Our geospatial team surveyed Rhodes House, Oxford University - a Grade II listed building - using drone capture, laser scanning and mobile mapping to build a cloud-hosted 3D model.
Listed buildings are challenging to survey because their fabric is often irregular, sensitive and built up over centuries. Traditional measured surveying can be too intrusive and time consuming in these settings, while modern geospatial techniques such as drone capture, laser scanning and mobile mapping provide accurate, non-invasive data with less risk to delicate fabric. We applied this approach at Rhodes House, a Grade II listed Oxford University building in the heart of Oxford.
Starting from above
Rhodes House was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1929 as a memorial to Cecil Rhodes, blending Cape Dutch farmhouse, English country mansion and Arts and Crafts influences into one distinctive building. It has served as the headquarters of the Rhodes Trust and the Rhodes Scholarships ever since, hosting figures from Albert Einstein to Nelson Mandela along the way. That history, combined with its Grade II status, is exactly why an accurate, non-invasive record of the building matters.
To capture Rhodes House accurately, we combined drone surveys with terrestrial laser scanning, mobile mapping and a network of survey control points. Together, these techniques recorded everything from the building’s intricate roofscape and historic façades to its wider gardens and setting.
Building a complete picture
Inside the building, different spaces called for different survey methods. Larger and more ornate rooms were captured using a Leica RTC360 laser scanner, which records millions of measured points alongside high-resolution imagery. This provided a precise record of the building’s geometry and architectural detail.
For corridors, staircases and smaller spaces, we used mobile mapping technology to collect information quickly and efficiently. While mobile mapping is not intended to replace terrestrial laser scanning, it helps capture extensive areas without the need for repeated tripod setups, making it particularly useful in busy or complex buildings.
The information from every survey method was then brought together into a single, coordinated point cloud, creating a complete digital representation of Rhodes House.
A digital record for the future
The resulting model provides a detailed, measurable record of Rhodes House that can be accessed remotely by project teams and stakeholders. Instead of relying on repeated site visits or intrusive investigations, designers and consultants can explore a building digitally, take measurements and better understand how historic elements fit together before work begins.
For a listed building of this significance, that level of insight helps reduce risk, supports informed decision-making and creates a lasting record of the asset as it continues to evolve. It also demonstrates how modern geospatial techniques can deliver the detailed information needed for conservation and refurbishment projects while minimising disruption to sensitive historic fabric.
Surveys like this give clients a reliable, up-to-date baseline they can return to again, rather than commissioning a fresh site visit every time a question comes up.”
Lloyd Reed
Associate Partner, Geospatial Services
When working with historic buildings, understanding what is there is often the first challenge. Modern surveying techniques make it possible to gather that information quickly, accurately and with minimal impact, helping our geospatial team protect the past while planning for our clients’ future.
Let’s talk
If you’d like to find out more, contact Lloyd Reed, Associate Partner in our Geospatial team.
