5 Pro-Tips Architects Need to Consider for 3D Reality Capture Laser Scanning
Gone are the days of simple 2D blueprints and illustrated display boards — long gone. Now, 3D laser scanning technology enables AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Owner-Operator) project stakeholders to bring a real-world, 3D immersive experience of the existing space conditions in every project to their partners and clients.
For architects, 3D laser scanning minimizes changes in design early, and maximizes efficiency by having a realistic and measurable digital twin of the project in an as-exists state, right at their desktop. Read on to learn five 3D laser scanning pro-tips architects are keeping in their back pockets.
What is 3D scanning and what does it do?
3D laser scanning is a surveying method that creates a very precise digital twin of a project environment. LIDAR scanners use a high speed laser to rapidly measure the survey area and create a set of point clouds that are a feature rich immersive environment of the scanned surfaces captured by the laser. This results in a dimensionally accurate digital reproduction of the scanned environment.
The point cloud can then be quickly converted into a 3D BIM or CAD model. 3D laser scanning allows architects and stakeholders to visualize the scope of a project, see as-built conditions in greater detail, overlay 3D models onto the
virtual point cloud, manipulate the 3D model for “what if” scenarios, prevent costly mistakes, and minimize repeated measuring and rework.
1. LOOK FOR SPEED:
Using a mobile wearable backpack for 3D laser scanning is best for speed, mobility, and accuracy. As a scan operator quickly moves through a site, multiple cameras and lasers collect point clouds and imagery within centimeters at rates of 30 times faster than traditional tripod laser scanners. This is especially beneficial in areas like multi-shift factories where scans need to occur without interruption and downtime is limited. Ensure the reality capture professional you choose is offering the latest and most efficient scanning solution for your project.
"We captured a 250,000 square-foot commercial office space in 8 hours with centimeter accuracy,” said Mark Hanna, President of PrecisionPoint. “The same project would have taken at least a week with traditional tripod laser scanners.”
PrecisionPoint’s RapidScan, provides mobile mapping and 360° photography which allows you to quickly and accurately capture a digital twin of your building.
2. USE A SOLUTION PROVIDER THAT GOES BEYOND POINT CLOUDS:
Reality capture professionals typically have a range of hardware used to cover any client’s scanning challenge at hand. Many are experts at providing 3D modeling services using feature extraction algorithm software that automate modeling of the point cloud to rapidly create CAD and BIM models of existing project conditions. With these tools, scanning experts can automatically model walls and windows from point clouds and export them to Revit. Similarly, this can be done with pipes, ducts, and structural steel, which reduces modeling time by up to 70%.
Reality capture professionals can use a combination of software that automatically extracts common features, such as pipe, structural steel, and walls to quickly create a 3D model. Seen here is an above-ceiling scan in a hospital to capture mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements.
3. DON'T DISMISS THE DRONE:
Drone captured high-resolution photography can be processed to generate 3D point clouds.
Drone scanners can reach architectural or structural features that are high off the ground or obscured even beyond the reach of laser scanners. This provides better resolution for very high hard-to-reach areas on buildings, like complex roofs, and gives an opportunity for better project documentation. Drones are not only used to capture 3D data in advance of a project, but are also a tool used to assist in recording and managing project progress and material workflow. The right reality capture professional who knows how to combine drone imagery with point clouds and other scanning devices is able to quickly and efficiently document a structure using a variety of tools at the lowest cost.
4. USE 3D LASER SCANNING SOLUTION PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN OFFER MORE USABILITY:
Until recently, usability and access to scan data has been the Achilles’ heel for clients, requiring specialized desktop software to view and work with the scan data. These files tend to be too large and incapable to send as email attachments and take hours or even days to download using file sharing services (like Dropbox). With cloud computing, browser-based scan viewers enable architects and clients to view and share point clouds and imagery from anywhere in the world using simple, secure links.
Furthermore, scanning service providers are now offering easy-to-use 3D visualization subscription services for clients to have a “Google Street View”-type access to buildings that give a much more detailed and realistic visualization of rooms, equipment, and assets.
Stakeholders get a first-person perspective and can move fluidly within a fully 3D scan environment of an as-built structure.
Project stakeholders can now view and collaborate, in detail, with cloud-based scan viewing software. In this mechanical space, 360° panoramic imagery enables the user to access an instruction manual and take virtual measurements within the imagery itself.
5. INTERACT WITH AN AS-BUILT BIM MODEL WITH 360 IMMERSIVE IMAGERY:
Buildings are constantly changing over time, and updating a BIM with a building’s current state can be an architect’s biggest challenge for a redesign project. Coupled with a 3D scan and point clouds, architects can produce an accurate existing-conditions BIM efficiently, but a lack of immersion still exists in the the 3D model’s space.
Software integration now makes it possible for designers and stakeholders to easily incorporate cloud-hosted panoramic imagery captured by a 3D laser scanning device. This offers a side-by-side window comparison of the BIM and the scanned state of the building, enabling stakeholders to easily and quickly spot changes in the model over time directly inside Revit.
Users can click on a location in a Revit model and immediately see it in a 360° environment, enabling easier cross-referencing when creating and updating BIM models. With such an immersive experience, the building interior can be virtually viewed and measured unlimited times from your desktop. This eliminates the need for return site visits that would be necessary if working from record drawings, photos, or memory.
Revit floor plans can easily be maintained using native tools and 360° imagery via the Autodesk Revit add-in.
Advanced 3D laser scanning solution providers offer not only valuable data and professional service, but also platform integrations that offer functionality unmatched by human talent or other tech. This leads to increased efficiency, accuracy, and precision for architectural projects across the board.
If you’re interested in learning more about 3D reality capture scanning services, or have questions about a particular project, call us at (855) 337-2261.
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