SMP Projects: Start With a 3D Scan, Finish with a True Digital As-Built
Every Structural, Mechanical & Piping (SMP) project begins with the same problem:
What actually exists on site today?
Old drawings rarely match reality. Pipes have been rerouted, structures strengthened, conveyors modified, and equipment shifted over years of operation. Beginning an SMP upgrade with a tape measure and sketches builds risk into the job from day one.
The modern workflow is simple:
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3D laser scan at project start – capture reality
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Design and construct from accurate data
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3D laser scan at project end – deliver true as-built
No measuring tapes. No assumptions. Just engineering-grade data from start to finish.
Scan First – Create the Backbone of the SMP Project
An initial 3D scan records exactly where everything is:
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Structural steel, platforms and supports
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Conveyors, chutes and transfer points
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Pumps, tanks and mechanical equipment
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Process piping and services
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Access ways and maintenance clearances
This scan becomes the backbone of the project.
When the backbone is accurate, design is easy.
If the backbone is broken, even simple SMP tasks become difficult.
Engineers can design directly from the point cloud to produce:
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Structural modifications
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Mechanical upgrades
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Piping reroutes
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Clash-free fabrication models
Build With Confidence
Designing from real scan data means:
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Steel arrives and fits first time
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Pipe spools match site conditions
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Conveyor upgrades align correctly
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Less site rework
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Shorter shutdowns
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Safer installations
For SMP works, hours on site are expensive. A few hours of scanning can remove weeks of uncertainty.
Scan Last – The Real As-Built
At project completion a second 3D laser scan provides:
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Digital as-built of the entire SMP scope
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Exact record of installed steel, mechanical and piping
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Verification without manual measurements
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A model for maintenance and future upgrades
This final scan replaces the measuring tape.
The asset owner receives a living digital record ready for the next stage of the plant’s life.
One Data Source for the Whole SMP Lifecycle
Start of Project – Reality Capture
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Brownfields conditions
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Tie-in verification
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Design foundation
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Risk reduction
End of Project – As-Built Capture
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Installed condition
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Quality verification
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Maintenance model
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Future upgrade base
One technology supporting the entire SMP journey.
Ideal for SMP Works Such As
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Conveyor and chute replacements
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Structural upgrades
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Piping modifications
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Tank and hopper work
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Shutdown tie-ins
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Plant expansions
Build It Once – Build It Right
SMP projects are too critical to rely on sketches and tape measures.
A structured scan → design → scan workflow gives engineers, fabricators and maintenance teams a single source of truth.
