CASOB - Simultaneous Surveying and Drawing

Accurate planning and economical building within an existing structure require a complex building analysis based upon detailed scale plans. Work has shown unsatisfactory of measuring tools: (1.) Recording of measurements with meterrule and measuring tape often results in mistakes and wasted time. Since the data is not digitalized the measurements cannot be used by a CAD system. (2.) Commercially available CAD software is made only for new planning but not for planning with an existing structure. Up till now architects who predominantly work with existing structures were not able to take advantage of products in the software- and hardware market which would satisfy their needs. The problems already begin with the search for appropriate tools for the surveying of existing structures and the simplest possible transfer of the data to a CAD System. There is an increased demand for quality surveying of existing structures. In Germany, far more than 60 % of all construction planning is related to existing structures. Due to the special situation in the five new states this percentage will grow significantly. Other countries will find themselves in a similar situation. A large number of precise and analytical surveys of existing structures will be needed in a relative short time. Time pressure and stress factors at construction sites call for quality planning and economical construction which can only be accomplished with reliable and exact surveying of structures. Frustrating experiences in the field have led me to develop systems for the surveying of existing structures. With CASOB (Computer Aided Surveying of Buildings) we have a tool today that simultaneously surveys and creates a CAD compatible drawing.