As-Built App reviews?

[VisualDandD]

I spent some time searching and could not find exaxtly what I was looking for.   I am a long time chief user.  Still on X16 but current on SSA just never took the time to upgrade to 17/18.

I see there is a new scanner app for as builts.   Can anyone give me an idea of what it is like to use and it's accuracy?   Although not an apple user, I would consider buying an ipad just for one job I have coming up if it works well.

 

At some point I need to start running the newer versions, but have not had much 'down time'.  A good and bad thing.

Thanks in advance!

[Renerabbitt]

2 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

I spent some time searching and could not find exaxtly what I was looking for.   I am a long time chief user.  Still on X16 but current on SSA just never took the time to upgrade to 17/18.

I see there is a new scanner app for as builts.   Can anyone give me an idea of what it is like to use and it's accuracy?   Although not an apple user, I would consider buying an ipad just for one job I have coming up if it works well.

 

At some point I need to start running the newer versions, but have not had much 'down time'.  A good and bad thing.

Thanks in advance!

lidar on i-devices is consumer grade. If you have a bluetooth laser it can integrate with the app to make adjustments to walls etc.
The big benefit is it will import into your custom templates
I would consider selling my m4 chip ipad pro to upgrade to the newest model, lmk if interested since i use the device for more than just the lidar, I would throw in some other stuff

[VisualDandD]

1 hour ago, Renerabbitt said:

lidar on i-devices is consumer grade. If you have a bluetooth laser it can integrate with the app to make adjustments to walls etc.
The big benefit is it will import into your custom templates
I would consider selling my m4 chip ipad pro to upgrade to the newest model, lmk if interested since i use the device for more than just the lidar, I would throw in some other stuff

Rene

 

Hey man!  Good to see you around.  I am not really an Apple user, but (begrugingly) might buy an Apple produce if I absolutely had to ;).    

I might have to put app on one of my kids phones and try it out.  I just really dont want to use anything Apple and this would purly be a 'uni-tasker' for me.     I dont do much remodeling, but a new project which might require a full home to be measured.   Years back I bought a Matterport, but I did not use it enough to justify keeping it around.  

 

Thanks for response and I will follow up with you on it.

[Renerabbitt]

5 minutes ago, VisualDandD said:

I might have to put app on one of my kids phones and try it out. 

it just has to be a pro model
cheers man

[SHCanada2]

10 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

Can anyone give me an idea of what it is like to use and it's accuracy?

there are a couple threads on different technology and include discussions of it.

 

I think valleyguy has the most accurate & efficient workflow. He uses the app to create the floor plan and then uses a laser to measure things and marks them down in an ipad app.

 

I tested it on a few houses early on. It cant be used blindly on the examples I tried it on. The question you are left with is what walls do I have to change to make it accurate? 

 

I ama considering using it for floors not of interest.

 

As with many of these apps, they measure the walls, and then try and line up common walls to form rooms and stich them together. And when the walls do not line up, the software makes decisions in order to make them line up. The problem is you don't know what decisions it made, and if they were correct.

 

For the $1200 for the pro, i'm starting to think a cheaper lidar point cloud scanner is the better option @ 5k or less and not have to wonder which walls might be out

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 27 by SHCanada2

[ValleyGuy]

23 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

 Can anyone give me an idea of what it is like to use and it's accuracy?   Although not an apple user, I would consider buying an ipad just for one job I have coming up if it works well.

 

 

Great timing, I am working on an addition and using it right now. 

I am still fine tuning my logistics, but here is a quick run down of how well it works and how accurate it is:

- The Scan,  this works very well to get the base floor plan. Hard to scan stuffed closets and little bumps in the wall are usually made into straight walls. Different ceiling heights aren't registered very well. There are all of the regular things that LiDar doesn't pick up, soffits, posts, beams,... and the CA app does not include anything other than walls (like cabinets, furniture, etc), - these are a manual added in item, in the CA app- it would be a text note.
- Fenestration Options, The As-Built app is to be operated on a hand held device so there is only so much one can expect as far as styles of doors and windows. The fenestrations are in very accurate positions as they are measured by the LiDar, but you will not be able to chose casements vs double hung vs fixed, or patio door vs full glass vs 1/2 glass doors... nor will the floor plan show double or triple windows and how they are divided up - only a single opening.

- Accuracy,   As there are varying degrees of accuracy needed, there isn't a yes or no answer here. Both the CA app and the LiDar have their limitations. Most walls and fenestrations are within a couple of inches, some are exact. I'm not sure how exact the lumber and the carpenters that shape it are in your area, but the LiDar and the CA app assume that walls, windows, and doors are plumb, level, and all rooms are built square. 

 

Now the good stuff: 

- CA has done a good job working out a bunch of wrinkles from the original launch. The app works pretty well now.

- You are able to manually adjust the position as well as draw in additional walls, windows and doors. Plus adjust their sizes.
- Labels and text is available

- 3D views are minimal but is nice for the customer wow factor after only 5 mins of effort to scan

The As-Built app makes a really good floor plan that is very accurate to a standard that is usually acceptable for most things. I usually use the LiDar measurements for a starting floor plan and combine the CA As-Built app with an iPad native Free Form app (already on my iPad) as well as an inexpensive app called Morpholio Trace. The latter two help with the details that are not easily implemented on the As-Built app. The CA app isn't a magic pill that just does everything with a push of a button but it has helped me to move from paper to digital. I also don't use the app to dump into X18 to automatically built, but rather to supply the basis of which I refer to when I draft - like a plan swiped off the web, but has all the measurements. I still use a laser and tape to measure the tight tolerance areas as well as the exterior dimensions. 

 

In my opinion, I think that the As-Built app is a great addition and a wonderful tool to have in the tool box. It will only be so strong and I'm ok with that. There are other tools that do different things and combined they provide me with an acceptable product in the end. I don't believe that there will be anything soon that will replace the physical measuring of every "important" item that we might need, so for now, I am a fan of the As-Built app and supporting cast on my iPad.

 

Here is a shot of my as-built plan and then the addition/demo plan. I have a bunch of sheets with additional info and customer-time doodles all in there too, I just turned off those sheets. 

 

 

  

[SHCanada2]

19 hours ago, ValleyGuy said:

Here is a shot of my as-built plan and then the addition/demo plan

did the as built app give you all those nice round numbers?

[ValleyGuy]

2 hours ago, SHCanada2 said:

did the as built app give you all those nice round numbers?

 

No no the As-Built came up with all different numbers. The CA plan was basically all for show; show the customer that a new garage would fit on the lot, and to make a 3D render to show the final design. Nothing on the interior was in play for the addition, so I didn't actually take any interior measurements beyond checking a couple in the big open room. I didn't draft any interior walls in X18 but the short little one separating the entry near the demo part (and it doesn't change either). The exterior dimensions, soffit height and roof pitch were really all that I needed to model and align the new addition properly. Taking quick measurements from the outside corners to the window centres will suffice on this one, I'm not putting any existing window measurements in the drawings.

 

Looking back in the app, I do see that window sizes appear pretty much all within +/- 1" or so of comparison windows. I have no idea what the actual sizes are for comparison.  

 

Quick and dirty with very little accuracy was all that was needed..... and the app handled it with ease lol....   I had a house plan, design time with the customer and the site visit was all wrapped up under and hour and a half.

 

On a side note, I have since acquired the original house plans and may ask to take further measurements to do an actual comparison to see about accuracy at a later time. Original plans vs physically built vs CA As-Built scan. I'll let you know if I can get back in to laser a few walls. 

[VisualDandD]

I used the app on my son's iphone.   It looks interesting.  I did not check for accuracy but saw how one can update dim's etc.

I did not play with it very long but it would be nice if it guessed at window opening sizes.  Given most windows are std, even it was off an inch, it would be easy to tell what the windows were without having to measure.

Overall from the 10 min I played with it, I would say it was OK and certainlly promising.  I could not figure out if you could resume a project if you stop.  When I did this in the app it was not able to figure out how adjoining sections went together.   This would be OK though because I would just want to document the layout and am not worried about it making me a 'plan'.   

 

I tested it in my home and I have some 2x8 interior wall which have openining in them.   It did not recognize the wall thickness and that could prove an issue as it inserts a 4" error in the plan just from that.   But again, it does quite a bit of the bulk of doing a as built. 

 

I do not in any way like apple products.   I have a stand alone Iphone that use for a car alignment app and even dealing with it is a pain.  Its my sons old phone and no sim.  The phone constantly wants to connect to an apple acct...etc.   I spend more time clearing notifications when using it than using the app.

But I am going to play with this more and see if it is something I can use.  99% of what I do is new construction, but I have a full remodel of a 4500sqft home involving multiple parts of the home.   I will keep messing with it.

 

I have had a bosch laser for years and it works great.  But it is not blutooth.  Any recomendations on a blutooth one that works well with iphone and app?

[ValleyGuy]

2 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

I did not play with it very long but it would be nice if it guessed at window opening sizes.  Given most windows are std, even it was off an inch, it would be easy to tell what the windows were without having to measure.

 

LiDar does a pretty good job of measuring the window openings as well as the position from the floor and ceiling. If you click on the window, look for the information icon below it to open up the window specifications and you can see the sizes there.

 

2 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

I tested it in my home and I have some 2x8 interior wall which have openining in them.   It did not recognize the wall thickness and that could prove an issue as it inserts a 4" error in the plan just from that.   But again, it does quite a bit of the bulk of doing a as built. 

 

Wall thickness adjustment has become part of my workflow. Default wall thickness is 4-1/2", so adjusting the exterior walls right off the hop then seeking out the thicker interior walls comes next. I believe LiDar looks at surfaces and the wall thickness comes from the app. LiDar can't determine exterior wall thickness either. I just did a double framed exterior wall house and the app just uses the default 4.5" thickness... not at all what the exterior dimensions were.

 

2 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

But I am going to play with this more and see if it is something I can use.  99% of what I do is new construction, but I have a full remodel of a 4500sqft home involving multiple parts of the home.   I will keep messing with it.

 

I like the screen real estate of the iPad and not sure that I would like using it on the smaller iPhone screen, as well as not having the pencil pro to work with. 

 

2 hours ago, VisualDandD said:

I have had a bosch laser for years and it works great.  But it is not blutooth.  Any recomendations on a blutooth one that works well with iphone and app?

 

The laser needs to be compatible with the app. My Bosch is blue tooth, but not compatible with the app. This is what Chief has in the knowledge base... I'm not sure if there is maybe a thread from other users that found compatible units.