That looks great!
Yeah, you lost a key, I lost my Stick of Knowledge at their preso.
This seems Sketchy: (3D scan for everyone)
You can hire a photographerâŚ
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More recently, Iâve been using a combination of the Leica Disto X4 and Leica DST 360.
The Leica DST 360 mounts on a tripod and the X4 is attached to it. It does Point to Point measurements, and can measure an entire room from one spot.
It connects via Bluetooth to the Leica App, which I use in my iPhone. It does also work on the iPad, but the iPhone is more convenient.
The App can export DWGs too, which can then be imported into Sketchup. Full blown PDFs can also be exported, which give areas, volumes etc.
So far, I have found this to be really accurate for measuring the room.
For any detail areas, I take the X4 of the adapter and use it, along with a tape measure, to get the details I need.
Like everyone else, I take loads of photos.
Even with all this, I always seem to miss something though 
Mike
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There is little possibility that any current technology will be capable of providing the accuracy required by most design professionals simply because of the distortions inherent in a lens, and an inability to see around corners from a fixed point. Software can correct a lot of course, but needs to use assumptions to do so.
What accuracy do you need?
And how much data & detal do you want to collect?
Does it need to be used for legal purpose (land parcel boundary definition or setout of critical structural elements?)
If you want best accuracy and lots of data (point cloud), and you need it to be referenced to a realworld (legal) co-ordinate system for setting out boundaries and building footings etc, then get a Trimble SX10 scanning total station. It flows through to Sketchup via Trimble Business Centre, which is quite intuitive and efficient.
If you just want topographical measurements then get a GPS/GNSS (RTK-based) system (Trimble R10).
If you want accurate and quick measurements of buildings then get a laser disto (and do lots of manual measurements) or basic tripod-mounted scanner (TrimbleTX6/TX7).
These will take photos as you go,and the SX10 (not sure about TX) will colour the points so you get a âvirtual 3d photoâ as your output. This means your measurements are done by navigating around a fairly life-like 3d environment and ââjoining the dotsââ - this is great for doing complicated environments with lots of details. You build a 3d model of the site (down to millimetre accuracy) by taking several scans from different parts of the site/building (so nothing is obscured). You wont miss anything and wonât ever worry about accuracy.
In my experience, the use of a laser Disto fo a complicated environment requires a lot of measurement and plent of assumptuoins (eg if you measure between two walls, how many times to you have to meausre 'til youâre sure that the walls are parallel and straight? A 3d scanner will reveal if the wall is true or a tiny bit skewed.
Iâm sure leica and topcon have similar products, but I havent used them, and they wont work with TBC which works with SU natively.
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Take a look at Magic Plan for the iPad. Each new room is measured and drawn as a separate layout and then dragged to join with the layout completed at that point. Any doors and openings at the adjoining walls are automatically set.
The benefit for complex plans is that while you are developing the plan, any chases, voids etc. are revealed as you drag new rooms into the plan. This also is a double check of incorrect measurements.
Additionally, there is a point a measure feature allows you to measure the entire room standing at one spot in seconds with doors and windows included and is surprisingly accurate. A laser is BlueTooth linked so no notes required for the spot-on measurements. Door swings, fixtures etc. are draw and drop.
Really is revolutionary for the as-builts.
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I ended up going with CanvasIO 3d scanner. the measurements are not EXACT but â â â â close certainly close enough to bid/ bill of materials and make drawings for permits. Thanks for the help and responses.
Shawn
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Now that Sketchup for iPad is a reality it would be nice if it could work with an inexpensive bluetooth laser measurer like the Leica D2 or Bosch GLM50C. Probably be way more powerful than Magic Plan. And the new iPhones and iPads with Lidar opens up even more options for using Sketchup on the iPadâŚ
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