Bush Intercontinental is Texas' second largest air facility, after Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The airport has flights to parts of the U.S, as well as to Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.It is the ninth busiest for total passengers and the seventh largest international passenger gateway in the United States as well as the sixth busiest airport in the world for total aircraft movements according to the ACI World Traffic Report for 2005. Recently IAH was named the fourth-fastest growing airport in the world. The airport currently ranks third in the United States for non-stop domestic and international service with 182 destinations.

The scope of work to be fulfilled by Scanworks was to include an obstruction analysis for the envelope of the system to be installed. For example, Scanworks pinpointed objects that would impede the installation of the system and also noted the accuracy of structural members called out on the plans provided. These objects can range from something as minor as a light fixture in the new conveyor path, or as immovable an object as an HVAC system or a main water line. Scanworks consulted with the project engineering staff of G&T prior to mobilization to get a clear and concise knowledge of what was to be expected throughout this process. The client’s as-built drawings are superimposed on the scan pointcloud in order to verify the project centerlines and critical points of interest noted by the engineers of G&T. It was also the responsibility of Scanworks to provide analysis of the structural members in the areas to be scanned. This is an important area of information due to the fact that the initial design to the baggage facility was derived from the existing location of the columns on site. With all dimensions for installation of the new system based on the plan location of the columns on site, accurate column location, plumbness and size then becomes paramount to the project. And in this case, much like others, laser scanning finds that column location can vary from a few hundredths of a foot, and in some cases even feet. At this point, the delivery of the actual physical column location Scanworks provides the client gives them an added peace of mind knowing that delays and the installation procedure will not be hindered by inaccuracies provided in design. Not only were the obstruction analysis of the new project envelope delivered by Scanworks, but a analysis of the column locations, wall locations, and a contour of the existing slab on grade also provided. Much like other contractors, G&T uses the finish floor elevation to achieve a base for vertical control on site. Scanworks discovered a potential major problem on the IAH project as it relates to the FF elevation. The initial scanning in Phase 7 of the project noted an approximate 2.50’ slope on the floor in 200 feet. The drawings provided to G&T showed a finish floor level and lacking relief. This was caught early in the scanning process and the G&T engineering department made the correct adjustments and costly delays were thwarted.

Another responsibility of Scanworks on the IAH project was to rotate and translate the existing site data we scanned to the project orientation. Since survey control is rarely provided, and if it is, it is not necessarily tied to the AutoCAD file we are provided by the client. To combat this, Scanworks is able to take the actual overall location of the structural members on the drawings and create a grid. This is quite helpful to both Scanworks and G&T in the fact that once this merger is achieved, both parties can proceed forward using the same grid coordinates. Scanworks also sets permanent monumentation, either a PK nail or an x-cut on each project to ensure in the case of a return site visit, all data gathered will be on the same datum as the initial scanning procedure. As an added bonus to setting monumentation, additional data can be achieved through conventional survey means, thus we are able to gather a few points here forth without the use of the HDS 3000. Digital photos are also to be furnished at critical locations and at each scanning location (if feasible) to assist in the data manipulation in the office environment.