3D Scanning in Whyalla
Whyalla is one of South Australia’s most engineering-driven regional cities. Built around steelmaking, port infrastructure, and heavy industry, it is a place where engineering is practical, site-focused, and shaped by decades of brownfield assets, modifications, and operational realities.
For engineers working in Whyalla, accuracy matters. Many assets have been upgraded, repaired, or adapted multiple times over their life, often with incomplete or outdated drawings. This is where engineering-led 3D LiDAR scanning and digital modelling become essential tools — not just nice-to-have technology.
Hamilton By Design supports Whyalla’s industrial, mining, port, and infrastructure sectors with 3D laser scanning, mechanical engineering, 3D modelling, FEA, and drafting, delivering data and designs that work in the real world.
Engineering Challenges Unique to Whyalla
Engineering in Whyalla is rarely greenfield. Most projects involve:
- Existing steel structures and mechanical plant
- Live operating environments
- Marine corrosion and harsh conditions
- Tight shutdown windows
- Limited tolerance for rework
Successful projects depend on accurate as-built information, practical engineering judgement, and designs that can be fabricated and installed locally.
Hamilton By Design brings these elements together in a single workflow.
3D Laser Scanning for Whyalla Projects
High-accuracy 3D LiDAR laser scanning forms the foundation of our work in Whyalla.
Using engineering-grade scanners, we capture true as-built conditions of:
- Steelworks and heavy industrial plant
- Conveyors, chutes, and mechanical equipment
- Port structures, wharves, and ship-loader interfaces
- Buildings, platforms, and access structures
Unlike traditional surveys, 3D scanning records real geometry, including misalignment, deflection, corrosion loss, and historic modifications.
This data is used to:
- Eliminate site rework
- Reduce shutdown risk
- Validate fit-ups before fabrication
- Support safe and efficient upgrades
Learn more about our approach to
3D Laser Scanning
3D Modelling Built from Real As-Built Data
Once scanning is complete, the point cloud becomes the basis for accurate 3D CAD models.
Hamilton By Design produces SolidWorks-based models that reflect what is actually on site — not what old drawings suggest should be there.
Our 3D modelling services support:
- Brownfield mechanical upgrades
- Structural modifications
- Clash detection and spatial checks
- Fabrication-ready designs
- Asset documentation and digital twins
For Whyalla projects, this approach significantly reduces risk, especially where legacy assets and tight clearances are involved.
Explore our modelling capability here:
3D CAD Modelling
FEA for Heavy Industry and Steel Assets
Whyalla engineering often involves ageing assets that must continue operating safely under modern standards. This is where Finite Element Analysis (FEA) plays a critical role.
Hamilton By Design uses FEA to assess:
- Structural capacity of existing steelwork
- Fatigue and stress concentrations
- Load changes from modifications or upgrades
- Deflection, buckling, and thermal effects
FEA allows informed decisions about:
- Strengthening versus replacement
- Extending asset life
- Verifying compliance with current requirements
All analysis is grounded in real as-built geometry, improving confidence in results and recommendations.
Learn more about our analysis services:
FEA Capabilities
Engineering Drafting That Supports Construction
Clear, accurate documentation is critical for fabrication and installation in Whyalla’s industrial environment.
Hamilton By Design delivers engineering-ready drafting, including:
- General arrangement drawings
- Fabrication and workshop drawings
- Installation and modification layouts
- As-built documentation
Drafting is produced directly from scanned data and validated 3D models, ensuring drawings align with site reality.
View our drafting services here:
Drafting Services

Why Hamilton By Design in Whyalla?
What sets Hamilton By Design apart is engineer-led scanning and modelling. We don’t treat scanning as a standalone survey — it is integrated directly into engineering, analysis, and drafting workflows.
For Whyalla clients, this means:
- Fewer assumptions
- Less rework
- Better shutdown outcomes
- Designs that fit and function first time
From steelworks and port infrastructure to industrial plant and buildings, Hamilton By Design supports Whyalla projects with practical, accurate, and construction-focused digital engineering.
If you’re planning an upgrade, modification, or assessment in Whyalla, we’re ready to help — starting with the right data and carrying it through to fabrication-ready outcomes.
























