Rate My Professor Brad Humphries

Brad Humphries serves as a Draughtsperson and Architectural Technician in the Property Services Division at the University of Otago's Dunedin Campus. He is based in the Design Office within the Planning and Development section of the Property and Campus Development Division, where he provides technical drafting and design support for campus infrastructure projects and maintenance initiatives.

A significant contribution to his career includes his role in the 2022 adoption of advanced laser scanning technology to precisely measure and manage the university's physical assets. Working alongside Design and Building Information Manager Warren Smith and Building Services Draughtsperson Mike Brecht, Humphries helped select and implement the Leica BLK2GO handheld 3D scanner, with assistance from Lennon Bedford at Global Survey and Richard Hemi at the School of Surveying. This portable device, weighing 775 grams, equipped with a 45-minute battery life, 25-meter scanning range, and 500GB storage, generates 3D virtual models of buildings with an accuracy of +/- 6mm, complemented by 270-degree panoramic photos. It geo-tags essential assets including heat pumps, lifts, pest traps, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and water valves, capturing details such as asset type, age, filter sizes, and maintenance schedules for seamless integration into the university's asset management software.

This system centralizes data for over 800 buildings encompassing nearly 222,000 square meters, facilitating accurate tracking of asset locations, maintenance scheduling, lifecycle cost projections, and minimized operational downtime while enhancing budgetary planning. It outperforms traditional manual measurements by eliminating human error—for instance, identifying a half-meter discrepancy in a lift shaft at the Hercus Building—and enables rapid scans, such as 90 minutes for the 3,180 square meter Property Services building. Practical applications span pre-construction surveys for developments like Te Rangihīroa College, site assessments for modifications at Aquinas College, and laboratory renovations in Science II, supporting building consents, valuations, insurance assessments, depreciation calculations, and optimal space utilization. Under the leadership of Director Dean Macaulay in the Operations Group, this initiative advances efficient campus management and stakeholder engagement.