Guest Features | Stories, Ideas & Industry Insights from Mr. Florian Popp | 5-min Read
Hi guys, this is Florian, and I run a scan to BIM studio in Boca Raton, Florida. So last week, I was talking to an old friend. And he was basically telling me how he had been 3 weeks into renovation design when he discovered that one of his planned walls was actually hiding behind a structural column. That too an undocumented one. Even the ceiling was 6 inches lower than the survey indicated. Thus, he had a literal headache redrawing, revising and dealing with an understandably unhappy client.
Now, if you’ve worked on renovation projects, I’m sure this sounds familiar. Like, older buildings rarely match their drawings. And come on, a site visit doesn’t complete the picture eventually. There’s still some guesswork involved and sometimes, it obviously goes wrong!
But what if you could reduce that guesswork before you even start designing? That’s where scan to BIM comes in, and it’s something I really think more architects should consider. It’s basically a laser scanner that captures the building’s existing conditions in 3D, and we use that data to create a Revit model that you can take your measurements and design from.
Sounds useful, right? But before you rush off to book your first scan, there’s something else you should know. Getting the scan done is only one part of the process. The real difference between a model that genuinely helps your project and one that leaves you with even more questions often comes down to what you discuss with the scanning team beforehand.
So, if you’re considering scan to BIM for your next renovation, let me walk you through the questions you should be asking before the scanning team arrives.
..
Key Insights
- A laser scan records what is really there, not what the old drawings claim is there.
- The scan to BIM model is only useful if its level of detail matches what you plan to do with it.
- A scanner cannot see inside walls or above sealed ceilings, so hidden conditions still need a plan.
- Asking five simple questions upfront prevents most disappointing first experiences.
- You should always receive the raw point cloud along with the finished model.
First, What Actually Happens on Scan to BIM Day?
Honestly, scan to BIM isn’t as complicated as it sounds. A technician simply sets up a 3D scanner on a tripod and captures the building from a series of positions. Plus each setup takes a few minutes only. Like, you can literally finish an interior project in a day; the building doesn’t remain shut.
And then what you get from all that is a point cloud. So, a point cloud is basically a 3d picture made of millions of measured data points. Think of it as a photograph you can measure. And not just in terms of the floorspace, but with the real positions and dimensions of all the walls, floor levels, beams and architectural elements, as they are!
And well, that’s what it is! Scan to BIM is basically a 3d of the building as it exists, not how you think it was originally designed.
So What Do You Get Back From You Scan to Bim?
So as I mentioned earlier, you get a point cloud from your scan to BIM. And as architects, you can use it to create a Revit model of your existing building with walls, floors, ceilings, doors and windows at their actual positions and dimensions. Hence, you don’t have to rely on hand-measured drawings as such.
And honestly, this changes your work in small, practical ways. Like now, you don’t need to remember the clear height under a beam in a corridor you visited once. Just measure it in the model! Similarly, you can check the opening sizes, trims, new door schedules, sockets, everything. In fact, you don’t even need a return site visit. And no guessing from site photos either!
How Detailed Should the Scan to BIM Model Be?
Trust me, this is the only place where things can go wrong if you don’t discuss the details upfront! Like, a scan to BIM model for early concept design doesn’t basically need mapped pipes and conduits. But then, a model for construction co-ordination absolutely does! See, both are legitimate. But, they serve different purposes and need different details, time and budget.
So, before you commission a scan to BIM project, be clear about what the model is for. Concept design? Permit drawings? Millwork coordination? Be specific, and make sure the agreed level of detail and deliverables appear in the project scope.
Trust me, sorting this out before work begins is much easier than discovering a mismatch when the model lands in your inbox.
A total of 30 pcs kawaii squishies, approximately 1 to 2 inches in size. The styles are random, and each one is a cute stuff that kids and adults alike love.
What About the Stuff the Scanner Cannot See?
You know guys, I’ll be completely honest with you, because yes, this part can get oversold. See, a scanner simply captures visible surfaces, not what lies behind them. It just can’t see inside a wall, above a sealed ceiling or under a raised floor. Hence you’ll definitely need more probes, visits and openings if your project depends on it.
But then yes, a reliable scan to BIM partner will explain this upfront only. He might even clarify how they’ll represent inaccessible areas in the final model. In fact, if someone promises to capture everything, including what the scanner doesn’t see, that is your cue to ask the next questions I have mentioned below!
A Few More Questions Worth Asking
- Which areas actually need scanning? Sometimes the whole building, often just the zones you are touching. A targeted scope can save real money.
- Which Revit version is your team on, and will the model be delivered in it? Compatibility issues are dull and completely avoidable.
- Will you get the raw point cloud as well as the model? You should, because it lets you verify any measurement yourself.
- How long until you can design from the model? For most interiors, days rather than weeks.
But Why Bother at All?
Tell me, we all hate budget over-runs, right? Especially when there are any unexpected service lines, product mismatches or any renovation surprises. Like, finding out about that column during design costs a redraw. Finding out about it during demolition needs a change order, a delay, and an awkward client conversation.
Scan to BIM moves the surprises forward, to the point in the project where they are still cheap. And that’s basically the whole argument. It’s not fancy technology. It is about starting design from facts instead of assumptions, and giving your client fewer SHOCKS later.
FAQs
…
You know every renovation project is more or less the same! Like, you might have old drawings, low-height beams, uneven openings, etc. And then physically mapping everything with tape measures, old drawings and educated guesses just leaves so much scope for error! Well, that’s where scan to BIM comes in! The scanning team basically gives you a more accurate picture of the existing building, and something reliable to design around! Yes, you still need to investigate what the scanner can’t see, but you can make far fewer decisions based on guesswork.
So before your next renovation project, ask the questions above. Agree on the level of detail, be clear about the hidden stuff, and make sure you get the point cloud with the model. Do that, and your first scan to BIM project will feel less like an experiment and more like the obvious way to start.
But I just wanted to know if you have ever discovered something on-site that completely changed your renovation design? Was it an unexpected column, an incorrect dimension, or something the original drawings missed? Share your experience in the comments. It might help another architect avoid the same surprise!
…
Disclaimer: At Archwhispers, we welcome articles from budding writers, brands, and industry professionals. We only edit guest submissions for language and readability. The content, opinions, and claims remain the contributor’s responsibility, and all copyright for the article remains with the original writer. Archwhispers is not responsible for the accuracy or claims made in guest-contributed content.
…
