3D surveying & laser scanning brings marketing success in Kassel
-40%
Marketing
+50%
Requests
100%
Achieved price
The Challenge
Our partner, the renovation company Sanierungspartner Kassel, planned the conversion and energy refurbishment of a historic office building in the sought-after Kassel Vorderer Westen. The building featured complex geometric structures, including winding corridors, irregular wall thicknesses, and varying ceiling heights (a confusion that is often only resolved in finished buildings through indoor navigation as in Peine). However, for the structural planning and detailed planning of building services (TGA), no reliable CAD as-built plans were available. The old, hand-drawn construction plans from the 1950s had significant inaccuracies. Manual measurement with a tape measure and handheld laser would have been extremely time-consuming, inaccurate, and prone to errors due to the size and complexity of the property. Additionally, the ongoing office operations in the rented parts of the building were not to be disturbed. Without precise digital measurements, there was a risk of planning errors in the TGA installation as well as significant delays and additional costs during the actual construction phase.
Our Solution
FotoEstate took over the complete and millimeter-precise 3D measurement of the office building in Kassel using the latest laser scanning technology. In a two-day data acquisition campaign, our measurement team scanned the entire object – including the basement, attic, and facades – from over 80 positions. A highly accurate 3D laser scanner (Faro Focus) was used, capturing the geometry of the rooms as a dense point cloud with millions of individual measurement points. The scanning process was completely unobtrusive for the employees on site. In post-production, the individual scan data were registered into a consistent overall point cloud. Based on this point cloud, our CAD specialists drew a millimeter-precise 2D survey (floor plans, sections, elevations) as well as a detailed BIM model (3D building model) of the existing structure, which could be directly imported into the refurbishment partner's software as a reliable planning basis.
The Result
The digital 3D survey by FotoEstate enabled the renovation partner in Kassel to carry out error-free, extremely efficient renovation planning. Thanks to the centimeter-accurate CAD data, the MEP components (ventilation, heating, plumbing) could be perfectly prefabricated and installed on-site without any fitting problems. The risk of costly planning errors on the construction site dropped to nearly zero. The construction time was reduced by a total of three weeks, as lengthy rework was eliminated. In addition, the renovation company saved significant personnel costs that would have been incurred with manual surveying. The client was thrilled with the result and agreed with FotoEstate on a long-term partnership for all future renovation projects in northern Hesse.
Project Deep Dive: Process & Details
The initial situation: A demanding marketing
In the popular Kassel district of Vorderer Westen, which is known for its magnificent Wilhelminian-era buildings and its dense infrastructure, a historic commercial building was to be comprehensively renovated and converted into modern loft offices. The developer faced the challenge that no usable existing plans were available. However, precise data were essential for the tendering of the individual trades and the calculation of the exact material quantities. The outdated plans from the archives deviated by up to 20 centimeters from the actual measurements in some cases, which posed a huge risk to the entire project.
The hurdle: Overcoming uncertainty in potential customers
In the marketing and rental of high-quality office spaces, commercial tenants today require detailed floor plans to plan their workplace layouts. Without precise as-built measurements, tenants hesitate to sign long-term lease agreements in advance, as they fear unclear room divisions or column positions. The developer also needs legal certainty regarding the area specifications for calculating the rent. Manual measurements in occupied spaces also disrupt operations and appear unprofessional. The solution had to be fast, contactless, and absolutely error-free.
The concept: Visual excellence and attention to detail
The concept of FotoEstate relied on the combination of terrestrial 3D laser scanning and high-resolution photogrammetry. The goal was to create a 'digital reality' of the building. We planned a systematic capture of all rooms, niches, and technical shafts. Through the dense point cloud of the scanner, uneven walls, sagging ceilings, and slanted angles in the old building were also to be documented accurately. This approach ensured that the CAD drawings would represent the actual geometry completely and without interpolation.
The Implementation: Technology Meets Craft
Our survey engineers carried out the scans with a Faro Focus 3D laser scanner. Each position captured a 360-degree image and a highly precise distance mesh within seconds. The scans were positioned in such a way that all shadows were eliminated. Subsequently, the scans were cleaned, referenced, and linked into an overall point cloud in our specialized software. Based on this data, our CAD designers drew detailed floor plans and sections. All components such as walls, supports, windows, and doors were recorded precisely in their actual position and dimension.
The result: A flawless marketing success
Thanks to the precise 3D inventory survey by FotoEstate, the renovation project in Kassel could be implemented smoothly. Renting out the office spaces was straightforward, as we provided the client with the completed 2D floor plans as interactive PDF files that prospective tenants could use for their individual furnishing planning. Even before the completion of the construction work, all office spaces were fully rented to renowned companies. The project was completed without budget overruns, which the project developer directly attributed to the excellent survey.
What our partners say
"The precise area calculations significantly accelerated our due diligence processes. A service we no longer want to do without."
"The drone footage gives us a completely new perspective on our construction projects. The combination of macro-location and architecture is unbeatable."
"The digital twins have revolutionized our maintenance processes. Our craftsmen can now get an exact picture of the conditions in advance."
"FotoEstate's cinematic tours are an absolute highlight in our marketing strategy. Emotional, high-quality, and highly converting."
"Working with FotoEstate is professional and efficient. The visual assets provided fit our premium brand identity perfectly."
"We had our entire portfolio digitized by FotoEstate. The quality and scalability of the processes are impressive."
"The precise area calculations significantly accelerated our due diligence processes. A service we no longer want to do without."
"The drone footage gives us a completely new perspective on our construction projects. The combination of macro-location and architecture is unbeatable."
"The digital twins have revolutionized our maintenance processes. Our craftsmen can now get an exact picture of the conditions in advance."
"FotoEstate's cinematic tours are an absolute highlight in our marketing strategy. Emotional, high-quality, and highly converting."
"Working with FotoEstate is professional and efficient. The visual assets provided fit our premium brand identity perfectly."
"We had our entire portfolio digitized by FotoEstate. The quality and scalability of the processes are impressive."
Ready for the next marketing success?
Send us your pictures or floor plans. We will advise you free of charge on which visualizations will bring the highest return on investment for your property.