Transforming a complex Sydney redevelopment into a survey-verified digital planning environment.
Chris Larmour, Project Lead.
| Client | Lendlease |
| Architect | Tzannes |
| Site | 1 Darling Point /136-150 New South Head Road Edgecliff |
| Deliverables | Digital Twin/CDE |
| Methodology | Traditional survey | Scan and Point Cloud | BIM (Revit) |
| CMS Team | David Lovell – Director, Chris Larmour – Technical Director and Registered Surveyor, Timothy Cools – Project Lead, Neda Ziaei – Lead Revit Modeller and BIM Manager, Ren Zarate – BIM Modeller and Project Documentation, Felix Zhu – Technical Solutions Engineer, Kord Koelmel – Surveyor, Hayden Cook – Surveyor, Hyeokseong Son – Surveyor. |
Project Overview
One Darling Point is a landmark redevelopment involving five residential lots under a State Significant Development Application (SSDA). Heritage constraints, neighbouring properties, complex boundaries and multiple consultant teams meant that accurate, accessible information was critical from the very beginning. CMS Surveyors was engaged to provide an integrated surveying and spatial solution that would support the project from planning through to design coordination.
The Challenge
Large urban developments rarely rely on a single dataset.
This project required architects, planners, heritage consultants, surveyors and visual impact specialists to work from the same reliable information while managing:
- Heritage constraints
- Complex cadastral boundaries
- Five adjoining lots
- Existing buildings and terrain
- Public and private view assessments
- Multiple consultant teams
- Large spatial datasets
The challenge wasn’t simply capturing the site.
It was making the information accessible and useful for everyone involved.
Our Solution and Deliverables
Instead of producing isolated deliverables, CMS created a connected Digital Twin.
By combining traditional surveying with advanced reality capture and BIM workflows, every consultant could access the same survey-verified information throughout the project.
CMS Surveyors leveraged expertise in coordinate systems, survey techniques, 3D modelling, and photography, in conducting this Visual Impact Study. The process began with the on-site collection of survey data and photographs, which were then tied to a precise coordinate system. To create the visualizations, a combination of the design model, point cloud data, and captured photographs was used.
Deliverables included:
- Detail and Level Survey
- Boundary Identification & Redefinition
- Terrestrial Laser Scanning
- Registered Point Cloud Scan to BIM (Revit)
- Digital Twin (Pointerra)
- 360° Photography
- Visual Impact Survey Support
- Context Modelling
The Digital Twin
Rather than issuing large files that required specialist software, CMS delivered a browser-based Digital Twin using Pointerra.
The platform allowed planners, architects and consultants to explore the following data for the project through a standard web browser:
- Point clouds
- BIM models
- 2D plans
- 360° imagery
- Photolocation data
Why it mattered
The Digital Twin gave the project team more than measurements – it gave them confidence.
Instead of requesting additional information or arranging repeat site visits, consultants could investigate the existing conditions directly.
This improved collaboration, reduced uncertainty and supported faster project decisions.
Innovation behind the scenes
Although the final deliverable was simple to use, significant innovation occurred behind the scenes.
CMS developed custom Civil 3D and Revit tools that improved modelling efficiency, enhanced quality assurance and enabled survey-grade accuracy throughout the modelling process.
These tools have since become part of CMS’s standard workflow across many projects.
Project outcomes
The value of a Digital Twin extends well beyond accurate measurements. By combining surveying, reality capture and BIM into a single connected environment, the project team was able to work more efficiently, collaborate with greater confidence and make informed decisions throughout the planning process.
Here’s what we achieved for Lendlease and the extended team.
Project Gallery
Ready to explore how CMS Spatial can support your architectural project with Reality Capture and BIM? Get in touch with our friendly team for a chat.
We’ll discuss the scope of your project with you in detail, do some analysis at our end, and put together a quote. Fees will reflect the complexity of your project, and the level of detail (LOD) or level of information (LOIN) you require.
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