Building Information Model

Scan to BIM

Get Usable 3D Revit models that Save Time, Reduce Design Clashes and increase Quality

Quickly Receive 3D Revit Models Created From Laser Scans

How Does Scan-to-BIM Work?

Whatever the stage of the project, our Scan to BIM service can capture the structure in its existing state and provide this information to you in the form of a as-built 3D modeling format such as Autodesk Revit or other standard CAD format. This is an extreme upgrade for  architects, engineers and contractors who been collecting as-built information the traditional way, with tape measures and laser beams. Our services is essentially a “turn key” service where you identify the extents of the areas you want scanned, and we provide a 3D model in a reasonably short period of time. The resulting BIM model can support many stages of a design-build project including: 

  • Pre-project estimating
  • Designing around existing features
  • Engineering and coordination
  • Construction monitoring
  • As-built verification
  • Facility management

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    Accuracy

    What Details Can a Scan-to-BIM Model Contain?

    • The scanner is a 360-degree instrument and will pick up anything that is visible. So it is possible to capture literally everything in the room in the resulting BIM model. But for most applications, it makes sense to limit the modeling scope only to those items that are necessary. This utilizes the project budget for the right reasons, and keeps the BIM model from getting un-necessarily heavy. There are really no limits as to what can be included, but commonly modeled objects are: 
    • Floors, Walls, Ceilings, Stairs, Door Openings, Window Openings
    • Piping, Conduit, tanks, Vessels, Equipment, Pumps, Motors, 
    • Lights, Switches, Registers, Duct, Plumbing fixtures, Fire Suppression
    • Building Facade, Exterior, Roof, Driveway, yard, Lot, Fencing, Out Buildings
    • Columns, Beams, Ramps, Handrails, Catwalk, Platforms, Ladders

    And many more. 


    3d laser scan of water treatment plant
    What Can Be Scanned?

    Any Structure can be captured

    One can now tackle enormously complex shapes and huge sizes with ease. The project team can capture them with exacting dimensions in an exceedingly short time compared to doing it with a tape measure and notepad. There is simply no better way for architects and engineers to capture an as-built model and drawings than scan-to-bim. It is extremely fast, very accurate, and saves trees from all those notepads that would have been needed.

    Accuracy

    High end laser scanners Pick Up everything - Even the Flaws

    We routinely see levels of accuracy in the 1/8″ range over distances of 100 ft or more. The scans are so precise that customers are often faced with another dilemma – that the scanner picks up everything, even the flaws. The scan show the true conditions fo things, and most of the time things that are supposed to be flat, straight, plumb and/or level are NOT. But our modeling team is adept at surmising the design intent of a structure, so that your BIM model doesn’t contain every little warp or small angle. 

    Process

    What is the scan to bim process?

    Scan to bim workflow

    The scan to bim workflow starts with identifying the scope area for the scan to bim project. This is driven by project needs. For example, construction projects or heritage building restoration projects often require accurate as built models on existing structures. The multiple stakeholders such as MEP engineers and facilities management personnel should weigh in at this point to determine if the collected data includes items that they need. 3D laser scanning, commonly referred to as reality capture, can then commence. After that, the bim model is extracted.

    3d Laser Scanning Process

    The process begins with field deployment of a 3d laser scanner for capturing data on the existing structures. These are state-of-the-art technological marvels with eye safe laser rotating mirrors that can bounce laser beams off of any solid surface. They vacuum up huge amounts of point clouds in an extremely short amount of time. A laser scanner is seen below in action.

    Anything nearby that the laser beam hits gets included in the scan. Multiple scans are taken to adequately capture the physical space. The multiple scans are combined together using a computer aided alignment process for extreme accuracy. This process is called registration and results in a point cloud that is essentially a 3d facsimile of the building. The accurate digital representation within the scanner is then transferred to a high speed computer where the data captured is optimized, aligned and transformed into a bim model using bim software.

    3D Laser Scan Data Collected

    The data captured is very large in size and requires a large amount of hard drive space and memory to process. This is because the laser scanner captures up to 2 million points per second. But these are more than just data points. Each point is in fact a highly accurate measurement in real world units. This is because first and foremost, the scanner is a survey-grade measurement device, not just a camera.

    The scanner is also capable of capturing full color HDR panoramic images at each scan location. After a full day of data capture, you can imagine how many points that adds up to (hint: it’s a lot). The scan to bim process works by filtering, optimizing and reducing the sometimes hundreds of gigabytes of data into useful information like an AutoCAD or Revit model.

    school-plan-view
    3D Laser Scanning Services for Theaters
    Point Clouds

    What is Point Cloud BIM?

    Point Cloud BIM is the gold standard for the architecture, engineering and construction industry to document as-built conditions. BIM helps create a common data environment for multiple disciplines that are collaborating on a construction or renovation project. Bim projects and related bim work are what enable better space management, allowing engineers to confidently design closely spaced equipment and piping with high precision.

    Collecting Point Cloud Data

    Collecting point cloud data for bim solutions is done differently than other types of data collection. Scans are often done without color, as color often has no bearing on the physical and functional characteristics of the CAD model, and 3D laser scanning without color can be done much faster. 3D laser scanning positions can be spaced farther apart for the optimum balance.
    Autodesk Revit

    What is Scan to BIM Revit?

    Scan to BIM Revit is a particular type of bim project where the data collection is solely for the purpose of creating an Autodesk Revit 3D model. In fact, a Revit model is commonly referred to as a BIM model. The terms are often used interchangeably in the construction industry and the heritage building industry.
    Revit CAD model
    3d laser scan
    Advantages

    What are the Advantages of Scan to BIM?

    There are two main advantages of Scan to BIM.

    1. The process of measuring and documenting an existing building becomes mostly automated. That allows architecture, engineering, and construction project teams to outsource it as they scale their operations and take on multiple Scan to BIM projects simultaneously.
    2. Accuracy of the result. The highly accurate digital picture afforded by bim technology reduces the chance of making a serious error or omission.

    Scan to BIM Compared to traditional Methods

    Gone are the days of using old fashioned methods to collect data on building systems such as the trusty pencil and paper method. Taking measurements using a tape measure or laser beam distance meters takes too long. Laser beams are high speed and accurate, but you still end up only taking one measurement at a time. Plus, the ability of a human to draw an accurate representation of a building can be limited unless you are the Bob Vila of as-built drawings.

    Laser scanning and AI point cloud processing technology advancements make it an exciting time to be alive for scan to bim enthusiasts. 3D laser scanning takes over 1 million measurements per second and measures between all visible objects at once. With this digital representation, it has become difficult to justify the pencil and paper method.

    The benefits of 3D building information modeling

    The main benefit of 3d building information modeling is that during the construction phase, there will be far fewer mistakes and interferences due to the accurate as-built models being used as a basis for design. While there is always room for human error, the opportunities for human error are greatly reduced and construction projects go smoother and faster.
    Applications

    What are the uses of Building Information Modeling?

    Building information modeling is useful for just about any project involving a building that has a construction phase. These are the “no brainer” cases, like obtaining as-built models for renovating a hotel, re-designing a hospital floor or gutting an office building. But there are other uses as well such as planning emergency exit routes and calculating space volumes for fire systems and ventilation systems. You may need to map out the water sprinkler position relative to the equipment in the room, for example.

    BIM Model Usage Over the Project Lifecycle

    The beautiful thing about having an accurate digital representation of a space is that it can be re-used by multiple stakeholders at different stages of the project. Early incorporation of bim models into the building process leads to better outcomes at the end of a project.

    Scan to BIM in the Construction Industry

    Bim makes assessing progress of construction projects much easier. It starts with collecting data using a 3d laser scanner. The point cloud is a snapshot of the construction progress. Bim enables comparison of the design model with the scan data using tools such as Autodesk Navisworks. Collecting data is getting easier as well, as modern laser scanners are faster than ever before.

    BIM Visualization for MEP Engineers

    Blueprints and plans have always been the universal instruments for engineering, but now engineers can see the scan to bim model in full 3d with realistic rendering.They can even don a pair of VR goggles and put themselves inside the space in stereoscopic 3D. But it’s not just the visualization that makes the scan to bim process so valuable. The information component is equally important. Engineers can perform BIM coordination which prevents major design oversights such as designing two pipes that occupy the same space.

    BIM Model Usage in Sustainability and Green Buildings

    Green buildings have tight tolerances and strict material specifications. Scan to BIM models track all of this information, ensuring that the building is in compliance.

    BIM and Facility Management

    After the architectural design, engineering and construction are complete, Building information models can also serve to aid the facilities management process. Facility managers can use a bim model for space planning and creation of maps and routes. Point clouds can serve as a truthful record of the way facilities were at a particular point in time.
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