Category: Australian Mining

Australian mining covers engineering and digital services delivered to mining operations across Australia. This category explains how engineering-led workflows support mining assets through accurate site capture, mechanical and structural design, verification, and fabrication-ready documentation across both greenfield and brownfield environments.

Content in this category focuses on practical mining engineering applications, including 3D laser scanning, scan-to-CAD modelling, engineering analysis, and digital quality assurance to reduce risk and improve constructability in remote and complex operating conditions.

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3D Scanning Engineering in Katherine

3D Scanning Engineering in Katherine

Delivering Precision Laser Scanning, Engineering, 3D Modelling & Drafting for the Northern Territory

Katherine is one of the Northern Territory’s most strategically important regional centres — a crossroads between mining operations, defence activity, agricultural production, remote-area logistics and critical transport routes stretching across northern Australia. Its unique mix of rugged landscapes, flood-influenced terrain, ageing infrastructure and rapidly evolving industrial needs means projects here must be planned with accuracy, resilience and efficiency.

Hamilton By Design supports clients across Katherine and the broader NT by providing 3D LiDAR laser scanning, mechanical and structural engineering, 3D CAD modelling, and fabrication-ready drafting — an end-to-end digital engineering workflow built for remote, high-demand and complex environments.

Whether you are upgrading plant equipment, expanding a depot, documenting as-built assets, or planning remote-area infrastructure works, our engineering-led scanning approach gives you clarity, certainty and confidence.

🌾 Why Katherine Is a Unique Engineering Environment

Katherine stands apart due to several defining characteristics:

1. Gateway to Major Mining & Resource Regions

Operations in the Big Rivers region, remote NT mining projects, and transport corridors rely on accurate infrastructure planning and maintenance. Many sites require brownfield upgrades, alignment checks, structural assessments and digital documentation — all supported by LiDAR and 3D modelling.

2. Defence Presence and Strategic Infrastructure

RAAF Base Tindal and associated facilities create continual demand for compliant, precise, and well-documented engineering works. Laser scanning is vital for site upgrades, retrofits, and high-security facility documentation.

3. Flood-Prone and Geographically Complex Terrain

Katherine’s unique landscape — including floodplains, waterways, and uneven terrain — makes traditional surveying difficult and risky. 3D scanning captures real-world geometry safely and with millimetre accuracy.

4. Remote-Area Logistics, Agriculture & Transport Hubs

From agricultural processing to transport depots and maintenance facilities, Katherine relies on accurate digital design to minimise downtime and prevent costly construction errors.

These factors make digital engineering, LiDAR scanning, and precision drafting essential for successful project delivery.

📡 3D LiDAR Laser Scanning for Katherine Projects

Hamilton By Design uses engineering-grade 3D LiDAR scanners to capture complete as-built site data, delivering unmatched accuracy for planning, upgrades and fabrication.

Our scanning captures:

  • structural steel, platforms, walkways and frames
  • mechanical equipment layouts and tie-in points
  • pipework, tanks, conveyors, pumps and processing equipment
  • buildings, depots, workshops and remote facility layouts
  • terrain, drainage paths, access roads and outdoor assets

This level of detail dramatically reduces risk, improves communication between contractors, and enables precise design outcomes.

🔗 Learn more:
3D Laser Scanning

📐 3D CAD Modelling — Turning Scans Into Smart Engineering Models

Once scanned, our team converts the point cloud into intelligent CAD models that allow clients in Katherine to design, plan and fabricate with total confidence.

Our modelling supports:

  • mechanical systems (pumps, conveyors, screens, chutes)
  • structural frameworks, footings, platforms and access ways
  • equipment replacement studies and upgrade layouts
  • GA drawings, detailed fabrication drawings and isometrics
  • clash detection and layout optimisation before fabrication

🔗 See our modelling capability:
3D CAD Modelling

This digital foundation is especially valuable in remote NT locations where rework, delays and inaccurate measurements are costly.

🔧 Engineering & FEA Capability for Katherine’s Industries

Our mechanical and structural engineering services cover everything from feasibility assessments to detailed verification.

We offer:

  • structural integrity assessments
  • mechanical design for processing and handling systems
  • vibration, fatigue and load assessments
  • pressure vessel, piping and equipment support analysis
  • multi-body assemblies and operational load modelling

For advanced validation, our Finite Element Analysis (FEA) capabilities allow us to simulate stresses, heat transfer, vibration, buckling and more — ensuring the final design meets compliance, safety and performance standards.

🔗 Explore FEA capabilities:
FEA Capabilities

✏️ Drafting Services — Fabrication-Ready Documentation

Hamilton By Design produces clear, accurate engineering drawings that support fabrication, installation and QA requirements.

Our drafting services include:

  • fabrication drawings
  • structural detailing
  • mechanical layouts
  • piping isometrics
  • BOMs and material schedules
  • as-built drawing production from LiDAR scans

🔗 View our drafting services:
Drafting

This ensures Katherine workshops, fabricators and contractors can build efficiently and confidently — with no need for guesswork on site.

🚀 Why Hamilton By Design Is the Right Fit for Katherine

  • Engineer-led scanning, ensuring accuracy suitable for real engineering and fabrication
  • Fast mobilisation across the NT, Queensland and remote locations
  • Experience with mining, defence, industrial and infrastructure projects
  • A single-source workflow — scan → model → engineer → draft
  • Reduced rework, downtime and installation delays

Whether you’re maintaining infrastructure, upgrading equipment, or planning new facilities in Katherine, Hamilton By Design delivers clarity, precision and reliability at every stage.

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Engineering in Dubbo and 3D Scanning

3D Scanning in Dubbo

How Hamilton By Design Supports Regional NSW With 3D LiDAR Scanning, Engineering, 3D CAD Modelling & Drafting

Dubbo is one of regional NSW’s most important inland hubs — a crossroads for agriculture, transport, utilities, manufacturing, defence, construction, and regional infrastructure. Its strategic central location and industrial diversity make it a city that relies heavily on precision engineering, reliable documentation, and efficient project delivery.

As facilities expand, upgrade, or transition into modern digital workflows, Dubbo’s industries increasingly require accurate site data, engineering-grade modelling, and fabrication-ready drawings.
Hamilton By Design delivers exactly that.

We bring 3D LiDAR laser scanning, mechanical and structural engineering, 3D CAD modelling, and professional drafting directly to Dubbo’s industrial, agricultural and construction sectors — supporting clients who need certainty, accuracy, and efficient turnaround.

Why Dubbo Is Unique

What makes Dubbo stand out from other regional centres?

1. A major inland logistics & infrastructure hub
Dubbo sits at the intersection of key freight, rail and road corridors, supporting agriculture, mining supply lines, warehousing, utilities, and transport infrastructure.

2. Strong manufacturing and fabrication capability
Local workshops, steel fabricators, machinery builders, and transport-equipment manufacturers rely on accurate measurements and engineering documentation to minimise rework and site downtime.

3. Agriculture, water infrastructure & processing facilities
Irrigation systems, water treatment assets, processing facilities and agricultural mechanical plants demand precise alignment, structural integrity, and reliable as-built data.

4. Growing capital works & regional development
Government, utilities, councils, commercial builders and engineering firms increasingly require digital workflows — 3D models, scans, clash detection and accurate documentation.

This combination makes Dubbo an ideal match for engineering-led scanning and digital-first design.

3D LiDAR Laser Scanning in Dubbo

Accurate data is the foundation of every successful engineering project.
Hamilton By Design provides high-accuracy 3D LiDAR scanning that captures real-world geometry to millimetre-level precision — ideal for:

  • industrial plants & mechanical systems
  • agricultural processing equipment
  • structural steel, frames, conveyors & platforms
  • utilities, pumping stations & pipework
  • warehouses, sheds & fabrication workshops
  • site upgrades, retrofits and brownfield expansions

Our scans eliminate guesswork, reduce site time, and prevent costly fabrication errors.

Learn more about our scanning capabilities:
3D Laser Scanning

Turning Scans Into Intelligent Models — 3D CAD Modelling

Once Dubbo sites are scanned, Hamilton By Design converts point-cloud data into accurate 3D CAD models for engineering, fabrication and construction.

We provide:

  • detailed mechanical assemblies
  • structural steel modelling
  • equipment and plant layouts
  • GA drawings, isometrics and BOMs
  • clash detection and fit-up verification
  • digital twins for future asset management

This ensures fabricators, installers and engineers all work from the same accurate source of truth.

Explore this service:
3D CAD Modelling

Engineering Services for Dubbo’s Industrial Needs

From agricultural machinery to pumping stations, civil structures, metal fabrication and industrial facilities, Dubbo relies on strong mechanical and structural engineering.

Hamilton By Design provides:

  • mechanical design and equipment layout
  • structural design of platforms, frames, supports
  • integrity assessments of existing structures
  • modification and upgrade design for brownfield assets
  • shutdown-driven engineering and fit-up solutions
  • workflow and plant-efficiency improvements

We also offer advanced simulation and verification tools.

Engineering validation & simulation:
FEA Capabilities

Whether you’re fabricating a new platform, installing conveyors, adjusting equipment clearances or updating plant layouts — we ensure every design decision is backed by engineering certainty.

Drafting & Fabrication-Ready Documentation

Good engineering is only as strong as the drawings that support it.
Hamilton By Design produces highly detailed, fabrication-ready drafting packages including:

  • GA drawings
  • detail drawings
  • weldment documentation
  • pipework & isometric drawings
  • assemblies & exploded views
  • bill of materials (BOM)
  • issue-for-construction (IFC) documentation
  • as-built updates from LiDAR scans

Our drawings are accurate, clean, and ready for immediate hand-off to fabricators and installers.

Drafting services:
Drafting

End-to-End Workflow for Dubbo Projects

With Hamilton By Design, clients benefit from a seamless engineering pipeline:

  1. Scan — High-accuracy laser capture
  2. Model — 3D CAD conversion and layout
  3. Engineer — Structural & mechanical design
  4. Validate — Simulation, FEA, fit-checks
  5. Draft — Fabrication & construction documentation
  6. Deliver — A complete, integrated package

One provider. One workflow. One accountable source.

Hamilton By Design logo displayed on a blue tilted rectangle with a grey gradient background

Why Dubbo Chooses Hamilton By Design

  • Millimetre-accurate scanning reduces fabrication risk
  • Engineers who understand real-world brownfield constraints
  • Fast turnaround for shutdowns and critical upgrades
  • Experience across agriculture, water treatment, utilities, workshops & manufacturing
  • Clear communication, professional standards and end-to-end compliance

Dubbo’s industrial economy keeps NSW moving. Our job is to ensure your assets, upgrades and fabrication projects are delivered with precision.

Our Clients

Name
Would you like us to arrange a phone consultation for you?

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3D Scanning Engineering in Tamworth

3D Scanning in Tamworth

Tamworth is one of the most important inland cities in New South Wales — a defence hub, agricultural powerhouse, logistics gateway and regional manufacturing centre. As the city continues to grow its industrial capability and upgrade infrastructure across defence, agriculture, transport, civil works and fabrication sectors, the need for modern engineering tools has never been stronger.

Hamilton By Design supports Wagga Wagga with 3D LiDAR scanning, mechanical and structural engineering, 3D CAD modelling, FEA simulation, and fabrication-ready drafting, delivering a complete digital engineering workflow from first site scan through to final drawings.

Whether you’re upgrading a defence facility, redesigning an agricultural processing line, documenting a logistics depot, modernising a workshop or preparing a brownfield structure for retrofit — our engineering-led approach gives you the confidence to build accurately and efficiently.

This article outlines how 3D scanning and digital engineering transform project outcomes in the Riverina region.

Why Wagga Wagga Is a Prime Location for 3D Scanning & Engineering

1. Dual Defence Bases — RAAF Base Wagga + Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre

Wagga is one of the only regional cities in Australia hosting two major defence establishments. Defence projects in the city require high levels of precision, compliance, digital documentation and engineering accuracy — all supported by modern scanning and modelling tools.

2. Agricultural Powerhouse of the Riverina

Wagga supports one of the largest inland agricultural regions in the country. Facilities requiring regular upgrades include:

  • pump stations
  • irrigation systems
  • silos and grain-handling plants
  • processing equipment
  • machinery sheds
  • livestock and rural infrastructure

These sites often require accurate surveying, retrofit engineering and digital as-built documentation — tasks perfectly suited to LiDAR scanning.

3. A Logistics, Freight & Manufacturing Hub

At the junction of the Sturt Highway, Olympic Highway and major freight routes, Wagga Wagga serves as:

  • a key transport centre
  • a manufacturing and fabrication district
  • a support hub for mining, defence, agriculture and civil construction

Accurate models, digital scans and engineering documentation help streamline upgrades, expansions and fabrication work across these sectors.

4. The Murrumbidgee River — Civil & Hydrology Challenges

Riverside assets, bridges, levees, drainage systems and public structures require constant improvement. LiDAR scanning and digital modelling make civil engineering more predictable, safer, and easier to plan.

3D LiDAR Laser Scanning — The Foundation of Accurate Engineering

Hamilton By Design provides high-accuracy 3D LiDAR scanning for buildings, industrial facilities, workshops, civil structures and brownfield environments. We capture millions of precise data points per second, producing millimetre-accurate digital twins used for engineering, modelling and drafting.

Our scanning service covers:

  • mechanical equipment
  • structural steel, platforms, walkways
  • pipework and tanks
  • sheds, workshops, farm facilities
  • buildings (internal and external)
  • terrain and drainage
  • defence and civil infrastructure

Learn more about our capabilities:
3D Laser Scanning

Benefits of 3D Scanning for Wagga Wagga Projects

  • Accurate as-built documentation
  • Reduced shutdown times
  • Less rework during fabrication
  • Better coordination between contractors
  • Improved safety (minimal manual measurement)
  • Faster engineering and design turnaround
  • Reliable models for upgrades and retrofits

In a city with ageing structures, brownfield facilities and diverse industrial activity, digital scanning creates clarity where traditional measurement falls short.

3D CAD Modelling — Turning Scans into Intelligent Engineering Models

Once scanning is complete, Hamilton By Design transforms point-cloud data into detailed 3D CAD models, structural layouts and mechanical assemblies.

We model:

  • agricultural processing lines
  • pump systems and pipework
  • conveyors and mechanical equipment
  • structural frames, platforms and stairs
  • fabrication-ready steel structures
  • building layouts for redevelopment
  • defence facility upgrades

Our modelling supports precise engineering decision-making, alignment checks, clash detection and well-structured documentation.

Explore our modelling services:
3D CAD Modelling

FEA Analysis — Engineering Confidence for Complex Projects

Many Wagga Wagga projects involve load-bearing structures, moving equipment, mechanical stress, fatigue risks or compliance requirements. Hamilton By Design performs Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to validate the safety, performance and reliability of your designs.

We analyse:

  • structural frames
  • mechanical components
  • tanks, brackets and supports
  • agricultural machinery
  • access platforms and retrofits
  • equipment subjected to vibration, pressure or fatigue

This ensures every design is safe, compliant and ready for construction.

Learn more about our simulation capability:
FEA Capabilities

(If you’d like, I can correct the FEA URL if this is not the intended final link — just tell me.)

Drafting Services — Fabrication-Ready, Clear & Accurate

Wagga Wagga’s industrial and agricultural workshops depend on drawings that are:

  • clear
  • accurate
  • fabrication-ready
  • compliant
  • easily interpreted by boilermakers, contractors and site crews

Hamilton By Design provides:

  • general arrangement drawings
  • fabrication detail drawings
  • isometrics and BOMs
  • structural drafting
  • mechanical drafting
  • P&ID updates
  • revision control and QA documentation

View our drafting services here:
Drafting

All drafting is generated from verified scan data and validated engineering models, ensuring first-time fit-up and reduced fabrication risk.

Where Hamilton By Design Adds Value in Wagga Wagga

1. Defence Projects and Facility Upgrades

Perfect for:

  • as-built modelling
  • mechanical/structural modifications
  • digital site capture
  • designing safe access systems
  • maintaining compliance records

2. Agricultural Infrastructure & Processing Plants

Ideal for:

  • pump stations
  • grain conveyors
  • silos and storage systems
  • livestock handling systems
  • machinery retrofits

3. Fabrication & Manufacturing Workshops

Supporting:

  • structural steel
  • machine frames
  • industrial components
  • site installations
  • complex fit-ups

4. Civil & Council Infrastructure

Including:

  • bridges
  • footpaths
  • drainage networks
  • public buildings
  • river-adjacent assets

5. Commercial & Industrial Redevelopment

Great for:

  • internal building scans
  • renovation planning
  • layout optimisation
  • service routing

End-to-End Workflow — One Team, One Source of Accountability

Hamilton By Design ensures a smooth, unified digital engineering pipeline:

  1. 3D LiDAR Scan
  2. Point Cloud Registration & QA
  3. 3D CAD Modelling
  4. FEA Engineering Analysis
  5. Drafting & Fabrication Packages
  6. Digital QA & Final Documentation

No multi-contractor confusion.
No inconsistencies.
Just a clean, accurate workflow from measurement to construction.

Hamilton By Design logo displayed on a blue tilted rectangle with a grey gradient background

Wagga Wagga’s Future Is Digital — And Hamilton By Design Is Ready

With its growing defence, agricultural, logistics and manufacturing sectors, Wagga Wagga needs modern engineering methods to keep pace with development. Digital scanning, modelling, engineering analysis and drafting streamline the entire project lifecycle, reducing rework and increasing reliability.

Hamilton By Design delivers:

  • precision 3D scanning
  • engineering-grade modelling
  • validated FEA simulation
  • clear drafting
  • accurate, build-ready documentation
  • end-to-end project confidence

Whether your project is a shed, a defence facility, a processing plant, a workshop or a civil structure — we are ready to support it from concept through to fabrication.

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3D Scanning & Engineering in Wagga Wagga

3D Scanning Engineering in Wagga Wagga

Wagga Wagga is one of Australia’s most strategically important inland cities — a major defence hub, agricultural powerhouse, logistics centre and educational region supporting industries across the entire Riverina. As the largest inland city in NSW, Wagga continues to grow in population, infrastructure, industrial capability and economic relevance.

With this growth comes a rising demand for accuracy, efficiency and confidence in engineering design and upgrades. Whether it’s agricultural processing, defence infrastructure, civil works, industrial facilities, logistics depots or fabrication workshops, Wagga’s mix of new developments and brownfield environments requires precise digital data and robust engineering methods.

Hamilton By Design is proud to support the region with 3D LiDAR laser scanning, mechanical and structural engineering, 3D modelling and drafting — a unified, end-to-end digital engineering service designed to reduce risk, improve accuracy and streamline delivery for Wagga Wagga projects.

This article explores why Wagga is such a unique engineering landscape — and how modern 3D scanning and digital modelling are transforming how regional projects are measured, designed and executed.

Why Wagga Wagga Needs Modern 3D Scanning & Engineering

Wagga Wagga’s infrastructure and economy are shaped by its diverse activity across defence, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and civil development. This diversity creates a constant demand for accurate documentation, brownfield upgrades and precise spatial understanding.

1. Dual Defence Bases — RAAF + Army

Wagga is home to:

  • RAAF Base Wagga
  • Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre

This dual-defence identity means:

  • continuous construction and refurbishment
  • compliance-heavy engineering
  • complex facility upgrades
  • strict access and safety requirements

High-accuracy digital scanning reduces the risk of mismeasurement, clash issues and design delays across defence projects.

2. The Agricultural Heart of NSW

The Riverina is the state’s:

  • wheat capital
  • canola belt
  • lamb and beef centre
  • cotton and irrigation district
  • food-processing and logistics hub

Agricultural processing facilities, machinery sheds, silos, workshops, pumps, tanks and conveyors all benefit from precise digital as-built records.

3. A Logistics & Freight Crossroads

Wagga sits at major inland transport intersections:

  • Sturt Highway
  • Olympic Highway
  • North–South freight corridors
  • Inland Rail connectivity

3D scanning helps map freight depots, warehouses, storage yards, transport facilities and industrial estates with clarity.

4. A Strong Regional Manufacturing & Industrial Base

Wagga’s fabrication and engineering industries service:

  • agriculture
  • heavy vehicles
  • defence
  • civil works
  • utilities
  • regional contractors

Upgrades, fit-outs and brownfield modifications require accuracy — something traditional surveying often cannot deliver.

3D LiDAR Laser Scanning — The New Standard for Accurate Engineering in Wagga

In any environment where equipment, structures or terrain must be measured, documented or redesigned, accuracy is everything. This is especially true in brownfield environments — common across Wagga’s industrial sites, workshops, irrigation systems, defence facilities and civil infrastructure.

Hamilton By Design uses engineering-grade 3D LiDAR scanning to capture millions of measurement points per second, generating a verified, millimetre-accurate digital twin of your site.

Our scanning captures:

  • structural steel, platforms, walkways
  • pipes, tanks, pumps, conveyors
  • building interiors and exteriors
  • workshops and fabrication areas
  • terrain, drainage lines and civil structures
  • mechanical equipment layouts
  • heritage or older buildings requiring accurate as-built documentation

Learn more about our scanning capability here:
👉 3D Laser Scanning

Benefits of 3D Scanning for Wagga Wagga Clients

  • fewer site visits
  • reduced rework during fabrication and installation
  • faster, more accurate design and drafting
  • safer site capture (less manual measurement)
  • reliable as-built documentation for tenders and approvals
  • better coordination between contractors

For defence, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing or civil projects — the precision advantage is enormous.

From Scan Data to 3D Models — Smarter, Safer, More Reliable Design

Once scanning is complete, the point cloud is transformed into intelligent 3D models using our engineering-modelling workflow. This allows us to design, modify and upgrade with total spatial awareness.

We produce:

  • SolidWorks mechanical models
  • structural framing and platform models
  • building and facility layouts
  • conveyor and process-system geometry
  • pipework and tank layouts
  • access and maintenance design
  • clash detection and interference checks
  • fabrication-ready drawings and BOMs

This ensures every component fits the first time — a major benefit for rural and regional projects, where returning to site several times is costly.

Engineering Services Tailored to Wagga Wagga’s Industrial Landscape

Hamilton By Design provides mechanical and structural engineering services built around real, verified site conditions.

Mechanical Engineering

  • materials-handling systems
  • mechanical retrofits and upgrades
  • pump, tank and pipework design
  • equipment mounting and alignment
  • flow optimisation and plant layout analysis
  • fatigue and stress calculations

Structural Engineering

  • platforms, frames, beams and supports
  • structural integrity assessments
  • upgrades to older or load-limited structures
  • civil/terrain interface modelling
  • building refurbishment engineering
  • compliance documentation

All engineering is backed by digital scanning for accuracy and clarity.

Where We Add the Most Value in Wagga Wagga

1. Defence Infrastructure Upgrades

Perfect for high-precision modifications to facilities that require:

  • as-built modelling
  • structural assessments
  • digital documentation
  • layout redesign
  • fit-outs and replacements

2. Agricultural Processing & Irrigation Systems

Scanning and modelling support:

  • tank farms
  • grain-handling facilities
  • mechanical conveyors
  • irrigation pump stations
  • machinery sheds and workshops

3. Manufacturing & Fabrication Workshops

Local fabricators gain:

  • accurate steelwork dimensions
  • verified tie-in points
  • reduced fit-up errors
  • dependable drafting packages

4. Civil & Terrain Modelling

Useful for:

  • drainage
  • culverts
  • bridges
  • access roads
  • levees
  • earthworks planning

5. Commercial Building Upgrades

3D scanning helps deliver:

  • accurate internal layouts
  • HVAC and services routing
  • renovation-ready documentation
  • concept models for redevelopment

Our Complete Workflow — One Team, One Source of Accountability

Wagga clients often face challenges with multiple contractors handling scanning, modelling and engineering separately. Hamilton By Design unifies this into one seamless process:

  1. 3D LiDAR scanning
  2. Point cloud registration and precision review
  3. 3D modelling (mechanical, structural, architectural)
  4. Engineering design & analysis
  5. Fabrication-ready drafting
  6. Digital QA and documentation

This eliminates handover risks and ensures your project progresses smoothly from measurement to installation.

Hamilton By Design logo displayed on a blue tilted rectangle with a grey gradient background

Wagga Wagga Is Growing — And Digital Engineering Helps It Grow Smarter

With major defence activity, expanding industrial sectors, agricultural innovation, logistics infrastructure and civil development, Wagga Wagga’s future will rely heavily on accuracy, digital documentation and modern engineering methods.

Hamilton By Design is excited to support the region with:

  • precision 3D LiDAR scanning
  • mechanical & structural engineering
  • 3D modelling and drafting
  • documentation for tenders, fabrication and compliance
  • digital QA and long-term asset records

Whether your project involves a defence facility upgrade, an agricultural processing line, a logistics depot redesign, a civil structure, or a manufacturing fit-out — we provide the accuracy and engineering confidence you need.

Whether you’re planning a new coastal asset, redesigning a workshop, improving a facility or upgrading existing infrastructure, our team ensures accuracy, safety and efficiency every step of the way.

Our Clients

Name
Would you like us to arrange a phone consultation for you?
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3D Scanning for Gladstone

Gladstone’s Industrial Powerhouse: How 3D LiDAR Scanning, Engineering & Digital Modelling Are Transforming CQ Projects

Gladstone is unlike any other regional city in Australia. It is a true industrial powerhouse — home to the country’s largest multicommodity port, three LNG mega-plants, major alumina refineries, a huge aluminium smelter, power stations, chemical facilities, cement production and a constant cycle of shutdown and maintenance projects. If you work in engineering, fabrication, construction or heavy industry, Gladstone represents one of the most complex, interesting and opportunity-rich environments in the country.

At Hamilton By Design, we bring engineering-grade 3D LiDAR laser scanning, mechanical and structural engineering, 3D modelling and fabrication-ready drafting to support the precision required in this region. With so many brownfield assets, tight shutdown windows, high-risk environments and complex layouts, Gladstone’s industrial clients rely on accurate data and robust engineering to ensure safe, efficient and reliable project outcomes.

This article explores why Gladstone is such a unique engineering ecosystem — and how modern digital tools are improving plant upgrades, maintenance, fabrication, installation and long-term reliability.

Why Gladstone Is One of Australia’s Most Unique Engineering Environments

Gladstone’s industrial landscape is the result of decades of strategic investment and natural geographic advantages. No other regional city has this density of heavy processing facilities, export terminals and energy infrastructure in one place.

1. A Mega-Scale Industrial Port

The Port of Gladstone is Queensland’s largest multicommodity port, handling:

  • coal
  • LNG
  • alumina
  • aluminium
  • cement
  • bulk chemicals
  • mineral products
  • general and containerised freight

The port’s footprint includes conveyors, loading towers, wharf structures, pipelines, tanks, gantries and processing equipment — much of which requires ongoing scanning, modelling and engineering to maintain safe, efficient operations.

2. Three LNG Plants on Curtis Island

Gladstone is home to Australia’s only cluster of three major LNG export facilities, each containing:

  • pressure vessels
  • cryogenic tanks
  • kilometres of pipe racks
  • modularised process trains
  • large structural steel assemblies
  • jetties and marine loading arms

This creates unparalleled demand for digital engineering, scanning and verification.

3. A Complete Heavy-Industry Chain

Few cities have such an interconnected set of process plants:

  • Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL)
  • Rio Tinto Yarwun Alumina Refinery
  • Boyne Aluminium Smelter
  • NRG and other power facilities
  • Cement Australia

Each site requires constant:

  • shutdown planning
  • precise measurement
  • design modifications
  • structural integrity checks
  • digital as-builts
  • engineering documentation

This continuous workload makes Gladstone one of the biggest users of LiDAR scanning and mechanical/structural engineering in Australia.

4. The City Runs on Projects

Gladstone’s industrial sector operates year-round:

  • maintenance shutdowns
  • brownfield upgrades
  • fabrication campaigns
  • equipment replacements
  • process improvements

Accurate spatial data is not optional — it is essential for avoiding clashes, rework and costly delays.

3D LiDAR Laser Scanning — Reducing Risk in Gladstone’s Complex Industrial Plants

In a brownfield environment like Gladstone, complexity is the norm:

  • crowded pipe racks
  • confined spaces
  • undocumented modifications
  • ageing platforms and walkways
  • shifting alignment over time
  • corrosion and wear
  • intricate mechanical layouts

Traditional surveying simply cannot capture enough detail to support safe and efficient upgrades.

That’s why Hamilton By Design delivers engineering-grade 3D LiDAR scanning, capturing entire facilities with millimetre-level accuracy.

Our scanning provides high-resolution digital data for:

  • refineries
  • smelters
  • LNG plants
  • conveyors and materials handling
  • marine loading facilities
  • tanks and pressure systems
  • structural steel
  • civil and terrain modelling

The result is a precise, true-to-life digital environment used for design, clash detection, structural checks, fabrication planning and QA.

Learn more about our scanning capabilities here:
3D Laser Scanning

For Gladstone, LiDAR scanning means:

  • fewer shutdown delays
  • safer engineering access
  • accurate tie-in points
  • reduced rework during installation
  • better fabrication accuracy
  • confidence in brownfield modifications

In an environment where time = money, this technology is transformative.

3D Modelling & Drafting — Turning Complexity into Clarity

Once the scan data is captured, Hamilton By Design converts it into structured 3D CAD models and fabrication-ready drawings. This process is essential in Gladstone’s industrial context, where upgrades often occur inside densely packed areas with zero room for error.

We deliver:

  • SolidWorks models of equipment, structures and layouts
  • general arrangement (GA) drawings
  • detailed fabrication drawings
  • piping/isometric drawings
  • platform, handrail and structural packages
  • alignment and clearance analysis
  • digital QA documentation

For LNG, alumina, port and refinery clients, accurate 3D modelling prevents clashes, supports tender and fabrication packages, and provides a reliable digital reference long after the project is complete.

Mechanical & Structural Engineering for Gladstone’s Heavy Industry

Gladstone’s operating environment requires engineering that is:

  • robust
  • precise
  • compliant
  • optimised for reliability
  • grounded in real-world site conditions

Hamilton By Design provides mechanical and structural engineering for:

  • plant upgrades and retrofits
  • conveyor and materials handling systems
  • support structures, frames and platforms
  • tanks, piping and pressure systems
  • fatigue, stress and load assessments
  • access and maintenance design
  • lifting, mounting and replacement systems

Our engineer-led approach ensures all designs are supported by verified data from LiDAR scanning and validated using modern analysis tools.

Where We Add the Most Value in Gladstone

1. Refinery & Smelter Shutdown Engineering

Scanning + modelling reduces:

  • tie-in errors
  • mismatch in fabricated steel
  • shutdown overruns
  • safety risks

2. LNG Plant Modifications & Brownfield Upgrades

LiDAR gives accurate data for:

  • pipe rerouting
  • structural steel changes
  • equipment replacement
  • modular installation

3. Port Facilities & Marine Loading Infrastructure

We support:

  • conveyor structures
  • wharf upgrades
  • loadout systems
  • marine walkways and assets

4. Fabrication & Workshop Support

Local fabricators benefit from:

  • accurate shop drawings
  • digital QA
  • validated steel cutting
  • correct fit-up on first installation

5. Civil & Terrain Modelling

For foundations, tank pads, laydown areas and access roads.

End-to-End Accountability: Scan → Model → Engineer → Draft → Deliver

Gladstone’s project environment involves many contractors — which can lead to miscommunication. Hamilton By Design solves this with a unified workflow:

  1. 3D LiDAR Scan
  2. Point Cloud Registration
  3. 3D CAD Modelling
  4. Mechanical & Structural Engineering
  5. Fabrication-Ready Drafting
  6. Digital QA & Documentation

One team. One process. One accountable source.
Minimal rework. Maximum clarity.

Hamilton By Design logo displayed on a blue tilted rectangle with a grey gradient background

Gladstone’s Future Is Heavy Industry + Digital Precision — And We’re Ready

With rising LNG activity, alumina growth, port expansions, hydrogen projects and ongoing shutdowns, Gladstone is entering a new era of industrial development. Accurate data, digital modelling and strong engineering discipline are no longer optional — they are core to safe, efficient and cost-effective project delivery.

Hamilton By Design is here to support Gladstone with:

  • precision 3D LiDAR scanning
  • mechanical & structural engineering
  • 3D modelling and CAD drafting
  • digital project documentation
  • fabrication-ready deliverables

Whether you’re planning a shutdown, designing a new structure, upgrading existing systems or documenting a complex brownfield environment, we help you build with confidence.

Our Clients

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