‍Rework is one of the most persistent and costly problems in construction. A misplaced wall, a mistimed duct installation, or even a minor misalignment between design intent and execution can snowball into delays, budget overruns, and fractured coordination across trades.

But what if you could catch these errors the same day a site is scanned, before they spiral into costly mistakes?

That’s exactly what leading construction teams are doing with Preimage’s Deviation Detection, a powerful site verification tool that’s transforming how progress is tracked and validated.

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Why Rework Happens (and Why It’s So Expensive)

Even the best-managed construction projects are vulnerable to subtle deviations:

• A wall that’s 30cm off from its intended position
• Electrical conduits routed through the wrong channel
• HVAC units placed without verifying ceiling clearance
• MEP clashes that go unnoticed because design and build weren’t compared in time

These seemingly minor mistakes can trigger major corrective actions such as tearing down and rebuilding partitions, delaying adjacent trades, ordering new materials, and requiring additional site visits from architects and consultants.

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How Preimage Deviation Detection Works

With Preimage, site teams perform a quick 360° walkthrough using off-the-shelf cameras, no LiDAR or specialized hardware required. The footage is uploaded to the platform and processed into:

• A 3D point cloud
• A navigable virtual tour
• An auto-aligned BIM overlay (if a BIM model is uploaded)

These outputs are accurate to 2–3 cm and typically generated within 2–3 hours of data upload.

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Preimage then automatically highlights:

• Misplaced walls or partitions
• Incorrect beam / partition placement
• MEP elements deviating from plan (BIM or CAD)
• Floor layout changes not reflected in the latest drawings

Deviation overlays appear directly in the 3D model and 2D floor plan, accessible via a browser-based viewer.

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Turning Deviations Into Decisions

Beyond visual overlays, Preimage generates automated reports and actionable analytics that help every stakeholder, from site engineers to PMOs, make faster, data-backed decisions.

What clients receive:

• Deviation Summary Reports with coordinates, severity levels, and affected elements

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• Progress Analytics comparing planned vs. actual timelines and scan-wise progress

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• Downloadable, time-stamped PDFs for handovers, audits, and compliance
• Issue Tags with Photos & Comments to document on-site realities and resolutions

These reports are available within hours of upload, minimizing communication loops and helping teams prioritize site actions efficiently.

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Real-World Impact: From Weeks of Delay to Same-Day Corrections

In one recent retail expansion project, the client’s team used Preimage to detect misplaced partitions within 3 hours of site scanning. This enabled:

• Immediate flagging and rework before the next trade (electrical) mobilized
• Avoidance of cascading delays in ceiling and HVAC installations
• A fully documented issue resolution trail for internal reporting and vendor coordination

What previously required multiple visits, redlining, and email chains was now handled in a single virtual walkthrough, no travel required.

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Why Builders Are Adopting Deviation Detection Now

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With tighter schedules, rising material costs, and leaner site teams, builders can’t afford rework. Preimage helps them:

• Ensure alignment between drawings and execution
• Gain visibility across multiple sites without physical presence
• Collaborate effectively between designers, field teams, and contractors
• Document project status and issues with time-stamped evidence
• Track trends through site-wide analytics and risk flags

And most importantly, maintain predictability in project delivery.

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Build It Right, the First Time

With Preimage’s deviation detection, builders no longer have to wait for issues to surface. They can detect them early, act decisively, and build with fewer surprises.

Whether you’re working on retail fit-outs, office interiors, or MEP-intensive sites, Preimage helps you stay aligned, stay on schedule, and stay in control.

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Ready to reduce rework and gain real-time insight? Book a demo to get started.