BIM models are fast becoming standard practice for new builds, but what happens when you’re tasked with big repairs or renovations on existing buildings and facilities? For many architects, GCs, and teams who need accurate 3D models of the exact specs and conditions of a job site or building, the answer is: Scan to BIM.
What is Scan to Bim?
Much faster and more accurate than hand-recorded measurements or educated guesses from old (and perhaps not-so-trustworthy) floorplans, Scan to BIM begins with an on-site 3D laser scan that creates a point cloud of data points to capture very accurate measurements of as-built conditions.
The point cloud data is then converted to a high-resolution Building Information Model (BIM) to create a digital twin of the facility. This accurate, sharable, single source of truth can be used by architects, GCs, trades, and owners to streamline design, decision making, and construction and renovation efforts.
It’s easier to stay on schedule and catch or avoid costly errors when all stakeholders are collaborating on and referencing the same data and model. BIM are also data-rich, supporting energy simulation, life-cycle analysis, and carbon tracking to meet sustainability goals.
Design from reality, not assumptions
For architects, working from a laser-scan-based model ensures that all dimensions, materials, and structural elements of an existing building are accurately captured. With this data, designers can create, analyze, and reconfigure retrofit and renovation plans to find the best fit.
Designs that integrate with or even re-use existing components of the building reduce demolition, waste, and re-work. The precise BIM also lets architects simulate energy performance with accurate as-built geometry so that they can optimize envelope design (insulation, glazing, orientation) for lower operational energy use.
Engineering with accurate existing conditions
Structural, civil, and MEP engineers benefit significantly from the rich data of scan-to-BIM. Structural engineers can import the as-built BIM into analysis software to verify load paths, check beam and column alignments, and design reinforcements based on the actual building form.
Hidden issues—such as undetected cracks, misaligned columns, or uneven slab conditions—become evident in a point-cloud-derived model. For example, a scan might reveal a sagging beam that a generic model would have missed, enabling a timely remediation.
For MEP engineers, the accurate 3D model shows exactly where to route new ducts, pipes, and cables around existing structures, avoiding clashes and change orders. This reduces waste from mis-cut materials and repeated site visits.
Fewer surprises and better construction outcomes
Scan to BIM is also a critical planning and quality-control tool for general contractors, who use it to perform accurate quantity takeoffs, plan construction sequences, and coordinate logistics (for example, sequencing crane operations or prefabricating components to exact dimensions). By re-scanning progress and comparing it to the BIM (“scan vs BIM”), teams catch deviations immediately.
An accurate BIM lets project managers optimize scheduling (reducing idle equipment time and fuel use) and ensure prefab components fit perfectly, cutting construction waste. These efficiencies lower the project’s carbon footprint: fewer material off-cuts, less fuel burned, and a shorter, leaner construction schedule all contribute to better ESG performance.
Multivista: Quality laser scanning data in, quality BIM out
A BIM model is only as good as the data it’s built with, so it’s essential to use the best and most accurate 3D laser scanners available when capturing the point cloud. With high price tags for good scanners and software plus a steep learning curve, 3D laser scanning is not always best completed in-house.
With more than 20 years of construction reality capture experience, Multivista scanning specialists come to your project site with Leica Geosystems scanners to provide you with quality scans accurate to up to 3mm (1/8 inch). That high-quality point cloud data is then used to create BIM models with the details and insights your teams need.
Best of all, our platforms are browser-accessible, so you don’t need any special programs to get the information you need or work with your scan data. Plus, you can have unlimited user access to the information, which means better and easier collaboration for your team during renovation and construction, and beyond. Facilities teams can utilize BIM and the data it contains to inform future repairs, inspections, and renovations.
If you want to learn more about how Scan to BIM can help your project schedule a demo here.
