They Don’t Just Scan — They Take Responsibility
Engineering-grade LiDAR scanning is not about collecting point clouds.
It is about taking responsibility for the data that engineering, fabrication, and shutdown decisions are made from.
At Hamilton By Design, engineering-grade LiDAR scanning means the scan is:
- Planned by engineers
- Verified by engineers
- Used directly for design and fabrication
- Owned by engineers when it matters
If a scan cannot be confidently designed from, fabricated from, and installed from, it is not engineering grade.
“We’ve seen too many projects fail because everyone assumed the scan was ‘good enough’.
At Hamilton By Design, we don’t just deliver LiDAR data — we take responsibility for whether it can actually be designed and built from.
If we’re involved, someone owns the outcome.”— General Manager, Hamilton By Design
Why Most LiDAR Scans Fail Engineering Projects
We regularly encounter projects where:
- “We trusted the data and got burned.”
- “The drawings didn’t match reality.”
- “No one wanted to own it when it went wrong.”
In most cases, the issue isn’t the scanner.
The issue is that the scan was treated as a data product, not an engineering input.
Scan-only services deliver point clouds.
Engineering-grade LiDAR delivers confidence, accountability, and defensible outcomes.
What Makes LiDAR “Engineering-Grade”
Engineering-grade LiDAR scanning is defined by how the scan is controlled, interpreted, and used, not by scan density or marketing claims.
1. Engineering-Led Scan Planning
Before scanning begins, engineers define:
- What must fit together
- What tolerances actually matter
- What will be fabricated, replaced, or installed
- Where shutdown or safety risk exists
This ensures the scan is fit-for-purpose, not just visually impressive.
2. Accuracy Is Verified — Not Assumed
Engineering-grade scanning includes:
- Controlled scan resolution and overlap
- Registration reviewed using engineering judgement
- Scale and geometry checked against known site features
- Accuracy assessed relative to design intent
A dense point cloud does not guarantee engineering reliability.
3. Engineering Interpretation of Brownfield Reality
Real industrial assets are rarely perfect. They are:
- Worn
- Modified
- Repaired
- Out of square
Engineering-grade LiDAR scanning includes:
- Interpretation of deformation and wear
- Identification of unreliable geometry
- Clear documentation of assumptions and exclusions
This is where engineering experience prevents downstream rework.
4. Data That Works Directly in CAD & Fabrication
Engineering-grade LiDAR data is:
- Structured for SolidWorks and Inventor
- Used directly for fabrication-ready models and drawings
- Suitable for interference checks and constructability reviews
If a scan cannot be confidently used in CAD, it is not engineering-grade.
Point Clouds – 3D Scans – Engineering Quality – Past Projects
5. Ownership When It Matters Most
Engineering-grade LiDAR scanning means:
- One party owns the scan-to-design interface
- Assumptions are explicit and traceable
- Engineering judgement is applied — not avoided
This is critical when:
- Shutdown windows are tight
- Fabrication is off-site
- Parts must fit together first time
- Designs must be defensible in audits or reviews
Our clients:
Why Fabricators and Shutdown Teams Value This Approach
Engineering-grade LiDAR scanning enables:
- Seamless delivery where parts fit together
- Reduced RFIs and site rework
- Predictable shutdown execution
- Fit-first-time fabrication
We design with fabrication and installation in mind, because that is where projects succeed — or fail.
Where Engineering-Grade LiDAR Is Essential
- Mining and minerals processing facilities
- Power generation and utilities
- Manufacturing and process plants
- Brownfield upgrades and tie-ins
- Shutdown-critical replacement works
- Reverse engineering of undocumented assets
- Safety-critical access platforms and structures

Engineering-Grade LiDAR Is Risk Management
At Hamilton By Design, LiDAR scanning is not sold as a standalone service.
It is part of an engineering-led delivery model that connects:
- Reality capture
- Mechanical and structural design
- Fabrication documentation
- Installation confidence
We do not compete on lowest scan cost.
We compete on ownership, accountability, and outcome.


































