The Baywatch Problem of Scan-to-BIM
Every day, I get LinkedIn pitches from Scan-to-BIM companies—and they keep coming! So, I thought I’d share some rebellious insights on this growing trend.
Here’s the gist: There are scanners that give you every detail (for a price) and simpler ones that might just be “good enough.” Point clouds are created, but turning them into usable 3D or BIM models isn’t automated magic yet; it’s still largely manual and costly. And what you model depends on your goal—accuracy for construction or a general layout for planning?
Most clients want the highest detail possible, assuming it’s a one-time investment. But do we really need that much detail? If it doesn’t fit the purpose, high detail just becomes a burden. For instance, why map every millimeter when you're in the conceptual phase?
Here are my pirate rules of thumb:
For more on striking the balance and why it’s a “Baywatch Problem,” read the full article on the blog to navigate the Scan-to-BIM seas like a true pirate!
Generalist, BIM inquisitor, IT architect, Power control expert, GIS expert, AI adept.
2 周High detail and geometric accuracy are needed to ensure construction control, and this is a matter of monetary claims, so accuracy is important - this is the validity of claims. I agree that the cost and complexity of using the technology increases the entry threshold. But there are different scenarios. Scanning is used for different tasks. For example, I am currently working on a cheap pocket tool for scanning small architectural forms and converting them from a point cloud into models directly readable in BIM. Such objects are often labor-intensive to model, and here, ultra-high accuracy is often not important. I will publish about this a little later.
BIM Manager | WSP | PhD Candidate BIM Marketing | Growing the best BIM brands & businesses on LinkedIn | Maximizing BIM Profit Together
2 周Great points! High detail can become a liability if it doesn’t serve the project’s purpose. Smart scanning = efficient BIM. Thanks for sharing these 'pirate rules' Simon!
BIM Specialist | BIM Coordinator | BIM Modeler | BIM Expert | Revit Expert | Clash Detection Specialist | Revit Drafter | Parametric Families Specialist | Point Cloud Specialist | Facade Drafter | Architect | 3D Modeler
2 周I partially agree with you However according to the client's request, if the scan is taken with low detail, then the work becomes complicated in the modeling because the components cannot be recognized, and this failure to recognize the components increases the modeling time and the error. So, the scanning can be done to the extent that the general components can be recognized according to the request of the employer