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Advanced iGUIDE Capture Techniques

Updated

Overview

Advanced iGUIDE capture techniques help operators produce accurate floor plans, ceiling plans, and virtual tours using the PLANIX camera system. They cover everything from standard residential scans to large commercial spaces and irregular structures like boats and planes.

These protocols ensure that every scan delivers reliable measurements and complete coverage, giving drafters the data they need to create high-quality, standards-compliant iGUIDE deliverables. 

In This Article

Horizontal & Vertical Scanning 

Horizontal Scan Guidelines

  • Entrances/exits and doorways: 2 scans, 3 ft apart
  • Windows: 1 centered scan, 5–10 ft away
  • Rooms: 2 scans on opposite sides; every 10 ft in large rooms
  • Staircases: 1 scan at top and bottom
  • Exterior: every 10–20 ft, plus corners, windows, and utilities

Vertical scan guidelines (optional, recommended for Exterior Elevations and 3D Model add-ons)

  • Position the camera at a 90° (L-shape) angle on a ball-head tripod
  • Take 2 scans per room plus 1 at the highest point
  • Hide or disable vertical scans in the project before submission.

Vertical Scanning of Staircases

Vertical Scan Example

 

 

Vertical Scans of the Exterior

 

Floor Plan (DWG) Scanning Requirements

The DWG floor plan does not have any specific capture requirements; just a normal capture of interior scans would be needed. Exterior scans are not needed for either the Floor Plan (DWG) or the Reflected Ceiling Plan, but are optional. Below are some tips to keep in mind. 

Two scans at all building entrances/exits, once at each side, interior and exterior, 3 ft (1 m) away.

Two scans at all room entrances/doorways, once at each side (if/where possible), 3 ft (1 m) away.

One scan centered on each window, 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) away, ensuring each frame is fully visible.

Two scans in each room (if/where possible) from roughly opposite sides of the room, and once again every 10 ft (3 m) for larger rooms in a grid pattern.

One scan each at the top and bottom of each staircase.

One to two scans at each mechanical/utility item, 5 ft (1.5 m) away.

One exterior scan every 10-20 ft (3-6 m), 5 ft (1.5 m) away from the building face.

One exterior scan at every building corner, 5 ft (1.5 m) away from the building corner.

One exterior scan centered on each window, 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) away from the building face.

One to two exterior scans of each exterior mechanical/utility item.

Example of a Complete Coverage Scan

 

Reflected Ceiling Plans Scanning Requirements 

Normal interior scans of the property would be needed for this add-on. For more information, please refer to the Floor Plan (DWG) Scanning Requirements.

Optionally, please take a look at the recommended scanning methods for the Reflected Ceiling Plans below:

Two scans in each room (if/where possible) from roughly opposite sides of the room, and once again every 10 ft (3 m) for larger rooms in a grid pattern.

One vertical scan centered* below the highest point in each room (if/where possible). If multiple, take additional scans below each ceiling peak.

Exterior Elevations Scanning Requirements

Regular interior scans would be required for this add-on. Additionally, exterior scans of the property are also needed. Interior vertical scans are optional but recommended to increase accuracy. Below are some recommendations when taking scans: 

Important Note: Due to technical limitations, elevation drawings are typically limited to a maximum height of two storeys. Standard capture requirements still apply—for example, complete a loop around the building and capture 2 to 3 images in a straight line at 10-foot intervals on each face of the structure.

Three scans (if/where possible), captured in a straight line at a 90° angle from the building exterior, roughly centered on each side of the building: One each at 10 ft (3 m), 20 ft (6 m), and 30 ft (9 m).

One vertical scan centered* below the highest point in each room (if/where possible). If multiple high points, take additional scans below each ceiling peak.

One vertical scan at both the top and bottom of each staircase, centered* on the stair tread. Two additional scans at each stair landing: one at stairs up, one at stairs down

One vertical scan centered on each main entry and exit door and again at each remaining side of the building, 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) away from the building face.

One additional vertical scan for each change in eave height, 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) away from the building face. For gable roof ends, scan as close to the center as possible.

Horizontal and Vertical Scan Coverage Examples

Roof Plans Scanning Requirements

Note: The below applies only to flat roofs. Lower or remove the camera system from the tripod where necessary.

Horizontal scans of the rooftop would be needed for this add-on. Ensure to scan at each access point. This is the only requirement for flat roofs.
 
For pitched roofs, exterior scans would be needed to complete the add-on. 

3D Model Scanning Requirements

Scans that are required for the 3D model add-on are: 

Normal Interior and Exterior scans

Rooftop scans (for flat roofs)

Horizontal scans of the rooftop would be needed for this add-on. Ensure to scan at each access point. This is the only requirement for flat roofs.
 
For pitched roofs, exterior scans would be needed to complete the add-on

Interior and Exterior Vertical Scans

Capture Checklist- Downloadable Quick Reference

For quick reference on-site, download the Advanced Capture Checklist PDF here.

Special Capture Scenarios 

  1. Attached garages: capture on the connecting floor
  2. Detached garages: capture as a new floor
  3. Stair landings: assign to the closest floor (or either side if equidistant)

Capturing Large Spaces  

  1. Plan a route using a zigzag or perimeter pattern
  2. Maintain consistent camera orientation at each scan
  3. Divide large areas into multiple floors and merge them in Stitch

Line of Sight & Measuring Walls

  1. Keep unobstructed views and overlapping laser data between scans
  2. Add extra panos to improve viewer navigation hotspots

 

Measuring Exterior Walls 

  1. Measure from exterior cladding to interior wall
  2. Exclude trim or decorative elements
  3. Follow standards:
    • ANSI Z765: Interior to exterior wall surface
    • RECA RMS 2024: Interior to foundation (excluding vinyl, etc.)

Please note the Exterior Wall Thickness information is between minutes 1:07 and 1:54

Irregular Structures (Boats, Planes, RVs) 

iGUIDE Operators are sometimes asked to capture vehicles and other non-standard structures such as ships, yachts, sail and fishing boats, aeroplanes, private jets, trains, and RVs. These projects are possible, but they come with important limitations that operators should understand and communicate to clients before accepting the job.

Reliability and Measurement Standards

  1. The iGUIDE Drafting Standard follows the Alberta Residential Measurement Standard (RMS), which is based on ANSI Z765-2013 and extended to multi-family residential buildings.
  2. This standard does not cover irregular structures, so measurements delivered for vehicles or vessels cannot be relied upon to the same degree as those for regular buildings.
  3. The PLANIX and PLANIX R1 camera systems are technically capable of capturing these spaces, but the drafting standard itself does not yet account for every structure type.

What Can Be Captured

  1. iGUIDE does not refuse specific structure types outright—past deliveries include ships, yachts, sail and fishing boats, aeroplanes, and private jets.
  2. The Drafting Team will accommodate most requests if the submitted data is properly aligned and of sufficient quantity and quality.
  3. The team reserves the right to refuse submissions that lack the data needed to produce a functional iGUIDE.
  4. As a rule of thumb, larger and more complex vehicles require significantly more data, which also increases the risk of insufficient or misaligned scans.

On-Site Capture Considerations

  1. The same general scanning principles apply: sufficient lighting, full area coverage, a level camera, minimal obstructions at laser scanner height, and aligned data before submission.
  2. Environmental conditions can make these principles harder to achieve—for example, high wind speeds can disrupt scanning a docked boat.
  3. Tight or cluttered spaces (such as a ship's engine room) may make it difficult to keep laser scanner height clear of obstructions.
  4. Interior walls of boats and planes are often curved to match the exterior; whenever possible, scan straight wall sections at the maximum width of the space.
  5. The height at which you scan will have a noticeable effect on the resulting floor plan, so plan camera placement carefully.

Delivery Expectations

  1. Deliverables for irregular structures look the same as those for regular buildings, but turnaround time may vary.
  2. Standard projects are processed based on billable square footage (properties near or above 10,000 sq ft can take multiple days), but irregular structures fall outside this rule due to their unusual shapes.
  3. Expected delivery ranges from same-day or next-day to several days, depending on size and complexity.

Best Practices for Operators

  1. Set client expectations early: iGUIDEs are possible, but not RMS-compliant for irregular structures.
  2. Prioritize data quality—poor or insufficient data may be rejected by the Drafting Team.
  3. Apply standard best practices: keep the camera level, ensure full coverage, and provide good lighting.
  4. Clearly explain measurement and reliability limitations to clients before starting the project.

Examples: 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need vertical scans for every room?
A: Only if the 3D Model, or ceiling plans are required. 

Q: Can I create an iGUIDE for a yacht or plane?
A: Yes, but measurements may not be reliable.

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