Evaluation of data acquisition techniques and workflows for Scan to BIM

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of as-built Building Information Modelling (BIM) for existing buildings, the demand for highly accurate and dense point cloud data is rising. However, the current data acquisition methods are labor intensive and time consuming. Among other factors, the use of total station measurements to establish survey control, is a major cost behind data acquisition workflows. Over the recent years, there have been major innovations in the fields of surveying and robotics, such as the development of Indoor Mobile Mapping systems (IMMS). With these technological advancements, more cost-effective workflows for capturing existing buildings can be realized. In this paper, several state-of-the-art data acquisition techniques and workflows are discussed for Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry buildings. Furthermore, a workflow is proposed with a standalone terrestrial laser scanner capturing data in high overlap, using loop-closure and optimization algorithms to guaranty accuracy. Real life test cases of AEC industry buildings are presented, proving that the proposed workflow can provide highly dense point cloud data within project specifications more efficiently.