GDS consulting engagements help engineering organizations, plant operations teams, and capital project programs make better decisions about 3D scanning, digital modeling, and physical-to-digital workflows, before committing to execution budgets. Consulting is the right starting point when you have a complex, multi-site, or long-horizon digitization challenge that needs expert scoping, standards development, or quality oversight rather than immediate field work.
How GDS Can Support the Next Step
Most physical-to-digital projects touch more than one discipline. GDS can help define the right capture method, deliverable format, modeling level, and implementation plan through 3D laser scanning, 3D modeling, reverse engineering, and consulting.
Posted service areas: GDS lists coverage across major metro areas including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Long Beach, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Las Vegas, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Fort Worth, Riverside, and Shreveport. GDS also lists offices in Torrance, California and Houston, Texas. See the current GDS locations page for posted service areas.
Scope note: Accuracy, tolerances, schedule, pricing, inspection method, reporting, file formats, compliance requirements, and acceptance criteria should be confirmed in the quote, proposal, or statement of work for the individual project. Nothing on this resource page should be read as a universal certification, tolerance commitment, or standard deliverable for every GDS project.
What GDS Consulting Covers
GDS consulting helps clients define the right strategy before committing to capture, modeling, reverse engineering, software, or vendor execution.
1. Digitization Program Strategy
For organizations building a repeatable 3D scanning program, GDS can help define capture approaches, software stack, data management, scan boundaries, LOD/LOA expectations, and rollout priorities.
2. LOD, LOA, and Standards Development
GDS can help create project-specific standards for 3D laser scanning, 3D modeling, BIM, reverse engineering, file naming, deliverable structure, and quality review.
3. Vendor Selection and RFP Development
GDS can support technical RFP language, bidder evaluation criteria, deliverable matrices, and proposal review so clients can compare scopes more clearly.
4. Project Quality Review and Independent Technical Oversight
When scoped, GDS can review third-party scan and modeling deliverables against agreed project criteria and provide findings, questions, and recommended next steps. This is not a substitute for regulatory certification unless that requirement is separately defined and performed by the appropriate party.
Four Inputs That Define a Consulting Engagement
1. Describe the Challenge or Decision You Are Facing GDS consulting engagements begin with a clear problem statement. Examples: - "We have 12 refineries and no consistent standards for what we scan or how we deliver it." - "We are about to issue an RFP for a $2M facility digitization program and need help writing a defensible technical scope." - "Our Scan-to-BIM vendor delivered a LOD 300 model but we are not confident it meets our requirements, we need a third-party QA review." - "We are evaluating three scanning software platforms and need an independent technical comparison."
The more specifically you describe the challenge, the more precisely GDS can scope and price the engagement.
2. Organization Type and Project Scale Describe your organization (EPC contractor, owner-operator, government agency, OEM) and the scale of the program or project: number of facilities, approximate total scan area, capital project value, or number of simultaneous projects. Scale determines whether a single advisory engagement, a retainer arrangement, or an embedded consulting role is most appropriate.
3. Deliverable Preference Consulting engagements produce different types of deliverables depending on the engagement type:
| Engagement Type | Typical Deliverable |
|---|---|
| Program strategy | Written strategy document + implementation roadmap |
| Standards development | BIM execution plan, LOD specification, scan protocol |
| RFP development | Technical scope section + evaluation matrix |
| QA / independent review | QA report with findings and corrective action requirements |
| Advisory retainer | Ongoing email/call access + review of project documents |
Specify the deliverable format that your organization can act on, a slide deck for executive presentation, a Word document for contract annexure, or a formal QA report for project records.
4. Timeline and Engagement Window Provide your required deliverable date and the window during which GDS consulting time is needed. For project QA engagements, align the consulting timeline with the vendor's delivery milestones, GDS needs access to scan data and model files at defined project stages.
Consulting Engagement Formats
| Engagement Type | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| Scoping Workshop | Define project requirements before requesting execution pricing |
| Standards / BEP Support | Create project-specific standards, naming, LOD, LOA, and deliverable rules |
| RFP Support | Prepare technical scope language and bidder evaluation criteria |
| QA Review | Review scan, BIM, CAD, or vendor deliverables against agreed project criteria |
| Program Advisory | Support multi-site or enterprise physical-to-digital planning |
All engagement formats should identify the intended deliverable, review criteria, limitations, and who is responsible for final acceptance decisions.
What Happens After You Submit
- Inquiry review: GDS reviews the business problem, project scale, stakeholders, and desired consulting deliverable.
- Scoping call: GDS and the client define the problem statement, deliverable, information access, timeline, and decision criteria.
- Written proposal: After scope is defined, GDS provides a consulting proposal with deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, schedule, pricing, and required client inputs.
- Kickoff: The engagement begins after acceptance and access to the needed project information is confirmed.
Scope note: Consulting deliverables should be treated as advisory or project-support documents unless the SOW specifically defines a certification, legal opinion, regulatory review, or third-party audit function.
Quick Facts
Continue Reading
The next best article depends on where you are in the project. These suggested reads connect this topic to the next practical decision your team is likely to face.
FAQ
Does GDS provide independent QA review of other vendors' scan and modeling work?
Yes, when scoped. GDS can review deliverables against agreed project criteria and provide findings and recommendations. The engagement should define what is being reviewed, the standards or criteria being applied, and what is outside the review.
Can GDS help write a technical RFP for a scanning and BIM program?
Yes. GDS can help write technical scope language, deliverable definitions, LOD/accuracy requirements, and bidder evaluation criteria so proposals are easier to compare and scope gaps are reduced.
What is a BIM Execution Plan and does GDS produce them?
A BIM Execution Plan defines modeling expectations, LOD requirements, naming conventions, file exchange protocols, roles, and quality review criteria. GDS can help produce project-specific BEP content when included in the consulting scope.
Need Technical Guidance Before You Commit to Execution?
Share the decision you are trying to make, the stakeholders involved, the facilities or assets affected, and the deliverable you need. GDS will help define a consulting scope that supports the project without creating unsupported certification or acceptance claims.