How Important Is Technology For Companies Recovering From Covid-19?

November 3, 2020 Peter Merrett Technology

The impact of the coronavirus has been felt across the vast majority of industries and, as organisations look to mitigate the effects, we look at how important technology is in the recovery process. Technology and automation has played a vital role in the advancement of most sectors over the last few decades but now it is more significant than ever before. In this article, we look at the crucial role technology can play in getting companies back to where they were pre-lockdown and assess the technologies that our team of land surveyors can apply to help.

The Impact of Technology on Productivity

With companies looking to cut costs wherever they can, the use of streamlined and efficient technology should be seen as a must for companies recovering from the Covid-19 effect. Improving efficiency through investment in the use of the latest technology and digitalisation can have a profound impact on output and profit margins for many businesses.

Whilst the coronavirus pandemic has caused major disruptions to the operations of many organisations across building and mining industries, to name just a few, it has also provided a moment of opportunity. Organisations have been handed the opportunity to assess their growth plan and analyse how the incorporation of new technologies could play a part moving forward.

Technologies Used By Our Team of Land Surveyors

Our building surveys and topographical surveys team utilise a range of core, key technologies to produce detailed, accurate and reliable survey and mapping data. Whether it is a BIM model for a company in the construction industry, a laser scanning project at an international airport or applying airborne Lidar technology for the assessment of rail corridors, we utilise the most appropriate technology in every project. Here, we provide some details on the technologies that our land surveyors use on a regular basis.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Designers, engineers and indeed our topographical surveys team continue to rely on 3D visualisation and collaboration tools such as building information modelling (BIM). The creation of BIM models can save valuable time and expense as a centralisation of all aspects of a project is achieved, from which information can be extracted as and when it’s needed by multiple parties form multiple offices. There is little scope for mistakes with a BIM Model, as an exact visualisation of the building is produced and those visual plans are laid out with the greatest level of accuracy.

Traditional methods present more opportunity for errors, deviations and issues in the management of the project’s life cycle, and are much harder to keep up to date. What’s more, traditional methods also require the repetition of processes and include laborious tasks, all of which can be simplified and automated with a BIM model. So time savings are made, planning is streamlined and the chances of costly errors in the design and build process are minimised.

Laser Scanning

Scanning is a technology that is at the forefront of many projects undertaken by Merrett Survey. Laser scanning can be applied to almost any project and in any environment, whether it is ground based terrestrial laser scanning – static on tripods or mobile on a vehicle – or airborne laser scanning on an aircraft or drone. Laser scanning is a cutting edge technology that is often utilised in the scan to BIM process, where we would scan a particular area of land or building. We then create a ‘point cloud’ before extracting the 3D lines and planes needed to create a BIM model. Here are some of the key benefits of laser scanning and why companies should consider its use when looking to recover from Covid-19:

• Enables a fast turnaround, from commissioning to end result.
• Improved safety – no need for human risk in dangerous areas as the laser captures the data at a safe distance from the operator.
• High accuracy – in-depth, quality data imagery and visualisations are created when laser scanning is involved.
• Perfect for volume or quantity surveying.
• Real time checks – scan data can be reviewed as soon as it is captured in the field.
• Complete coverage – although the client may only require a specific part of a structure or site, the scanner will survey the entirety of the object and its surroundings. Then, at a later date when more information is required, the data is there ‘on the shelf’ with no need to revisit the site.

The speed of the process was amply demonstrated when we recently carried out a laser scanning survey, using the Zeb-Revo mobile laser scanner, to rapidly scan a block of flats in Plymouth – see more on this case study.

UAVs – Drone Surveys

Using UAVs or drones for surveying is all about capturing data with tremendous speed and accuracy. With a team of highly trained UAV pilots, Merrett Survey can produce quick drone assisted aerial surveys that automatically map the features of the land or building in question. You don’t need to wait months or even weeks for such data with the technology available to us today.

Not only will your project timeline benefit from a drone survey, but also the quality of the imagery and videos captured. When merging the aerial imagery with the photogrammetric model we create, the data becomes ‘photo realistic’ and is in 3D. This gives you better insights into your project and is a huge benefit when you come to present the findings to third parties. These are just a few reasons why UAVs should be considered as an integral part of your recovery from Covid-19, if you require survey and mapping services.

Apply Technology in Your Covid-19 Recovery

These are just some of the technologies that our land surveyors apply to projects across a wide range of sectors and just a handful of those that we believe can seriously help companies recovering from Covid-19. Are you interested in starting a conversation with us about how our surveying technology can benefit your business? Contact us today by calling us directly, sending an email or filling out an online enquiry form. The Merrett Survey team looks forward to taking your call and discussing your requirements.