Scan to BIM for Renovation and Historic Preservation
Renovation projects live and die by the accuracy of their as-built documentation. Legacy drawings are almost always wrong. Laser scanning resolves the gap between what was designed and what was built with a verified, sub-inch accurate Revit model as the deliverable.
Legacy Drawing Inaccuracy
Buildings built before BIM or built with significant field deviations from the original design have as-built drawings that don't reflect reality. Every renovation project that relies on these drawings alone will encounter surprises in the field. Laser scanning eliminates that risk.
Structural and MEP Interface Uncertainty
Connecting new work to existing structure, running new MEP through existing conditions, and threading new systems through occupied buildings requires knowing exactly where existing systems are in 3D. Point cloud data answers questions that no drawing can.
Historic Preservation Requirements
Historic buildings require documentation of existing conditions before any intervention. A laser scan-based as-built model is the most accurate and comprehensive documentation possible capturing geometry, material transitions, and structural anomalies that manual measurement cannot.
Our Scan-to-BIM workflow: field scanning with Leica RTC360 (sub-5mm accuracy), full point cloud registration and QA, Revit model development from registered cloud, and deviation analysis comparing model geometry to scan data. For historic buildings, we add a preservation documentation layer.
What scanners do you use and what accuracy can you achieve?
We primarily use the Leica RTC360, which captures 2 million points per second with a range accuracy of ±1.9mm at standard distances. For large-scale exterior work or industrial facilities, we also use the Faro Focus. Point cloud registration is performed in Leica Cyclone or Faro Scene, with final QA/QC in Autodesk ReCap Pro.
What LOD do you model to for renovation projects?
That depends on the renovation scope. For coordination of new MEP within existing conditions, LOD 300–350 is typical. For historic preservation documentation, we can go to LOD 400 on critical elements. For general renovation planning, LOD 200–300 is often sufficient and more cost-effective.
How do you handle areas that are inaccessible during scanning?
We document inaccessible areas in the scan log and clearly mark them in the point cloud and model. We provide workaround solutions where possible adjacent room scans, access through ceilings, or temporary scan access windows during construction mobilization. Nothing is invented: if we can't scan it, we document the gap.
Can you do Scan-to-BIM for historic buildings with preservation requirements?
Yes we have fully documented a 1911 historic building in Milwaukee with no accurate original drawings via laser scan, supporting its conversion into civic, office, and theater spaces. We understand the documentation requirements for historic tax credit projects and preservation review processes.
