What As-Built Surveys Include
| Deliverable | Format | Use | | --- | --- | --- | | Floor plans | DWG + PDF | Design reference | | Elevations | DWG + PDF | Planning | | Sections | DWG + PDF | Building regs |
2025 As-Built Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Property | Survey Cost | | --- | --- | | 2–3 bed | £400–£600 | | 4+ bed | £500–£800 | | Commercial | £800–£1,500 |
As Built Survey For Architects
Accurate survey data is the foundation of any architectural project. Whether you are starting a feasibility study, preparing a planning submission, coordinating a BIM project, or verifying a contractor's works, the measured building survey you commission sets the quality standard for everything that follows.
icelabz delivers as built surveys for architects and architectural technicians across London and the wider UK. We work with practices ranging from sole practitioners to multi-disciplinary studios, providing survey data in the formats architects and their design teams actually work in.
What You Get
Every architect has a preferred workflow and a minimum deliverable specification. We structure our survey output to fit yours rather than forcing you to work from our defaults.
CAD drawings (DWG) Our standard deliverable is a 2D CAD floor plan in AutoCAD 2018 format. We can also provide elevations, sections, and roof plans depending on what your project requires. All drawings are to RICS measured survey Level 2 or Level 3 accuracy as specified at brief stage.
Revit BIM models For projects where the design team is working in BIM, we deliver Revit models from our laser scan data. Our standard is LOD 300 — floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and key sections — with LOD 350 available for projects requiring detailed component specification. We coordinate with your Revit template and naming conventions at project setup.
Point cloud data (RCP/RCS) For complex geometries, heritage properties, or projects where you want to model from raw scan data yourself, we provide full-colour laser scan point clouds in RCP/RCS format. Our scans are captured at sufficient density to resolve architectural detail including cornicing, skirting boards, and fenestration geometry.
Topographic survey data For ground-level survey data for site boundary and level work, we provide DXF files suitable for import into your CAD environment.
Who This Is For
This page is written for architects, architectural technicians, and BIM coordinators who commission measured survey data as part of their design process.
If you are working on a retrofit or change of use project, you need verified as built drawings that reflect what is actually on site — not what the plans from the 1970s say should be there. A measured building survey byIcelabzgives you floor plans, sections, and elevations that you can trust for your design coordination.
If you are preparing a planning or pre-application submission in London, your case officer will ask for accurate floor plans and site plans. We deliver drawings in the format London borough planning departments accept — typically DWG with a PDF version — with no revision requests.
If you are running a BIM project, the scan-to-BIM workflow is our core offering. We capture the laser scan data, process it, and deliver a Revit model in a structure that integrates with your design model. We are experienced at coordinating with principal contractors and multi-disciplinary design teams on projects across London.
How We Work With Architects
Step 1 — Brief and specification Share your architect's drawing pack, planning reference, or design programme with us. We confirm survey type, output format, accuracy standard, and delivery programme. If you have a Revit template or CAD layer standard, send it over and we will work to it.
Step 2 — Site survey Our survey team attends site with the equipment appropriate to your project. For most architect's briefs, we use total station for speed and accuracy. For heritage properties and complex geometries, we deploy laser scanning.
Step 3 — Data processing and quality check Survey data is processed and quality-checked in our London office before delivery. We cross-reference against site notes and photographs to verify accuracy.
Step 4 — Deliverables CAD drawings, BIM models, or point cloud data are delivered via secure download. We include a signed accuracy statement with every deliverable — essential for planning submissions and building control.
Evidence
Our survey team has worked with architects on projects across London including residential conversions in Islington and Camden, mixed-use developments in Tower Hamlets, commercial fit-outs in the City, and heritage retrofit projects in Westminster and Southwark. Our drawings have been accepted by every London borough planning department without revision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What accuracy standard do you work to?
We work to RICS measured survey specifications: Level 2 (positional tolerance 20mm at 95% confidence) for standard projects, Level 3 (10mm or better) for heritage and conservation projects. We specify the accuracy standard in our fee proposal and confirm it before survey.
Q: What Revit version and LOD do you deliver?
We deliver in Revit 2022 and 2023. Our standard BIM deliverable is LOD 300 — floor plans, ceiling plans, and key sections. LOD 350 (detailed component specification) is available on request. We work to your Revit template if you provide it.
Q: Can you survey a building where the interior is fully fitted and furnished?
Yes. Laser scanning surveys can capture data in occupied spaces without disturbing the occupants. We can scan around furniture and fittings — the point cloud captures geometry from all accessible angles and we process the data to produce accurate floor plans.
Q: How do you handle buildings with multiple floor levels and complex geometry?
We use a combination of total station and laser scanning depending on geometry. For complex buildings, we capture from multiple scanner positions and register the scans to create a complete point cloud. The processed data produces accurate floor plans even where the geometry is irregular.
Q: Do you provide topographic survey data alongside the measured building survey?
Yes. If your project requires both building survey and topographic survey data, we can provide both from a single site visit. Topographic survey data is delivered as DXF, ideal for import into your CAD or GIS workflow.