Challenge

A refining client required the replacement of large equipment within a highly congested area during a turnaround. Each piece of equipment featured unique slopes and connection points that needed to be precisely maintained after installation. Complicating the effort, the equipment experienced contraction and positional shifts once shut down due to temperature changes, creating additional challenges for accurate placement.

Solution

Valdes Architecture & Engineering (Valdes) survey staff conducted detailed 3D scans of the project area to capture existing conditions, including key anchor points and equipment positions while in operation. The team established a precise control network to serve as a consistent reference throughout construction. After the equipment was shut down, Valdes returned to document “cold” positions and quantify any deviations from the operating state. This data was then used to accurately mark critical locations and elevations for new foundations and equipment, ensuring alignment with both design intent and real-world conditions.

Impact

Valdes enabled an efficient and reliable construction process by accounting for both operating and shutdown conditions, ensuring that equipment would return to its intended positions once back in service. The team’s ability to accurately capture, track, and reestablish key spatial data minimized installation risk, reduced potential rework, and helped ensure proper functionality of the equipment upon startup.

Services

Laser Scanning & Surveying