How Long Does a Point Cloud Survey Take?
Point cloud survey duration depends on property size, scanning method, and deliverables required. Here are typical timescales for UK projects.
Site Scan Time by Property Type
| Property | FJD Trion P1 | Terrestrial Scanner | | --- | --- | --- | | 1–2 bed flat | 45–90 min | 1–2 hours | | 3–4 bed house | 60–120 min | 2–3 hours | | Victorian terrace | 90–150 min | 2–4 hours | | Semi-detached | 90–180 min | 2–4 hours | | Detached | 120–240 min | 3–5 hours | | Small commercial | 2–4 hours | 4–8 hours | | Large commercial | 4–8 hours | Full day+ |
The FJD Trion P1 is faster for occupied properties because it captures from a walk-through rather than requiring setup at multiple scan positions.
Total Delivery Timeline by Deliverable
| Deliverable | Scan | Processing | QA | Total | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Point cloud only | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 3–5 days | | Point cloud + CAD | 1 day | 2–3 days | 1 day | 5–8 days | | Point cloud + Revit | 1 day | 3–5 days | 1–2 days | 7–12 days | | Point cloud + full BIM | 1 day | 5–10 days | 2 days | 10–15 days |
What Affects Survey Duration
| Factor | Impact | | --- | --- | | Property size | Larger = longer scan | | Number of levels | More floors = longer | | Loft/basement access | Additional time if in scope | | Dense vegetation | Slower outdoor scanning | | Occupied property | Furniture moving adds time | | Listed building | More care, detailed scan |
Rush Options
| Turnaround | Availability | Typical Surcharge | | --- | --- | --- | | Standard (5–8 days) | Always available | Included | | Fast (3–4 days) | Subject to diary | +25% | | Urgent (1–2 days) | Case-by-case | +50% | | Same day scan | Limited availability | +75% |
2025 Point Cloud Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Property | Scan Only | Scan + CAD | Scan + BIM | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2–3 bed | £300–£500 | £600–£1,000 | £900–£1,500 | | 4+ bed | £400–£700 | £800–£1,500 | £1,200–£2,000 | | Commercial | £500–£1,000 | £900–£1,800 | £1,500–£3,000+ |
How to Plan a Point Cloud Survey Into Your Project Programme
When you commission a point cloud survey, the on-site scan and the post-processing both take time, so the right way to plan it into a project programme is to book the scan 2-3 weeks before you need the deliverable. The scan itself is the short part — typically 45 minutes to 4 hours on site depending on the property. The post-processing is the longer part: registering the cloud takes 1-2 working days, drafting CAD from the cloud takes 2-5 working days, modelling a Revit BIM model takes 3-10 working days depending on the LOD level, and the QA review adds another 1-2 days. So a typical "scan + CAD" project runs 5-8 working days from the on-site visit, and a "scan + full BIM" project runs 10-15 working days. The icelabz quote includes these phases as separate line items so the cost of rushing or extending any one phase is visible up front. The deliverable is issued with a signed accuracy statement aligned with the RICS Measured Surveys of Land, Buildings and Utilities standard (3rd edition) for downstream design, planning, or BIM coordination use.