Why You Should Incorporate Scanning into Your BIM Workflows

Laser scanning made its debut in the construction world in the 1990s. While it has been proven to have multiple benefits, those who end the laser scanning process after viewing the point cloud do not reap the total value of their efforts. With scan-to-BIM technology, laser scanning leaped in terms of usefulness and value. While scanning enables information to be gathered quickly, scan-to-BIM, which is compatible with design tools such as Autodesk’s Revit, produces the information in a usable format with true and accurate measurements so that the design of the space is now a digital twin. Therefore, if you are not laser scanning, you are missing out on a host of benefits.

So, how does using laser scanning to capture the data improve this process? First, you can select from a host of solutions, including Leica, which has a scanner that is right for every job. When a scan is turned into a point cloud with panoramic photos, it’s like being on-site since the 3D scan includes highly accurate, measurable as-built conditions. If something is missed on the plans, there’s no need to go back on-site. Instead, one can pull up the point cloud or imagery and see, or even measure, what was missed.

The amount of data in a point cloud can make it overwhelming. More information is valuable only when it can be clearly understood and processed. Fortunately, the management, visualization, and storage of data have evolved, making large amounts of data easier to work with. Scan-to-BIM transforms the point cloud into an accurate model.

While laser scanning and scan-to-BIM may alter your traditional workflow, it’s not as complicated as you may imagine. The tools necessary for these steps, such as Leica scanners and Autodesk’s Revit, are less demanding to use than they once were. Therefore, don’t think that because you’re not tech-savvy and don’t have the knowledge base, laser scanning and Scan-to-BIM are not an option. Using these tools takes some getting used to, and there is a learning curve, but you don’t have to be a specialist to learn how to utilize laser scanning and incorporate it into your workflow. While laser scanning and scan-to-BIM are not as simple as a tape measure, the leaps in technology mean you no longer need to rummage through confusing folders of photos, old inaccurate as-built drawings, and incomplete and inaccurate information to create drawings. Instead, the technology is accessible and can be used for any job.

Accuracy is vital for contractors in the construction industry, from sizing spaces as planned to coordinating multiple disciplines and everything in between. To build or renovate a building, you must follow the agreed-on plans, so the owner is content. But what if the plans are inaccurate and something is missing or in the wrong place? Avoiding this significant time- and profit-consuming issue starts with having accurate plans. And scanning is more accurate than a tape measure can ever be.

With scan-to-BIM, your BIM model is created from the scan data, leading to greater accuracy and better decisions. Such accuracy virtually eliminates the possibility of construction interferences and change orders that directly impact your profitability on each job.

Laser scanning eliminates your team’s reliance on antiquated field verification practices and site revisits. With scan-to-BIM, the data can be converted to an accurate Revit model that can be measured and manipulated, allowing you to build the property the owner is expecting. Your model is no longer a representation of design intent but a digital twin of what was built. And converted and shared with all stakeholders. Input from all relevant stakeholders reduces risk and helps ensure the final product will be exactly as the client envisioned.

This technology provides a plethora of benefits. However, as you consider adding this technology to your business, you probably ask yourself if it is worth the investment.

It’s time to say goodbye to the tape measure and other traditional tools to gather construction site data. Laser scanning solutions and the software used to analyze the data are the next-generation tools for gathering information and transforming it into a model that accurately represents reality. These technologies offer contractors multiple benefits. They improve accuracy and the efficient use of resources, encourage collaboration, and speed up the process, all of which increase profit. Laser scanning and scan-to-BIM can be used at any construction site and are an asset to a project from start to finish.

Consider adding scanning into your workflows, sign up for a complimentary Discovery Meeting with us.