Announcement Text
.png)
As-built drawings used to require a survey crew, expensive hardware, or a specialist with CAD software. In 2026, any contractor can capture accurate as-built documentation from their existing phone. This guide explains the tools available, what they produce, and which approach is right for which situation.
The most significant development in as-built documentation for field contractors is video-based 3D scanning that works on any phone. Manifold's Orbit Measure feature lets you walk a space for 60 seconds with any iOS or Android phone, upload the video, and receive a fully measurable 3D model back from the server.
The output is a photorealistic 3D reconstruction of the space where you can take measurements between any two points remotely — accurate to approximately half an inch under normal conditions. Share via browser link. No specialist hardware, no CAD software, no return site visits.
This approach uses gaussian splatting — the same technology discussed at the Reality Capture Conference by Manifold's team — to reconstruct 3D geometry from ordinary video footage. It's fundamentally different from LiDAR-based scanning and doesn't require an iPhone Pro.
For contractors with iPhone 12 Pro or newer, Manifold's Floor Plan Scan feature uses Apple's RoomPlan API to generate a dimensioned 2D floor plan automatically. Walk a room for 60 seconds and get a structured floor plan with labeled walls, doors, and dimensions.
This is the right tool when the deliverable is specifically a floor plan — for architectural coordination, renovation planning, or permit documentation that requires a measured drawing format.
Every photo taken through Manifold is automatically GPS-tagged to the job site address and timestamped to the second. For as-built documentation, GPS-tagged photos are the foundation. They prove what was there, where it was, and when you photographed it.
For most residential and light commercial as-built packages, a complete set of GPS-tagged project photos is the primary deliverable. Organised by project in Manifold, this becomes a searchable, shareable photo record of the entire build.
Manifold generates PDF reports from any project with all photos, GPS coordinates, and timestamps included. This is the format most suitable for delivery to owners, insurers, and engineers who want a document they can file and reference.
For structural and civil applications where survey-grade accuracy is required, laser distance meters, total stations, and terrestrial laser scanners remain appropriate. Phone-based documentation is accurate to half an inch — sufficient for most field documentation but not for applications requiring millimetre precision or legal survey certification.
Traditional as-built services: $500–5,000+ per project. Manifold Photo+Scan plan: $24/user/month, unlimited projects, no per-project fees. Free trial, no credit card.
Compare Manifold
Real pricing, honest comparisons. No spin.