High-definition 3D surveys to analyse, model and transform architecture
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We support architectural firms with high-definition 3D surveys, essential for understanding, analyzing, and transforming built spaces.
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We document the existing conditions with accurate and comprehensive data, ready to be integrated into design workflows or used as a geometric foundation for BIM.
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We employ advanced technologies—laser scanning, photogrammetry, drones—to capture every geometric and material detail, even in complex or protected contexts.
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Each survey is designed according to the architect’s intended use: restoration, redevelopment, expansion, or new design.
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We also provide 3D visualizations, sections, orthophotos, and georeferenced point clouds to support every decision-making phase.
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With Ad Hoc 3D Solutions, surveying is not just measurement: it is spatial knowledge at the service of architecture.
Tailor-made solutions for real needs: each project, one approach Ad Hoc.
Multitemporal 3D survey for structural monitoring of the Liberty-style grand staircase
We carried out a multi-temporal 3D survey of the main staircase of the Municipal Casino in San Pellegrino Terme and the rooms below, with the aim of monitoring the stability over time of one of the most...
Comprehensive 3D survey supporting the redevelopment project of the Olivetti complex
We carried out a complete 3D survey of the ICO workshops in Ivrea, in support of the redevelopment and transformation project of the historic Olivetti buildings, coordinated by the CZA architectural firm –...
Find answers to common questions
The real question is: what precision do you need?
Accuracy, scale, resolution and level of detail of the survey are always defined together with the customer, depending on the specific objectives.
A survey can be used for very different activities - documentation, design, monitoring, structural analysis, securing - and each of these requires different requirements for detail and accuracy.
Clearly establishing the needs for scale and accuracy is a fundamental step already in the design phase of the survey. Only in this way can we ensure that the data collected are truly functional for their final use.
In the reference system best suited to your needs.
We can provide data in local, absolute, national map, linear or orthometric systems, depending on the intended use.
The choice of reference system is a fundamental aspect, often underestimated but decisive, especially when: one has to integrate data from different sources or techniques, one is doing monitoring, one is working over very large areas or long infrastructures, one is interacting with national or international mapping systems.
The correct handling of geodetic issues has always been an integral and fundamental part of our working method.
Always remember that the Earth is not flat - nor is it perfectly spherical - and that tectonic movements and local deformations can influence measurements.
Ensuring consistency, precision and geodetic rigour has been one of our main strengths for years, even and especially when the importance of these aspects is not immediately apparent.
We can provide: 3D surface models, point clouds, orthophotos in colour or black and white, plans, elevations and CAD sections. The output is designed together with you, optimised for the actual needs of your project. Based on your objective, we study and realise the most suitable end product: that is our speciality.
- Comparison of different measurements over time? 3D surface models + map of deviations.
- Architectural redevelopment project? Floor plans, elevations and vector sections in CAD.
- Mapping the state of decay of a vault or curved surface? Cylindrical or conical or elliptical orthophotos with very high resolution.
- Production of VFX special effects or digital simulations? 3D surface model + Depth Map.
Our goal is to provide you with ready-to-use data, optimised for your needs, saving you time and resources.
The point cloud is a complex file that is also rich in information. It is a collection of millions of points in space, not connected to each other, defined only by their 3D coordinates. The file is often large and requires appropriate tools to be visualised and used correctly. From a point cloud it is possible to derive: Sections, Measurements of individual points, Distances, Areas, Angles, Planes.
To make the job easier, we provide our Ad Hoc visualiser, based on an in-house developed graphics engine, specially designed to handle large point clouds and 3D models, even using standard performance PCs, without the need for expensive workstations.
In this way, you can exploit the full potential of the acquired data, easily and effectively.
Yes, this is possible. When surveying vegetation-covered areas - such as a rocky slope - the aim is often to analyse the underlying terrain, e.g. for geological or geotechnical studies. If care is taken during the acquisition to detect the terrain at least partially (e.g. by using camera angles and a mix of specific techniques), we can classify and separate the vegetation from the soil data.
In this way we can exclude vegetation from contour line generation,
performing correct geotechnical analyses such as automatic extraction of structural planes (dip-dir), calculating fracture parameters, deriving geomechanical and stability models, etc.
It is possible to obtain both 3D models and orthophotos with or without vegetation, depending on the specific needs of the project.
In addition, in the case of tall vegetation, it is possible to derive the slope, height and average thickness of trunks from the point clouds classified.
Yes, we have extensive experience in multi-temporal monitoring of different types of objects and infrastructures: statues, ship bulbs, rock faces, tunnel vaults, historical and modern buildings.
We compare 3D surfaces acquired at different survey epochs or against design surfaces, generating as output both aerial maps of deviation (colour maps) quantifying spatial variations, and comparison sections on specific planes to highlight point and localised deformations.
In all multi-temporal monitoring projects, we pay the utmost attention to the rigorous definition of the reference system common to all survey epochs, the control of the accuracies and precisions of each acquisition, and the validation of metric consistency between different datasets. These aspects are fundamental to guarantee the quality and reliability of comparative analyses.
Yes, we produce 3D models “ready to BIM”, i.e. optimised for integration within BIM platforms (Revit, Archicad, etc.).
Our models, derived from high-precision surveys, are designed to facilitate and transition from surveyed data to parametric modelling, quickly and efficiently.
Yes, when it is necessary to accurately depict non-planar surfaces, we can perform orthoprojections on complex reference surfaces: cylindrical, conical, elliptical, spherical or other geometric.
This technique allows high-precision orthophotos to be obtained even for geometries that cannot be developed in plan, while maintaining metric accuracy and photogrammetric quality.
Some typical application cases are: Cylindrical orthophoto for the interior of a tunnel vault or reservoir; Elliptical orthophoto for railway tunnels with a non-circular cross-section; Conical orthophoto for architectural elements such as capitals or carved columns; Hemispherical orthophoto for domes or hemispherical vaults.
The choice of the reference surface and the correct orthoprojection algorithm guarantee the geometric and photometric accuracy of the final product.
We do not deal directly with 3D printing, but have been collaborating for years on a permanent basis with several specialised laboratories, which use various additive technologies (FDM, SLA, SLS, etc.) and materials (resins, polymers, metals, stones and ceramics).
Our role is to provide 3D models optimised for printing, generating closed watertight meshes with the level of detail required by the project.
We produce files in standard formats (such as STL or OBJ) suitable for managing slicing processes and calibrating print parameters.
Over the years we have made high-precision replicas for museums and cultural institutions, including: Statues for the Egyptian Museum in Turin and Palazzo Madama in Turin, Romanesque capitals of the Collegiate Church of Sant'Orso in Aosta and Neolithic anthropomorphic stelae from the Saint-Martin-de-Corléans site in Aosta and the Petit-Chasseur site in Sion.
Yes, we have consolidated experience in mobile mapping since 2013, when we designed and implemented a customised system on a railway trolley for the 3D survey (laser scanner + photogrammetry) of 25 km of tunnels in the Buenos Aires metro.
Since then we have conducted numerous mobile surveys, both in confined environments such as tunnels and outdoors, using both proprietary platforms developed by us to integrate different sensors (laser scanners, cameras, GNSS/IMU) and commercial systems (Leica Pegasus, Trimble MX, Riegl VMX, etc.).
Our added value is not limited to the acquisition phase: we rigorously take care of the entire data processing pipeline, from the recording and filtering of raw data to the optimisation of the final outputs (point clouds, orthophotos, cylindrical orthophotos, cross and longitudinal sections, etc.).
We handle very high volumes of data and structure datasets to make them immediately analysable and compatible with design, monitoring or inspection software.
If you have already acquired mobile data (e.g. in a gallery) and need support in processing and enhancing the dataset, [here you will find our dedicated mobile mapping processing service].
Yes, it is possible to enrich a 3D model by integrating different types of data: geophysical (e.g. GPR sections or tomographies), interferometric, X-ray (RX, CT), or dynamic (e.g. rockfall trajectories, sensors, time series).
Our proprietary 3D visualiser allows you to superimpose and integrate sections, images, shapes, volumes and vectors within the 3D model; to simultaneously visualise the external envelope and internal structures reconstructed from diagnostics (e.g. CT or X-ray scans of statues, archaeological artefacts or mummies); to integrate temporal or kinematic data (e.g. interferometric sequences, radar-detected movements, dynamic trajectories, multi-temporal datasets).
This integration transforms the 3D model into an advanced analytical platform, where the interaction between morphological and diagnostic information allows for more complete, correlated and scientifically robust analyses.
Absolutely. Our 3D models and orthophotos (with or without vegetation) are compatible with the structural and geotechnical analysis of slopes and rock faces (or tunnel fronts). Within our proprietary Ad Hoc 3D platform, the Ad Hoc Geotechnics module allows you to perform the following operations:
- Automatic classification of 3D model surfaces according to orientation (dip and dip direction);
- Stereogram visualisation, with analysis and clustering of structural families;
- Semi-automatic identification of fracture families and calculation of their spatial distribution;
- Calculation of geotechnical parameters (Spacing between discontinuities; Joint Volume - Jv; Rock Quality Designation - RQD);
- Volumes of potentially unstable blocks (minimum, medium, maximum);
Insertion and visualisation of kinematic trajectories (e.g. rockfall trajectories) in a 3D environment, directly on the acquired surfaces.
If you have already acquired 3D data and wish to use it in our platform, we can convert it for you in Ad Hoc format and return it to you ready for advanced geotechnical analysis.
Yes, this is a service we offer on a regular basis. If you provide us with your datasets (even heterogeneous in format, scale, era and acquisition mode), we analyse them, understand their logic and structure, and take care of their conversion, normalisation and integration within our Ad Hoc 3D platform.
Through this process, we transform even non-uniform data collections into a cohesive and structured working environment, ready for new analyses, 3D visualisations, calculations and time comparisons or metric extractions.
We also perform massive dataset conversions to help you move from a disorganised archive to an orderly, 3D and efficiently queryable geospatial platform.
Yes, our Ad Hoc 3D software platform has a proprietary graphics engine that interacts with the Meta Quest environment and allows immersive enjoyment of 3D models in virtual reality environments. You can explore the environment in single or cooperative multi-user mode, move freely, take measurements, access contextual metadata and interact with objects in the scene.
The VR environment is highly customisable in terms of both content and functionality, allowing the experience to be adapted to different application areas: education and technical training; virtual tours and scientific dissemination; environmental and landscape impact assessment; simulation of project or emergency scenarios.
Virtual reality is not just a visualisation, but an operational tool for technical analysis and communication.
One often finds oneself with 3D models, orthophotos, plans, elevations - from laser scanner, drone or traditional surveys - without having an effective tool to organise, consult and use them operationally.
With our software Ad Hoc MM, you can transform this data into interactive and structured work tools. You can map phenomena, disruptions, and interventions; draw and annotate directly on orthophotos and images; measure distances, areas, and surfaces; archive and associate technical, textual, or multimedia information; generate summary tables and project reports; share results in a structured way with collaborators and clients.
Ad Hoc MM is particularly useful in activities such as mapping degradation prior to a restoration, maintenance management or census of past interventions.
Ad Hoc MM makes it possible to replace paper archives, Excel sheets and scattered documents with a single, coherent platform that organises technical and visual data like a medical record of the work: searchable, updatable and sharable over time.
Are you an archaeologist? Are you conducting a stratigraphic excavation, and do you habitually, in order to document all its phases, draw USMs in the field, compile USM and USM cards, and photograph the different contexts? Do you acquire drone images and generate 3D models and expeditious orthophotos, sometimes on a daily basis? Would you like a tool that allows you to manage all this information independently and in an orderly manner? Use Ad Hoc AM, our archaeological excavation documentation software. To compile US sheets, record and define stratigraphic relationships, create the matrix, produce phase and period plans.
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