At iMesure, plan digitising is drafting on commission: paper to CAD conversion or PDF to DWG, redrawn in AutoCAD. Many buildings only have old plans, such as a tracing from the permit application, a yellowed blueprint or a PDF from a previous drawing office. You cannot draw on them, edit them or measure from them. After redrawing, you receive a DWG, a DXF and a PDF to scale, with layers and dimensions in mm, ready for your architect, contractor or interior fitter.
Can I have old paper or PDF plans converted to AutoCAD?
Yes. You supply the original plans, a scan or a PDF, and we redraw them in AutoCAD. You receive an editable DWG with layers and dimensions, plus a DXF and a PDF to scale. Because old plans often differ from what was actually built, we recommend checking them with an on-site survey.
Why redraw instead of converting automatically?
Some programs convert a scan or PDF to DWG in one click. The result is rarely usable. Typical problems:
- lines break up into countless loose fragments;
- a wall becomes a series of unconnected lines;
- arcs turn into steps and straight lines end up slightly skewed;
- text and dimensions become drawn lines, not editable text;
- there are no layers and the scale is wrong;
- stains, folds and stamps are converted too.
A PDF straight from a CAD program sometimes still contains real lines, but the layers, linetypes, text and dimensions are usually wrong. So we redraw the plan line by line. With the old plan as an underlay, set to scale, we draw walls, openings, stairs and dimension lines as real CAD objects. You get a drawing you can measure in, edit and keep drawing on.
What do you receive?
- DWG: AutoCAD’s native format, fully editable. The 2D plans also open in AutoCAD LT.
- DXF: for other CAD programs and for CAM, CNC and nesting software.
- PDF: for reading, sharing and printing to scale, for example 1:50 or 1:100.
- Layers: walls, openings, stairs, dimensioning and text each on their own layer. If you use your own layers, pens or templates, we draw in those.
- Dimensions in mm, as on the original plan or completed after a survey.
We digitise floor plans, elevations, sections and detail drawings.
Old plans do not always match reality
A plan from the building permit application shows what was designed, not always what was built. Buildings are often altered afterwards: a wall removed, a door moved, an extension added. The paper deforms too. A tracing shrinks or stretches, a copy is off scale and a scan is rarely straight. Draw on such a plan and those errors go with you to the building site or workshop.
We therefore recommend checking or completing the digitised plan with an on-site survey by our experts. With professional Leica laser measuring instruments on a tripod, we measure walls, heights and openings and check squareness. Where the old plan deviates, we draw what is really there. The result is an as-built drawing of the existing conditions, usable for renovation, a retrospective permit (regularisation) or sale. If there are no plans, or they deviate too much, a full on-site survey is the better start.
What do you need to send us?
- the original plans, or a sharp scan of each sheet;
- PDF files as you received them, preferably not printed and rescanned;
- the scale of each plan, or at least one reliable dimension per sheet, such as a façade length;
- the legend, if there is one: materials, hatching and symbols;
- the purpose of the plan, which sets the level of detail.
The drafting is done digitally. Files go back and forth by email or download link, so plan digitising works wherever you are. Only have paper plans? We agree with you how best to scan them or get them to us.
What can you use a digitised plan for?
- Renovation: a correct basis for the architect, the contractor and the joiner.
- Sale: clear plans for the estate agent and prospective buyers.
- Archive: fragile tracings and old copies stored digitally.
- Facility management: plans of offices, schools or healthcare buildings kept up to date per floor.
- Interior design: a DWG floor plan on which to design a kitchen, fitted cupboards or bespoke furniture.
Want us to keep drawing on the digitised plan, for example a new layout, elevations, sections or detail drawings? That is drafting on commission too: see outsourcing CAD drafting.
How a drafting job works
- Supply: you send the plans or a sample sheet, with the scale, the legend and the purpose of the plan.
- Agreements and quote: we agree on the level of detail, scale, layers or your template, delivery format and timing. Then you receive a quote.
- Drafting in AutoCAD: we redraw the plan to scale, with dimensions and a layer structure. We ask questions along the way.
- Check and delivery: you receive DWG, DXF and PDF. We discuss any changes together.
Want the plan checked on site? We schedule the survey after the quote and work the measured dimensions into the AutoCAD drawing. See how we work for both processes. Send us a sample of your plans via the contact page or email info@imesure.com. We look at what is feasible and tell you honestly whether an on-site survey is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can't a PDF simply be converted to DWG automatically?
Technically, yes, but the result is rarely usable. A converted scan gives loose line fragments, text as drawn lines and no layers. A PDF from a CAD program also often comes out without the correct scale, linetypes or layers. That is why we redraw the plan in AutoCAD, so you get a DWG in which you can actually measure, make changes and keep drawing.
Does a digitised plan match reality?
Not always: the new plan is only as accurate as the old one. Old plans often show the design rather than what was built, and paper deforms through shrinkage, folding and copying. That is why we recommend checking or completing the plan with an on-site laser survey. We then draw the existing conditions as they really are, as an as-built drawing.
What do I need to supply to have my plans digitised?
Send us the original plans, or a sharp scan or PDF of each sheet, with the scale and the legend if they exist. If the scale is unknown, one reliable dimension per sheet helps, such as the length of a façade. Also tell us what you need the plan for: renovation, sale, archive or interior design. That determines how much detail we draw.
Can I have my plans digitised if I do not live in the region?
Yes. Drafting on commission is done entirely digitally. You send scans or PDF files by email or download link and receive the DWG, DXF and PDF back the same way. We only come to you for an on-site survey. We set out from Lauwe and survey in West and East Flanders, Hainaut and northern France, and further afield on request.
Can I open the DWG file without AutoCAD?
Yes. You can view a DWG free of charge with DWG TrueView or Autodesk Viewer. If you work with AutoCAD LT, you can open and edit the 2D plans as normal. For other CAD, CAM or nesting software, use the DXF that we supply with it. For reading and printing to scale, you also receive a PDF.
Is a digitised plan the same as a plan by a licensed land surveyor?
No. We draw plans for renovation, sale, archiving, facility management and interior design. Plans that define property boundaries, for example for a notarial deed, a boundary demarcation or a land subdivision, are drawn up by a licensed land surveyor (landmeter-expert). That is a protected title, and iMesure is not a land surveyor. For a building permit application or a regularisation, we draw to your architect's requirements.