BIM and Lasers!

In the reading for this week, it discussed the pros and cons of various types of BIM software and it also covered the capabilities that set it apart from 3D CAD systems. Such as, easy to use user interfaces, model to drawing generation and the ease of developing custom parametric objects or families, among other benefits as well. One aspect that I thought was interesting from the lecture from last class was reality capture.  One such article I found is tilted Toward automated generation of parametric BIMs based on hybrid video and laser scanning data. This research article focuses on the process of 3d scanning a building and then placing it into BIM.  The authors report that “more than two thirds of the efforts needed to model even simple facilities are spent on manual conversion of the surface data to a BIM” (Brilakis, et al, 2010).  3D scanning does not currently hold any other information of the structure other than the geometric shape.  All the other information has to be inputted by a user manually.  This paper proposes a detailed framework on how the process of using pictures/video and laser scanning can be used successfully to create a BIM model should be. This paper also has some nice graphics that show examples of laser scanned buildings and how they modeled them into BIM.

The second source I found was a video titled Long Range 3D Scanning- buildings, power plants and more.  This video shows the benefits of 3d scanning technology.  This technology has the ability to create a BIM model and subsequently create 3D models in order to obtain measurements and information about a structure or site. 3D laser scanning can measure large sites and structures. The video claims that it is fast, reliable, and accurate.  The speaker from the previous class showed us a sample of it, but this video shows in more detail the benefits of this technology.  It’s more of a commercial for people in the field.  But it’s definitely worth taking a look at.  3D scanning is used for placing existing models in BIM for future renovation and additions. 3D scanning can provide an interactive 3d computer model you can walk around in almost like a video game. Another benefit that the video claims is that, 3D laser scanning includes tracking the life of a building, a building can be scanned multiple times throughout its life cycle and those scans can be used estimating the structural integrity. With the use of 3D scanning and the benefits of BIM, professionals in the field can further streamline the renovation process to make it faster, cheaper, and sustainable. It can also be possible to scan objects such as bookcases, water heaters, etc. to create families and place them in a BIM model.