Building surveys are normally carried out as part of archaeological impact assessments, when standing buildings are found on development sites. 

Occasionally early remains are found in standing walls, as blocks of reused stone or as original features. The discovery in 2006 of a 17th century timber window frame in a garden wall in Henrietta Street, Waterford was exceptional, and called for detailed recording (3-d laser scanning, carried out by Murphy Surveys Ltd) and removal for conservation work elsewhere (by Conservation Letterfrack)

The archaeological survey of Athassel Abbey, Co. Tipperary, was commissioned by Margaret Quinlan (Conservation Architects), as part of a conservation plan for the Heritage Council. The ruins were surveyed with a 3-d scanning laser (by Murphy Surveys Ltd), but the published survey was illustrated with simplified sketch elevations and oblique sketches.