What is Scan to BIM?

The workflow captures millions of 3D points of an existing environment, assembles them into a point cloud, then uses that cloud as the reference to build (or update) the BIM model. It's the bridge between reality and the digital twin, and it's become a standard approach in AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction), especially for renovation, heritage and facility management projects.

The Scan to BIM workflow

1. 3D laser scanning on site

3D scanners project a laser in every direction around their axis, rotating on themselves to capture the full environment. Millions of points are collected in minutes, encoding precise XYZ coordinates plus color and intensity information. Traditional measurement methods are too imprecise and too labor-intensive at this scale, 3D scanning changes the economics of capturing as-built data.

2. Registration (assembling the scans)

Several individual scans are usually needed to cover a building. Registration software (Leica Cyclone, FARO SCENE, Autodesk ReCap, Trimble RealWorks, Leica Register 360) aligns these scans into a single, complete point cloud. This is the step where the raw data becomes a coherent digital representation of the site.

3. Sharing and collaboration on the point cloud

Once assembled, the point cloud needs to reach the teams who will use it: BIM managers, architects, engineers, clients. This is where cloud platforms like ATIS.cloud come in: they let you visualize, measure, annotate and share the point cloud in the browser, without anyone needing to install specialized software. Collaboration is no longer gated by a desktop license.

4. Modeling in CAD/BIM software

The point cloud (or a relevant subset of it) is then imported into CAD/BIM software, Revit, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, AllPlan, where the BIM manager rebuilds the structure as parametric objects (walls, slabs, beams, MEP networks). The point cloud acts as the reference geometry, so what's modeled matches the real building down to the tolerances of the scanner.

Levels of Detail (LOD)

A BIM model is a set of geometric objects tied to a database built alongside the 3D model. You need to define how detailed the components should be to set a common reference for everyone on the project. These Levels of Detail (LOD) run from 100 to 500:

• LOD 100, conceptual, low detail (a cube can represent a house, roof slope may not be modeled)
• LOD 200, approximate geometry, no precise dimensions or positions
• LOD 300, accurate geometry and quantities, used for detailed design
• LOD 400, modeling precise enough for fabrication and assembly
• LOD 500, as-built verified: every bolt on a piping network, every rebar in reinforced concrete

The challenges of Scan to BIM

Collecting data from an existing structure is rarely simple. Site access can be difficult, obstacles slow the scan campaign, and the environment imposes constraints on time, budget and resources. Traditional survey methods amplify all of these costs. Scan to BIM reduces them: one 3D scan session captures far more information in far less time than any manual measurement.

As-built documentation is often outdated or fragmented, sometimes both. Scan to BIM lets you keep a living record: when the building evolves, you rescan, update the point cloud on the cloud platform, and propagate the change to the BIM model. The whole team sees the same source of truth.

Key benefits of the approach

• Fewer design and planning errors thanks to precise as-built reference
• Faster site surveys with reduced headcount on the ground
• Better access to complex or obstructed sites (heritage, industrial plants, infrastructure)
• Shared single source of truth for all project stakeholders
• Easier facility management and renovation planning (energy retrofits, MEP upgrades)
• Direct superposition of the model and the point cloud to catch deviations

Tools in the Scan to BIM chain

• Capture: FARO, Leica, NavVis, Riegl, Trimble, Matterport, GeoSLAM, Viametris, plus mobile LiDAR solutions (MAVO 3D, iPhone Pro)
• Registration: Leica Cyclone, FARO SCENE, Autodesk ReCap, Trimble RealWorks, Register 360
• Sharing & collaboration: ATIS.cloud (browser-based, all scanners, up to 500 GB, sovereignty in 22+ countries)
• BIM modeling: Revit, ArchiCAD, AllPlan, AutoCAD, MicroStation
• Analysis: CloudCompare, Geomagic, Cintoo, ATIS.cloud (scan vs BIM comparison)