2025 Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Property | Standard | Fast Track (+25%) | Rush (+50%) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2–3 bed | £400–£600 | £500–£750 | £600–£900 | | 4+ bed | £500–£800 | £625–£1,000 | £750–£1,200 | | Commercial | £800–£1,500 | £1,000–£1,875 | £1,200–£2,250 |
Survey Deliverables Reference
| Deliverable | Format | Use | | --- | --- | --- | | Floor plans | DWG + PDF | Design reference | | Elevations | DWG + PDF | Planning submission | | Sections | DWG + PDF | Building regulations | | Site plan | DWG + PDF | Planning boundary |
What Is Fjd Trion P1 Survey
The FJD Trion P1 is a handheld 3D laser scanning device that uses Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) technology to capture point cloud data while the operator moves through a space. Unlike traditional terrestrial laser scanners that are mounted on a tripod at fixed positions, the Trion P1 is carried by the surveyor as they walk through the property, building up a continuous 3D map in real time. icelabz uses the FJD Trion P1 for a range of surveying applications across the UK.
How the FJD Trion P1 Works
The FJD Trion P1 combines multiple sensor streams to build an accurate 3D map as the operator moves. It uses LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to measure distances to surrounding surfaces, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to track the device's orientation and movement, and sometimes additional sensors to assist with loop closure and drift correction. As the operator walks through a building, the device continuously scans its surroundings and updates its position estimate relative to the starting point.
The key advantage of SLAM-based scanning is efficiency. A traditional terrestrial scanner requires the operator to set up at each position, capture a scan, move to the next position, and repeat. For a typical house, this might mean five to ten setup positions, each taking several minutes. The FJD Trion P1 requires only a single walk-through of the property — the operator moves continuously from room to room while the device builds the point cloud on the fly.
The resulting point cloud from a Trion P1 survey is comparable in density and accuracy to a terrestrial scan for most applications. Point density is typically high — millions of points are captured per room — and overall dimensional accuracy is typically within ±30mm to ±50mm for well-scanned spaces. For context, this is sufficient for architectural design, planning applications, and most construction purposes, though projects requiring very high precision may still benefit from a terrestrial scanner.
What the FJD Trion P1 Captures
Like a terrestrial laser scanner, the FJD Trion P1 captures the geometry of all surfaces within its line of sight as the operator moves through the property. This means floor plans, wall surfaces, ceiling surfaces, window and door openings, staircases, and architectural features are all recorded. The device also captures colour data from a built-in camera, producing a photorealistic point cloud that can be used to verify surface materials and architectural details.
The point cloud is delivered in standard formats — typically PTS or E57 — that can be opened in point cloud processing software and used as a reference for CAD or BIM modelling. The survey can be delivered as point cloud only, or with 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models produced from the scan data, depending on your requirements.
One practical consideration is that the Trion P1 is operated at walking pace, which means it is best suited to interior surveys where the operator can move freely through the space. It is less suited to large open spaces where a terrestrial scanner's longer range would be an advantage, or to exterior surveys where GPS or total station control would be needed for georeferencing.
When to Choose the FJD Trion P1 Over a Terrestrial Scanner
The FJD Trion P1 is particularly well suited to projects where speed and convenience are important, where access is restricted, or where the property layout makes it difficult to set up a terrestrial scanner at multiple positions. It is also a good choice for properties with a lot of furniture or temporary obstructions, since the operator can simply move around obstacles rather than working around them with a tripod-mounted scanner.
For architects working on residential extensions and loft conversions, the Trion P1 provides a fast, cost-effective way to capture accurate existing drawings. The speed of the survey — a typical three-bedroom house can be scanned in under 30 minutes — means lower site costs compared to a terrestrial scanner visit, and the resulting point cloud is equally suitable for CAD drawing production.
For property managers and facilities managers, the Trion P1 is useful for rapid building documentation. A walk-through survey of a commercial unit or office floor can be completed in a morning, providing a point cloud record that can be used for space planning, asset management, and compliance documentation.
For heritage and conservation applications, the Trion P1's ability to capture data quickly in confined or complex spaces makes it a practical choice for recording historic buildings where setting up multiple scanner positions might be difficult or intrusive.
However, for very large commercial buildings, complex industrial sites, or projects requiring the highest precision, a terrestrial scanner may still be the better choice. Terrestrial scanners typically offer longer range, higher point density per position, and the ability to capture data from precisely controlled positions. The choice of scanner depends on the specific requirements of your project.
FJD Trion P1 vs Other Handheld Scanners
The market for handheld SLAM scanners has grown significantly in recent years, with devices from manufacturers including GeoSlam, Leica, FARO, and others. The FJD Trion P1 sits in the mid-range of this market in terms of price and performance, offering a good balance between cost and capability for typical building surveying applications.
Key specifications to consider when comparing handheld scanners include maximum range, point density, battery life, and the quality of the SLAM algorithm for drift correction. The FJD Trion P1 offers a maximum range of around 100 metres and a scan rate of around 320,000 points per second, which is competitive with other scanners in its class.
Loop closure is an important consideration for any SLAM scanner. As the operator moves through a building, small errors in the position estimate accumulate — a phenomenon known as drift. When the operator returns to a previously scanned area (closing the loop), the scanner's software can recognise the overlap and correct the accumulated drift. The quality of the loop closure algorithm varies between devices and has a significant impact on the overall accuracy of the final point cloud.
Typical Costs for an FJD Trion P1 Survey
FJD Trion P1 surveys are typically priced lower than terrestrial laser scanning surveys for comparable properties, reflecting the reduced site time and equipment cost. For a typical residential property — a two to four bedroom house — an FJD Trion P1 survey with point cloud delivery and 2D CAD drawings typically costs from around £500 to £1,000. Larger residential properties and small commercial units typically fall in the £1,000 to £2,500 range.
For larger commercial buildings, pricing scales with floor area and complexity. A small office building might cost from around £2,000 to £4,000 for a Trion P1 survey with CAD deliverables. More complex buildings with multiple floors, irregular layouts, or significant architectural detail will cost more.
icelabz provides FJD Trion P1 surveys across the UK, with particular coverage in London and the South East. All surveys are conducted by trained operators, and deliverables are provided in standard formats compatible with most design and construction workflows. Contact us to discuss your project and receive a fixed-fee quote.
Getting Started With an FJD Trion P1 Survey
To commission an FJD Trion P1 survey, contact icelabz with the property address and a brief description of what you need the survey for. We will ask a few questions about the property size, the purpose of the survey, and the deliverables you require — whether that is point cloud only, CAD drawings, or a full BIM model. From this information we provide a fixed-fee quote before any work begins.
On the day of the survey, the surveyor will arrive with the Trion P1 device and conduct a walk-through of the property. The survey typically takes between 20 minutes and two hours depending on the size of the property. There is no need to clear the property or move furniture — the scanner can capture data around most obstructions. After the site visit, the point cloud is processed and any agreed deliverables are produced within five to ten working days for a standard residential property.