Knowing what you can safely achieve in an industrial facility requires first understanding what’s in the facility. Chad Williams can tell you the most effective, efficient way to capture that information.

As a key member of the Leica Geosystems Industrial Plant Solutions team, Chad draws on his extensive experience with as-built data capture to ask the questions that will lead to the best solutions for optimizing plant operations. With a history of laser scanning in demanding environments, Chad is positioned to help you tackle your most challenging plant documentation and retrofit projects.

Capturing an industrial plant’s data with 3D laser scanning often requires finding creative approaches in the congested environments amid pipes and machinery. With a background in both the industrial space and the use of laser scanning, Chad is well-equipped. Beginning with a sales position in the steel industry to serving as the head of scanning at a construction solutions distributor, Chad has accumulated a wealth of experience in scanning challenging, complex environments.

Once, Chad completed 1,600 scans of a building that had been damaged by a hurricane. In addition to scanning in a dark, deteriorated building, the limitations of the project meant that he did not have software that could tell him the specific boundaries of past scans. Instead, Chad needed to rely on his understanding of the building’s layout and the operation of the scanner to avoid rework.

“We had some quirky angles with shattered windows, and we weren’t always able to stand at the most optimal places since sections of the building were roped off with caution tape,” Chad says. “So we had to find interesting ways to get as much data as possible. In the end I got everything I needed.”

Now at Leica Geosystems, Chad specializes in helping his clients realize the potential of reality capture with a variety of cutting-edge solutions designed to go from field data capture to final deliverable as efficiently as possible, whether the situation requires survey-grade data quality captured at a distance, high-speed mobile data capture, or even autonomous lidar on the ground—or in the air.

As a commercial drone pilot with an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, Chad brings an astute perspective on how innovative technologies like the BLK2FLY autonomous flying laser scanner can be used to capture hard-to-reach areas of your facility.

Ultimately, Chad’s approach to scanning culminates in ensuring that components can be installed with minimal human intervention, reducing risk and downtime for plant operations.

“We want to get a good 3D scan and get it done right the first time,” Chad says. “Many industrial plants have areas that are extremely confined and may involve hazardous materials. You don’t want to have employees in those areas any more than absolutely necessary. By getting an ideal scan the first time, followed by prefabricating materials based on those measurements, the repair process can require only a single trip into the area to replace a piece of machinery rather than several.

“And since the scanning process is done from a distance with a single operator on the ground or even autonomously, that provides an additional safety benefit,” he adds. “Safety is a significant advantage of laser scanning reality capture.”

With an exact digital representation of a plant’s structures and equipment, plant management and key stakeholders can have an immersive and accurate view of the environment and its needs. The data captured through 3D laser scanning can be used for plant modifications and asset management, enabling more efficient decision-making and reducing costly errors. Additionally, laser scanning allows for seamless integration of new components or modifications into the plant layout, optimizing workflows and minimizing downtime.

Chad’s familiarity with the complex environments of industrial plants, coupled with his proficiency in 3D laser scanning and drone-based data capture, allows him to fully realize the capabilities of reality capture for his clients.

“I love being in an industrial atmosphere, and I love 3D scanning,” Chad says. “And I love the satisfaction of getting a tough scan done right the first time.”