ScanR: A composite building scanning and survey method for the evaluation of materials and reuse potentials prior to demolition and deconstruction

This paper introduces ScanR (Scan for Reuse), a composite method pairing quantitative and qualitative salvage and deconstruction surveying (S&D survey) with LiDAR and photogrammetry scanning in an effort to empower local municipalities and stakeholders in cataloging building materials prior to removal from site (in the case of either demolition or deconstruction), and enabling data collection and the generation of material databases to link local supply with demand – all in support of a shift from linear to circular economic models in construction. The speed of capturing large spaces through 3D scans and the ability to export such models into CAD software allows for a rapid assessment of surface and floor areas to calculate finishing material quantities and other material content, but lacks metadata such as quality and potential hazards that are necessary for a potential deconstruction contractor. Furthermore, information on spaces inaccessible to scanning, such as wall cavities, are necessary to comprehensively assess a building’s reuse potential. In supplementing scans with S&D surveys using accessible tools and software, these factors can be noted and referenced in relation to the space and 3d model, providing critical information to inform the harvest of materials and planning of the materials’ next use cycles. In testing this method on a building slated for deconstruction, this paper demonstrates the advantages of each method of data collection and how one can be leveraged to support the other to further catalyze local efforts to divert material from waste streams.