AEC Industry Predictions for 2025 — Leica Geosystems

By Jesús Bonet, director of sales and business development, Leica Geosystems (part of Hexagon).

Jesús Bonet

2025 construction surveying technology trends – Leica Geosystems

In your opinion, what are the three most important trends in the field of surveying technology in construction?

The rise of cloud computing, driven by the need for centralised data, has enabled surveyors and construction professionals to capture data in the field, then upload it to the cloud in real-time. This avoids users having to copy files, stops stakeholders working on multiple different datasets, and mitigates the cost and risk of owning servers.

Another trend is mobile scanning – devices that capture data on the move with the click of a button. Static laser scanners, on the other hand, take longer to set up and require more training to operate. Mobile scanners give greater flexibility and speed during data capture, while also being highly accurate – perfect for daily construction progress monitoring, for example.

Last, it’s difficult to talk about trends without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI). AI has enhanced surveying technology by streamlining the process between capturing data and generating meaningful insights. For example, AI in 3D laser scanners can automatically classify objects in buildings like walls, floors, and furniture – avoiding time-consuming manual data processing. Mobile mapping devices attached to cars integrate AI which automatically blurs faces and vehicle license plates, anonymising the data at the point of creation.

What are the advantages of 3D laser scanners? Can you explain this using two specific examples/construction projects?

Compared to traditional surveying methods, 3D laser scanners are quicker and more efficient at capturing data. They shine in applications that require detailed, volumetric, spatial data and point clouds, such as creating and updating BIM models and providing as-built or as-found documentation.

Another advantage is the completeness of the data they provide. Traditional surveying methods capture point by point, so modelling a 3D space requires multiple different set up positions, and often requires site revisits to fill in missing data. A modern 3D scanner, on the other hand, captures up to two million points per second – creating complete, accurate 3D point clouds in minutes.

Complete data from 3D scanners means they are now being used innovatively across construction sites. One example is in monitoring concrete slab deformation. Deformed slabs produce non-compliant floor levels, potentially resulting in critical structural deformation issues – producing unsafe buildings that are extremely costly and time-consuming to fix. RM Surveys, an Australian firm, uses a 3D laser scanner to precisely measure slabs three times: before and after the concrete is poured, then again after propping is removed. This ensures the concrete pour is compliant with the initial design – reducing the risk of any costly structural deformation.

The output data from a 3D scanner is also comprehensive and easy to visualise – 3D models facilitate better collaboration with other construction stakeholders. One recent example is the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), which was looking to implement smart building practices across its campus to help manage costs and meet sustainability targets. A team of Leica Geosystems experts produced 3D models of 56 buildings across the site, spanning three million square feet. The 3D models are now hosted on a cloud-based platform, which enables stakeholders to navigate and measure photorealistic point clouds to make better decisions to optimise building operations and maintenance.

What growth has the market for 3D laser scanners/surveying technology seen in the past five years and what growth do you expect in the next five years?

The market for terrestrial 3D laser scanners has exploded over the last five years, producing a variety of competitive products that are increasingly accurate, efficient, and cost-effective. 3D laser scanning technology is now mature and established.

The next wave of growth will come from Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) technology. This powers mobile scanners, allowing devices to map an area while in motion. This market has already started growing rapidly, and there is now a wide variety of handheld and aerial scanners available. The market will continue to move in this direction as these devices are simple to use, even for untrained construction professionals.

An increasing demand for digital twins in construction is also generating greater demand for 3D laser scanners. A digital twin provides a dynamic, digital replica of the physical construction site and its ongoing activities. For example, with a connected digital twin, engineers can instantly pinpoint the required files and equipment without wasting hours searching manually.

How did your business develop in 2024 and what do you expect in 2025 and 2026?

We are constantly innovating, bringing new products that are more efficient and help businesses be more productive and profitable. Our aim is for customers to come to us as a strategic partner for all their measurement needs – from precision scanners to digital twin software.

We are always thinking digitally, investing in advanced technologies like AI to optimise the journey from data capture to insight generation. This means construction professionals can focus on problem-solving rather than time-consuming manual tasks.

Are there still barriers to the use of laser scanners in construction? If so, which ones and what would be necessary to remove them?

Construction businesses, like many others, are often tentative about investing in new technologies. However, 3D laser scanners are significantly more efficient and cost-effective than they were ten years ago. We often hear from businesses, small and large, that have invested in 3D scanners and can now complete two jobs in a day rather than one. The return on investment (ROI) from the time savings alone makes it an obvious decision.

Another barrier is simply the traditional mindset of many construction companies. They have relied on traditional surveying methods for decades and have an established workflow, so why change? They looked at 3D software solutions ten years ago and found they were too complex and difficult to use.

The solution is education and awareness – today’s solutions are far more user-friendly, and  the benefits of shifting to a 3D workflow are evident once you start.

How could the market and the technology develop over the next 10 years? I’m thinking of applications/technology that are not yet feasible, but will be in 10 years’ time…

Overall, there’s been a shift away from thinking about the hardware itself – sensors and scanners – to thinking more about the data and outputs. Using advanced software to streamline that process, minimising user interaction with the hardware, and giving construction businesses rapid, actionable insights.

Eventually, we will start seeing more robots performing scanning jobs. This shift has been happening with autonomous scanning systems, but they still require some human control and guidance. I see these robots performing scans autonomously in the future.

About Jesús Bonet

With more than 20 years of experience in surveying, Jesús Bonet serves as Hexagon’s Geosystems Director of Sales & Business Development. As part of the Geosystems reality capture division management team, he leads and implements the company’s business strategy for Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Reality Capture Software solutions – technology that bridges the physical and virtual world, contributing to a digital transformation.

Before his current role and since joining Leica Geosystems in 2008, Bonet successfully managed local sales and business development in Spain for terrestrial laser scanning and mobile mapping solutions. Most recently, he led European Laser Scanning regional sales as well as managing multiple teams spanning 2nd level support through to commercial account management. Prior to joining Leica Geosystems, Bonet worked as a Surveying Engineer and holds a Batchelor of Science in Surveying Engineering and Geodesy Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV).

Bonet’s academic and professional expertise position him as an essential leader in Hexagon’s mission to realise and extend an autonomously intelligent, digitally accessible and infinitely connected future enabled by reality capture technologies.

Tags: 3DLaserScanning, AIinConstruction, AutonomousScanning, BIM, CloudComputing, ConstructionSurveying, ConstructionTrends2025, DigitalConstruction, DigitalTransformation, DigitalTwins, GeospatialInnovation, Hexagon, LaserScanningApplications, LeicaGeosystems, MobileScanning, RealityCapture, RealityCaptureSoftware, SLAMTechnology, SurveyingMarketGrowth, SurveyingTechnology

Category: Industry Predictions

This entry was posted on Monday, January 6th, 2025 at 1:47 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.