Advanced iGUIDE Capture Techniques – iGUIDE Help Center

Overview

Advanced iGUIDE capture techniques cover the additional scanning requirements for iGUIDE add-ons, including DWG Floor Plans, Reflected Ceiling Plans, Exterior Elevations, Roof Plans, and 3D Models.

These add-ons require specific scan types and capture methods beyond the standard iGUIDE capture. Before you begin capturing, confirm which deliverable or add-on is required and review its capture requirements.

Add-on Capture Requirements

Quick Reference: Use the chart above to quickly identify which scan types are required for each add-on. Review the detailed sections below for specific scan locations and capture instructions.

Before You Capture

1. Confirm the Required Package and Add-ons

First, confirm which iGUIDE package and add-ons are required for the project.

The DWG Floor Plan can be ordered on top of the iGUIDE Standard base package but the DWG file will be excluding the Fixtures.

All other add-ons covered in this article require the iGUIDE Premium base package. These include:

Reflected Ceiling Plan
Exterior Elevations
Roof Plan
3D Model

2. Review the Deliverable Sample

Before capturing, review the sample for each requested deliverable or add-on.

The samples help you understand what the final deliverable looks like and why the additional scans are required.

3. Review the Capture Requirements

Once you have confirmed the requested add-ons, review the capture requirements in this article.

Use the Capture Requirements at a Glance table to identify which types of scans are required.

4. Plan Your Scan Route

Plan your route before beginning the capture.

Your route should account for the specific add-ons being requested and the additional horizontal, vertical, exterior, or rooftop scans they require.

5. Capture and Review Your Data

Capture all required scans before leaving the property.

Before uploading your data and creating the order, review the capture to confirm that the required scans and coverage have been completed.

Horizontal Scanning

Use horizontal scans to capture standard interior and exterior areas.

When exterior and interior scans are captured please capture interior scans first to allow the camera to align and calibrate the data.

Interior Scan Guidelines

Entrances/exits: Capture 2 scans, approximately 3 ft (1 m) apart, with one on each side where possible.
Room entrances/doorways: Capture 2 scans, one on each side where possible, approximately 3 ft (1 m) away.
Windows: Capture 1 centered scan, approximately 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) away, ensuring the window is fully visible.
Rooms: Capture 2 scans from roughly opposite sides of the room. In larger rooms, add scans approximately every 10 ft (3 m) in a grid pattern.
Staircases: Capture 1 scan at the top and 1 scan at the bottom.
Mechanical/utility items: Capture 1–2 scans approximately 5 ft (1.5 m) away.

Watch the video below for an overview of recommended interior horizontal scanning techniques.

Exterior Scan Guidelines

Where exterior scans are required:

Complete a loop around the building.
Capture exterior scans approximately every 10–20 ft (3–6 m), as required for the deliverable.
Capture a scan at every building corner, approximately 5 ft (1.5 m) from the corner.
Capture a centered scan at each exterior window, approximately 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) from the building face.
Capture 1–2 scans of each exterior mechanical or utility item.

Complete Horizontal Coverage Example

Example: Recommended scan positions for complete property coverage.

Vertical Scanning

Vertical scans are optional for some deliverables and required or recommended for others.

Vertical Scan Guidelines

When vertical scans are required or recommended:

Position the camera at a 90° angle, creating an L-shape between the camera and tripod.
Use a ball-head tripod.
Capture 2 vertical scans per room, where required.
Capture an additional vertical scan at the highest point of the room.
If a room has multiple high points, capture an additional scan below each high point.
Create a new floor for each set of vertical scans.
Hide or disable vertical scans in the project before submission.

Watch the video below for recommended camera positioning and vertical scanning techniques.

Vertical Scanning of Staircases

Where vertical stair scans are required:

Capture 1 vertical scan at the top of the staircase.
Capture 1 vertical scan at the bottom of the staircase.
Capture vertical scans at stair landings as described in the applicable deliverable requirements.

Watch the video below for recommended vertical scanning techniques for staircases.

Vertical Scanning of Exteriors

Exterior vertical scans may be required or recommended for Exterior Elevations and 3D Model add-ons.

Watch the video below for recommended exterior vertical scanning techniques.

Complete Vertical Coverage Example

Example: Recommended scan positions for complete property coverage.

Floor Plan (DWG) Scanning Requirements

The DWG floor plan add-on does not require any special capture beyond a normal (horizontal) interior capture.

Reflected Ceiling Plans Scanning Requirements

A Reflected Ceiling Plan requires the normal (horizontal) interior capture as well as vertical interior scans for accuracy.

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

An Exterior Elevation order requires interior and exterior horizontal scans, as well as interior and exterior vertical scans.

Before capturing, review the exterior elevation sample to understand the expected final deliverable.

Important: Due to technical limitations, elevation drawings are typically limited to a maximum height of two storeys.

Interior Horizontal Scans

Capture the complete interior using the standard horizontal scanning requirements.

Exterior Horizontal Scans

Complete a loop around the building, making sure to:

Capture 1 exterior scan every 10–20 ft (3–6 m), approximately 5 ft (1.5 m) away from the building face.
Capture 1 exterior scan at every building corner, approximately 5 ft (1.5 m) away from the building corner.
Capture 1 exterior scan centered on each window, approximately 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) away from the building face.

Where possible, capture 3 scans on each building face in a straight line at approximately 90° to the building exterior:

10 ft (3 m) from the building
20 ft (6 m) from the building
30 ft (9 m) from the building

Vertical Scan Sequence

Interior and exterior vertical scans are required for Exterior Elevations. These scans should be captured as one continuous sequence through the property.

Start at the exterior front of the building, then:

Capture the required exterior vertical scans at the front of the building.
Enter the building and continue capturing the required interior vertical scans.
Continue through the interior in a straight line, following the numbered scan points shown in the diagram.
Capture the required vertical scans at the rear of the property.
Exit through the rear door and complete the required exterior vertical scans.

Watch the video below for recommended camera positioning and techniques for capturing the interior and exterior vertical scans required for Exterior Elevations.

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

The 3D Model add-on requires:

Normal interior scans
Exterior scans
Vertical scans
Rooftop scans for flat roofs

Interior and Exterior Scans

Follow the standard horizontal interior and exterior scanning requirements.

Vertical Scans

Capture the required interior and exterior vertical scans.

For interior spaces:

Capture 2 vertical scans per room, where possible.
Capture 1 additional scan at the highest point.
Capture additional scans below multiple ceiling peaks or high points.

Rooftop Scans

For flat roofs:

Capture horizontal rooftop scans at each access point.

For pitched roofs:

Exterior scans are required instead of rooftop horizontal scans.

Irregular Structures (Boats, Planes, RVs)

iGUIDE Operators may be asked to capture non-standard structures such as:

Ships
Yachts
Sailboats
Fishing boats
Aeroplanes
Private jets
Trains
RVs

These projects are possible, but they have important limitations that operators should understand and communicate to clients before accepting the job.

Important: iGUIDE measurements for irregular structures are not RMS-compliant and cannot be relied upon to the same degree as measurements for conventional buildings.

Reliability and Measurement Standards

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.

This standard does not cover irregular structures. As a result, measurements for vehicles, vessels, and other non-standard structures may not have the same level of reliability as measurements for regular buildings.

The PLANIX and PLANIX R1 camera systems are technically capable of capturing these spaces, but the drafting standard does not account for every structure type.

What Can Be Captured

iGUIDE does not refuse specific structure types outright—past deliveries include ships, yachts, sail and fishing boats, aeroplanes, and private jets.
The Drafting Team will accommodate most requests if the submitted data is properly aligned and of sufficient quantity and quality.
The team reserves the right to refuse submissions that lack the data needed to produce a functional iGUIDE.
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

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.
Environmental conditions can make these principles harder to achieve—for example, high wind speeds can disrupt scanning a docked boat.
Tight or cluttered spaces (such as a ship's engine room) may make it difficult to keep laser scanner height clear of obstructions.
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.
The height at which you scan will have a noticeable effect on the resulting floor plan, so plan camera placement carefully.

Delivery Expectations

Deliverables for irregular structures look the same as those for regular buildings, but turnaround time may vary.
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.
Expected delivery ranges from same-day or next-day to several days, depending on size and complexity.

Best Practices for Operators

Set client expectations before beginning the project.
Explain that iGUIDEs for irregular structures are not RMS-compliant.
Explain that measurements may be less reliable than those for conventional buildings.
Prioritize data quality and complete coverage.
Keep the camera level.
Provide good lighting.
Minimize obstructions.
Make sure the data is properly aligned before submission.

Examples:

Before Creating Your Order

Before uploading your data and creating the iGUIDE order:

Confirm the client's requested deliverables.
Review the capture requirements for each requested deliverable.
Plan your scan route.
Confirm all required areas have been captured.
Confirm required horizontal, vertical, exterior, and rooftop scans have been captured.
Review your data for complete coverage and alignment.
Upload the data and create the iGUIDE order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need vertical scans for every room?
A: No. Vertical scans depend on the deliverables being requested. They are required or recommended for certain deliverables, such as 3D Models, Reflected Ceiling Plans, and Exterior Elevations. Review the requirements for the specific deliverable before capturing.

Q: Do I need exterior scans for a Floor Plan (DWG)?
A: No. Exterior scans are not required for a Floor Plan (DWG).

Q: Do I need exterior scans for a Reflected Ceiling Plan?
A: No. A normal interior capture is sufficient. Exterior scans are not necessary.

Q: What should I do with vertical scans before submission?
A: Create a new floor for each set of vertical scans before scanning. Hide or disable vertical scans in the project before submission.

Q: Can I create an iGUIDE for a yacht, plane, RV, or other irregular structure?
A: Yes. However, these structures are not covered by the RMS, and measurements may not be as reliable as those for conventional buildings.