Laser measuring and levelling devices have transformed the measurement and setting out of buildings.

Leica introduced a hand held laser measure called Disto in the early 1990s. I bought the Mark II version which emerged around 1995. Many Distos later I am currently using the Disto S910 which can take measurements in 3D space along with images to show where the measurement was taken.

Laser scanning is likely the future for 3D measurement of buildings and is indeed already widely used. The scanners are still very expensive and so mostly used on larger projects.

In laser scanning a 'cloud' of 3D points is produced - the finer the resolution the greater the accuracy, the more points and resulting file sizes can be huge.

The slow part is simplifying the mass of points down into something usable.

The people you see on building sites or in the road with a tripod and a pole are variations on the traditional method of measuring levels. Once upon a time an optical sight would be used to read the level on a distant pole. These days it tends to be a laser device reading from the distant pole and gives the point in 3D space as well as plan location. The device which does the measuring is often referred to as a Total Station.

Like every device used for measuring on building sites it is incredibly important that it is set up correctly or the measurements will be misleading.

Groundworks contractors, perhaps understandably, seem better trained in the use of instruments for setting out than general builders.

For the general builder and joiner the multi-way laser levelling device is now an essential bit of kit. These gadgets self-level within maybe 3 degrees of vertical and send out visible laser lines at 90 degrees in one or more directions. So useful that cheaper versions have proliferated in the DIY market.

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13th September 2015