Scan to BIM is the most advanced approach in Reverse Engineering

Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry has experienced extensive changes that have occurred in its landscape over the years and all of which have been tremendously beneficial for the stakeholders of construction projects. From manual design development to the creation of digital building design, clearly indicates that AEC industry has undergone vast changes over the years, in terms of its approach towards construction.

Technological advancements in terms of the advent of software solutions like AutoCAD, MicroStation, Revit, Navisworks, and 3ds Max etc which are used by design and construction professionals have brought a paradigm shift in AEC industry.

The advent of high-end design and drafting solutions has an extraordinary impact on design and construction professionals in terms of their productivity. After using such software solutions for developing building design, it is noticed that the productivity of architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, drafters and modelers etc have multiplied numerous times.

Great success is achieved by design and construction professionals after the implementation of computer aided design technology and Building Information Modeling in construction projects. This forced them to implement Building Information Modeling in the execution of reverse engineering projects such as renovation, retrofit and refurbishment etc.

• Before the success of BIM in construction there was absolutely no hope for AEC professionals in terms of minimizing the complications and impediments of renovation and retrofit projects.
• But Building Information Modeling provided helped extensively in renovation by allowing design and construction professionals to construct extraordinarily informative models for existing buildings.

Building Information Modeling can be described as a process of producing digital 3D models which effectively exhibit building design in terms of all the physical and functional attributes of the building. Whereas Scan to BIM is a process which is actually adopted by AEC professionals for the ultimate development of BIM models for existing building on the basis of the data which is collected through laser scanning process.

In fact the development of BIM models for renovation and retrofit projects etc have only become possible with the successful adoption of laser scanning process by design and construction professionals. Until and unless AEC professionals do not have the access of accurate information associated with existing building it is next to impossible for them to develop accurate BIM models for it. Laser scanning technology allows Architecture, Engineering and Construction professionals to capture all the surviving conditions of the building in the most accurate manner. Whatever stays on the surface of the building can be properly captured through high-end laser scanners. Once the process of capturing geometrical measurement of exiting building through laser scanners is accomplished the scanned information is later on provided to architectural and engineering companies for the developing 3D parametric models.

Point cloud modeling is the process through which AEC professionals develop BIM models for architecture, structure and MEP by utilizing 3D modeling solutions such as Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP. Once individual models are created for different building disciplines it helps AEC professionals in successfully performing renovation for as-built building.