For today’s construction teams, fast and accurate site documentation is no longer a nice-to-have. It is becoming a critical part of how projects are planned, measured, documented and delivered.
That is especially true in road construction and civil engineering, where job sites change quickly, access windows are limited and crews often need to capture accurate information while working around traffic, closures and tight project schedules.
In a new testimonial video, Michael Begehold, Head of Surveying at Ernst Hähnlein Bau, explains how his team is using modern LiDAR technology, including handheld scanners and drones, to improve the way they collect and document construction data in the field.
Watch the video to hear directly from Michael Begehold and see how Ernst Hähnlein Bau is using TrueView GO and drone LiDAR technology to support modern road construction surveying and documentation.
How TrueView GO Improves Construction Site Documentation
Based in Feuchtwangen, Germany, Ernst Hähnlein Bau GmbH is a medium-sized, owner-managed construction company specializing in road construction, civil engineering, building construction and commercial construction. With more than 200 experienced employees, along with investments in asphalt plants, concrete plants, a central building materials laboratory and logistics, the company brings a practical, hands-on approach to modern construction.
That practical mindset is what led the surveying team to evaluate new technology in the field.
Begehold explains that his team regularly attends trade shows to see where surveying technology is headed. For him, the future is not about replacing good surveying practices. It is about being open to better tools, faster data collection methods and new ways to document what is happening on a construction site.
“I believe you should be open to technology, not just to different manufacturers, but also to new equipment and new methods of data collection,” Begehold says in the video.
Faster Data Collection for Road Construction Surveys
That approach led the team to test the GeoCue TrueView GO on a road construction project that was originally planned for traditional surveying. The initial plan was to use a total station to collect individual point measurements, bring the data back to the office and then create the required documentation and analysis.
That workflow is reliable, but it can also be time consuming, especially when the project requires a larger area to be measured quickly.
With TrueView GO, the team was able to capture a much more complete picture of the construction site in less time. Instead of collecting one point at a time, the handheld LiDAR scanner captures a dense 3D point cloud while the operator moves through the site. The system combines LiDAR scanning, imaging and positioning, giving the team detailed surface information along with visual context.
For construction teams, that matters.
TrueView GO vs. Traditional Surveying Methods
When a road is open, milled, excavated or prepared for the next phase of work, the opportunity to document conditions may only exist for a short period of time. As Begehold explains, the information is available today, but once the work continues and the site changes, that information may be gone.
This is where TrueView GO fits so well into construction workflows. It is designed to help teams capture existing conditions quickly, safely and with the detail needed for documentation, measurement and analysis.
On the Ernst Hähnlein Bau project, one of the biggest challenges was traffic. The site was located on a heavily trafficked federal highway, with additional detour traffic routed through the area. The time between the road closure and the milling date was extremely tight.
Using the TrueView GO, the team was able to collect the data they needed while traffic continued to move. They did not need additional traffic regulations or permits. They were able to work from a safe area, maintain awareness of the traffic situation and still capture the points and locations needed for analysis.
The project also showed how different reality capture tools can work together. In the first phase, when the team had a full road closure and about 1.7 kilometers of open road, they used drone technology. The drone provided the accuracy needed for that phase, along with aerial imagery for documentation. In the second phase, where only a partial closure was available and traffic was still active, the team chose the handheld LiDAR scanner.
Using LiDAR and Drones Together for Infrastructure Projects
That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of using modern LiDAR on construction projects. A drone may be the right tool for one phase. A handheld scanner may be the right tool for another. Together, they give surveying teams more options for collecting the data they need based on site conditions, access, safety and project requirements.
TrueView GO is especially useful where traditional surveying can slow the process down. A base and rover workflow is excellent for collecting specific points, but it does not provide the same complete 3D documentation of the surrounding area. A terrestrial scanner can produce high-quality scans, but it often requires multiple setups, careful placement and more time on site.
With TrueView GO, the operator can quickly begin collecting data within minutes. The system is built for field use, with integrated LiDAR, cameras, GNSS and a dedicated field application for real-time visualization. For outdoor infrastructure projects, TrueView GO systems combine SLAM with multi-frequency GNSS, including RTK and PPK workflows, to improve accuracy and reduce the need for repeated loop closures during acquisition.
The result is a more efficient way to capture dense, colorized 3D data in real-world construction environments.
From Field Data Collection to Final Deliverables in LP360
Back in the office, the data can be processed in LP360 Land, where teams can handle SLAM, RTK and PPK processing, point cloud colorization, QA/QC, editing, filtering, surface analysis, volume calculations, contours and other deliverables. This creates a complete workflow from field capture to final documentation.
For Ernst Hähnlein Bau, the value is clear. Modern LiDAR technology helps the team collect more information, faster, while improving safety and documentation. It also supports the growing need for construction companies to maintain accurate digital records of what was built, where it was built and what conditions existed during each phase of the project.
As construction moves toward more digital, BIM-ready workflows, the ability to quickly capture the real world becomes more important. TrueView GO gives surveying teams a practical way to do that without adding unnecessary complexity to the job site.
For companies like Ernst Hähnlein Bau, it is not just about adopting new technology. It is about using the right tool at the right time to make surveying faster, safer and more complete.