Forensic Investigation, Condition Assessment & Remedial Planning
Technical investigations, heritage documentation and condition reports for remedial engineering.
The projects that end up on our forensic desk are rarely happy stories. A newly renovated façade is delaminating. A heritage stone wall is bulging. A tenant claim is heading to court. A borough is demanding a plan for a listed heritage building. In every one of these situations the client needs two things: rigorous evidence, and a clear-headed remedial plan.
DCMS combines LiDAR-grade measurement with licensed engineering interpretation to produce reports that hold up in court, before the RBQ, or in front of a heritage council. Our Montréal forensic practice supports insurers, law firms, heritage bodies and building owners across Québec.
When to call a forensic engineer
- A defect appears where the design says it should not
- A dispute is emerging with a contractor, tenant or neighbour
- An insurance claim is being prepared or contested
- A heritage element is showing signs of failure
- A regulator (RBQ, borough, ministry) has issued a notice
- A recent event (fire, flood, impact) has damaged the asset
- Pre-purchase due diligence is required at scale
What our forensic process looks like
Forensic work lives or dies on chain of custody and reproducibility. Our process is designed so that another engineer — or the opposing expert — can reproduce our findings from the same data.
- Kickoff with counsel or the client to define the questions
- Independent site visit and LiDAR capture with time-stamped control
- Sample and test where applicable, with certified laboratories
- Analysis in the appropriate engineering discipline
- Draft report with methodology, findings, opinions and limitations
- Client review with legal or insurance stakeholders
- Signed report ready for regulatory, insurance or court use
Heritage documentation done right
Montréal has one of the richest heritage building stocks in North America — and one of the tightest heritage protection regimes. When we document a heritage asset, our deliverables meet the standards of the Ville de Montréal, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and, where applicable, UNESCO documentation protocols.
- Millimetre-accurate LiDAR of façades, interiors and roofs
- High-resolution photogrammetric texture overlay
- Historically accurate CAD elevations and sections
- Element-by-element condition tagging
- Long-term archival deliverable in open formats (IFC, E57, TIFF)
- Support for restoration architects and heritage engineers
Condition assessments at portfolio scale
Many of our institutional clients — universities, hospitals, REITs, government agencies — need condition assessments across dozens or hundreds of buildings. We deliver these on a standardized template so year-over-year comparison and capital planning become straightforward.
- Standardized element-level condition scoring (1–5 scale)
- Photographic evidence tied to point cloud location
- Prioritized deficiency register with estimated remediation cost
- Executive summary suitable for board-level capital planning
- Optional integration into the client's CMMS or FCA platform
Explore related DCMS services and projects
Every capture project usually connects to two or three of these — click through for the details.
Frequently asked questions
Are your reports admissible in court?+
Yes. They are prepared to a standard suitable for expert testimony and have been used in Québec and Ontario proceedings.
Can you work under legal privilege?+
Yes. When engaged through counsel, our work product can be structured to preserve solicitor-client and litigation privilege.
Do you provide expert witness testimony?+
Yes. Our senior engineers regularly serve as expert witnesses.
How fast can you mobilize for a fresh event?+
Within 24 hours in the Montréal region. Elsewhere in Québec and Ontario within 48–72 hours.
Do you handle heritage-listed buildings?+
Yes. Heritage documentation is one of our specialities, including work compliant with Ville de Montréal and provincial heritage requirements.
Do you offer condition assessments across a portfolio?+
Yes. We produce standardized, comparable reports across large real estate and institutional portfolios.
Can you recommend a remediation contractor?+
We stay independent of contractors to preserve objectivity, but we can help you write a tender package and evaluate bids.
What formats do you deliver forensic reports in?+
Signed PDF report with embedded evidence, plus the underlying point cloud and any raw data if requested.
We also serve these areas
Crews mobilize daily across Greater Montréal. We regularly run forensics, condition assessment & remedial planning projects in Vieux-Montréal, Downtown Montréal and out to the West Island. Same scope, local logistics — pick your neighbourhood below.
Browse other DCMS capabilities
All services are delivered by the same in-house engineering team, so scopes can be combined into a single mobilization.
LiDAR, Photogrammetry & Drone Surveying
High-precision 3D laser scanning, aerial drone surveys and photogrammetry for comprehensive site documentation.
As-Built Documentation & Reality Capture
Fast, accurate as-built surveys delivering AutoCAD plans and Revit BIM models with industry-leading turnaround times.
Digital Twins & BIM Models
Cloud-hosted digital twins and BIM coordination models (LOD 200–300) for long-term asset management.
Building & Structural Inspections
Comprehensive envelope inspections, deflection analysis and structural assessments using advanced LiDAR.
Engineering Consulting & Technical Analysis
Expert engineering analysis, technical diagnostics and MEP system documentation for retrofit and renovation.
Petrochemical / Mining / Aggregates Services
Specialized volumetric analysis, plant documentation and safety compliance for heavy industry operations.
Engage the DCMS forensic team
Whether you are an owner, insurer or counsel — we produce evidence that holds up. Reach out to our Montréal forensic desk.