data
A point cloud data containing millions of precisely located points overlaid with orthophoto RGB creating a realistic 3D city model.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
AB Surveying and Development conducted a comprehensive Terrestrial LiDAR scan of a well known development in Makati City, capturing the complete interior and exterior geometry of the entire structure. The scan produced a high-density, millimeter-accurate 3D point cloud of every floor, facade, and structural element, providing the client with a complete as-existing record of the building suitable for renovation planning, space documentation, and BIM model development.
The project demonstrated the ability of Terrestrial LiDAR to capture complex, multi-story built environments efficiently and accurately without disrupting building operations or requiring extended access windows.
Our Services
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We were amazed at how fast AB Surveying and Development's LiDAR mapping was as compared to conventional surveying methods.
With approximately 1,000 hectares of land area, the Kiangan, Ifugao project site was accurately generated as a topographic map and was very useful for the planning and design of the proposed Hucab Mini Hydro Electric Plant. The team was very accommodating and helpful in every step of the way, and they almost eliminated the need for physical site inspection because of their attention to detail!
Highly recommended to all our industry peers!
Patrick Talibon, Business Line Manager, Pacific Tech Solutions, Inc.