The Ultimate Guide: Scan to BIM

On existing site characteristics or brownfields, many AEC projects are located. More time, money, and effort are used on projects that start with an inspection and documentation of the circumstances on the job site. Even if BIM services can automate new construction work, how can it be used for existing building documentation?

High-resolution 3D modeling of current built and natural settings are captured using the scan to BIM method and transformed into usable models. The time-consuming and customary process of current site documentation can be automated using laser scanning technology.

The scanners are positioned in various locations to collect the physical forms on-site. The 3D modeling created from the scans, known as “Point Clouds,” is converted into architectural drawings. How exactly does this procedure operate? Learn more about the specifics in this article!

Scan to BIM (Major details)

 

Scan to bim

Different technologies are used today to modernize and provide better customer service. A cutting-edge method called SCAN to BIM Design Build harnesses the strength of 3D modeling and laser tracking technology with building information modeling. Construction experts may successfully plan projects from the final assembly stage through the use of laser scan to BIM technology, cutting the project duration by between 40% and 90%. A single reference file in a precise digital model is provided by the scan to BIM services design-build solution, giving customers various benefits like:

  • Obtain Reliable Reference Data in Real Time
  • Manage, Benchmark, Synchronize, and Organize Incoming Data
  • Plan and improve the performance of new buildings

How does BIM relate to scan-to-BIM?

The need for BIM deployment and the production of BIM schematics for existing buildings is expanding within the AEC sector. Scan-to-BIM is rapidly turning into an essential step in the BIM process.

Before a designer even begins, reality capture of as-built drawings conditions can give the model the most important information when a project involves an existing structure or site, as it will in most cases.

Here is a straightforward summary: Scan-to-BIM uses laser scan data to digitally capture a physical place or site, which is then used to build, develop, and maintain a BIM model.

How Does Scan to BIM Process Work?

Four stages make up the complete Scan to BIM process:

Scan to BIM Process Work

Identification of information needs:

Before beginning the Scan to BIM process, it is crucial to identify all the information needs for the desired model and drawings. The amount of detail in your model must be determined because greater modeling accuracy increases the as-built BIM’s dependability for the intended application. However, the cost increases with the level of detail. Therefore, a trade-off between price and data density must be negotiated. We locate the following data at this stage:

  • Necessary building materials
  • Required non-geometric properties
  • Required Level of Detail

Scan Planning:

Before capturing a 3D scan, settings are defined during scan planning. It is crucial since it is challenging to locate building design documentation that has already been completed. Therefore, optimizing the scanning parameters may be useful. It also entails determining all the properties required for scanning. The following list of parameter types includes:

  • Space Resolution
  • Coverage

Scanning:

A 3D laser scanner acquires data quickly and accurately and is used to perform scan-to-BIM operations. The tool has a quick-rotating, safe-for-the-eye laser. It is often set up on a tripod at the location, and as soon as the laser beam collides with a solid object, its location is recorded as points or coordinates. These points are mapped as a group, creating an extremely precise digital image. Once all the points have been collected, the scanner will colorize them to produce a point cloud scan or 3D representation of the location with numerous viewpoints.

3D modeling:

The final step in the scan to BIM process is to create a 3D BIM model of the existing building using the gathered Point Cloud Scan data.

What is the difference between a BIM model and a 3D CAD model?

3D CAD model

In both types of models, the geometric details of a real-world structure are contained. To represent a building, 3D CAD drawings, on the other hand, uses “dumb” lines that are not organized into objects in the model.

For instance, when you look at a window drawing in a CAD model, you may be aware that you are looking at a window, but the CAD model sees the window as a collection of unrelated lines.

It helps to connect the asset’s geometrical information to its functional information. A window will be recognized as a window by the BIM model. However, lines are grouped into objects in BIM models.

Why is scanning to BIM important now?

The AEC sector has benefited from numerous intriguing and innovative technological advancements to increase its effectiveness. Scan to BIM is the most significant of the bunch. Many remodeling projects may see scan-to-BIM or point cloud-to-BIM modeling measures. Here, data is inferred using laser scanning technology, and useful 3D BIM models are built using these data.

  • Scan to BIM facilitates enhanced cooperation, transparency, and communication.
  • The BIM model created with the scan data allows for increased dependability and quality assurance.
  • Lowers the price of construction
  • Scan to BIM facilitates project modifications and promotes quicker decision-making
  • Using BIM throughout the construction process improves the project’s sustainability
  • The virtual development of the BIM model from scan data aids in preventing costly construction errors.

Lastly,

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point cloud scan to bim

Benefits of Point Cloud Scan to BIM

One of the recent advancements in the AEC industry to increase its productivity is the Scan to BIM technology. The extensive use of the Scan to BIM process can be seen in renovation projects. With the help of laser scanning technology, data are derived which are used to develop productive 3D BIM models.

The companies who work on As-built projects, renovation, and refurbishment of old buildings depend on point cloud services. Rather than using the manual surveys using the measuring tapes, this technology implements the laser scanning process for mapping the buildings. These point cloud images (also referred to as scanned images) are registered and are converted into 3D Revit models or 2D CAD drawings. This process is termed as “Scan to BIM Modeling” or “Point Cloud to BIM Modeling“.

The Scan to BIM services finds its use in restoring heritage buildings, government buildings, old commercial or residential setups, and so on. These scans penetrate deeper with points and beams to detect walls, ducts, beams, or pipe batches in the geometry or outer paradigm of the building. On the basis of these scans, the point cloud BIM model is made to determine the look of the site post-construction, to extract the information and to plan the project phase, and so on. With the use of Point cloud BIM model technologies, the time consumption and cost are reduced to a greater extent.

Workflow of Scan to BIM Process

  • At first, Revit should be opened for including point cloud data in the Revit project.
  • Once Revit becomes accessible, the next step in the procedure is to convert the available scanned data into effective file formats.
  • Generally, convert raw scanned data is converted into point cloud files using Autodesk® ReCap.
  • During the indexing process, the raw scanned data should be transformed into appropriate cloud files.
  • After indexing, the raw scanned data is transformed into file formats like .rcp (Reality Capture Project File) format and .rcs (Reality Capture Scan files) format.
  • Soon after getting the .rcp and .rcs file formats, users can link the point cloud files within a Revit project.
  • Numerous .rcs files are included in an .rcp file.
  • The next task is to click on the ‘Insert tab’ first and then ‘Link Panel’. After that, the ‘Point cloud’ icon within the Link panel should be clicked on.
  • After selecting Point cloud, the files which should be linked to the project should be identified.
  • Depending on the requirement, either the .rcp extension file or the .rcs extension file can be selected.
  • In order to insert the file into the Revit Project, a Point Cloud tool should be used.
  • Once a suitable file is selected, then the next thing that should be focused on is how to position a file in the project.
  • A file can be positioned in the project either by selecting Auto-center to center option or by using an option among Auto – Origin to Origin, Auto – Origin to Last Placed, and Auto –By Shared Coordinates.
  • Once an effective file positioning option is chosen, then the point cloud file can be linked to the project by clicking on “open’.

Benefits of Point Cloud Scan to BIM

The benefits of point cloud laser scan to BIM in construction life cycle stages are :

  1. Design building phase In this phase of construction, the designers comprehend the site conditions in a suitable way with the help of an as-built model of the construction site and the surrounding buildings, enabling improved construction design decisions.
  2. Construction stage – During construction, the point cloud laser scan to BIM can be helpful in locating any discrepancies between the as-built and as-designed models, which is further compared to the tolerance values as per relevant building codes and guidelines. The aspects such as Virtual Installation, Construction Safety Management, and Digital Reproduction are considered during the construction phase.
  3. Virtual Installation – Virtual installation and assemblies, with the help of accurate as-built BIM models, help scan to BIM to determine the faults before installation.
  4. Construction safety management – The scan to the BIM model can be helpful in improving the construction safety management, identifying the safety hazards, and finding out the ways in which safety can be ensured.
  5. Digital reproduction – Several manual and ambiguous drawings are replaced by scans to BIM models that provide comprehensive 3D models digitally. Besides, this technique is responsible for the ability to visualize designs and modify them.
  6. Facility management stage – The benefits of the scan to BIM Modelling can also be seen during building facility operations and facility management stages. The Point cloud Laser scan to BIM technology helps in better design documentation and functionality. The most fundamental application of scan to BIM technology is constituting complex geometries along with the building texture. Further, there is the execution of performance analysis of the building in order to improve building performance, energy consumption, and structural reliability.

Benefits of 3D BIM Scanning

  • Helps in improving transparency, communication, and collaboration
  • BIM model allows more reliability and quality assurance
  • Reduction in overall construction cost
  • Makes project alterations easy and assists in faster decision making
  • Ensures sustainability in the project
  • helps to minimize costly mistakes during construction

If you are interested in using Laser Scan to Building Information Modeling, Monarch Innovation should definitely be your first preference as it assures construction quality and time-saving, which eliminates frequent site visits. In addition to that, it improves project sustainability, evaluates project risks, minimizes the overall costs, and fosters collaboration. Contact Monarch Innovation for getting your work done with ease and utmost perfection.

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