Technology is changing the building design and construction landscapes. Today using a variety of digitization techniques the physical world can be captured into a virtual world and the virtual information can be translated into physical design. One such technology is Scan to BIM, where the physical buildings and infrastructure can be captured as point cloud models, surface restructured and then converted into an intelligent BIM. This information rich Point Cloud to Revit BIM can henceforth be used to renovate, build or restructure the existing design.
Today Building Information Modeling has become the most talked about technology and is adopted across both the vertical and horizontal disciplines, i.e. BIM for buildings and infrastructure respectively.
Virtual Design and Reality Computing – Horizontal BIM – The Benefits:
While Building information modeling for building design and construction has gained a lot of traction across the industry, BIM for infrastructure projects, also known as Heavy BIM or Civil information modeling is relatively a new concept, but is equally well accepted and adopted.This adoption and acceptance is due to the measured benefits BIM offers for infrastructure projects. As reported by users:
BIM lowers project risks and helps improve project outcome prediction by 60% It reduces clashes and conflicts during construction of an infrastructure, thus also reduces last minute iterations and design changes by 58% BIM improves the quality of project execution and the quality of outputs by 48% BIM has emerged as the best way to document your project in addition to using it across various stages during (i.e. for cost estimation, quantity take offs, scheduling, lean construction, sustainability etc) and after (i.e. for facility management and maintenance) the infrastructure design and development project.
Point Cloud Survey for Infrastructures
Deriving Point Cloud Data from 3D Laser Scanning, can be done via various 3D laser scanning methods like airborne, mobile and terrestrial laser scanning as per required and then converted into BIM. When your project involves recreation or rebuilding large industrial plants, urban infrastructures, road and rail facilities, civil structures or land development, the relevant information can be captured via airborne laser scanning techniques.
Airborne scanning is done by mounting scanner and the related equipment on to an aircraft and capturing the data for the project from a high altitude. This scanning technique definitely captures a lot of elementary information that is required to plan a project, however further detailing and the fine tuning cannot be based on this scanned data.
The other scanning technique also known as mobile scanning, involves mounting scanning equipment on moving vehicles. This system can be used to quickly capture data for topographic surveys. For terrestrial laser scanning surveys tripods or hand held scanners are used and detailed surveys can be done that also include the indoor survey of a building, small sections of roads or bridges, infrastructure such as dams etc.
Point cloud to BIM for infrastructure projects
All the data from these scans is received in the form of point cloud models. Now these models cannot be used as they are, and turned into information rich BIM. These point cloud models are hence used as a reference, and experts surface restructure them into a 3D model with polygons or nurbs. Now these 3D models are ready to be loaded with project relevant information and converted into full fledged, information rich intelligent BIM.
What is the most important is to engage BIM experts who can efficiently manage huge volumes of survey data and point cloud models. Here in addition to the required infrastructure it is also important that BIM experts are good at handling scanned data with incorrect or missing information. These virtual design and construction experts should be able to make the best use of photo-metric images and engineering assumptions to identify and tackle any errors and inconsistencies in point cloud models, thus create highly accurate and information rich intelligent 3D models.
Point Cloud to Revit BIM easily fits into the business model of infrastructure development projects. Those who have already used Point cloud survey and Scan to BIM Services for infrastructural design and redevelopment projects can definitely vouch on the fact that BIM helps improve ROI. Why? Because it helps increase productivity, enables improve multi-party communication; reduce risks errors and rework, hence helps save cost and labor and in-turn, result in improved project outcomes. All these benefits together translate into better returns on investment.
About Author:
Bhushan Avsatthi is an associate director at Hi-Tech Outsourcing Services; He is a consultant, BIM expert and a green building advisor with more than 15 years of industry experience.