3D Laser Scanning for Architects
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Short answer: We give architects a field-verified starting point — a scan-based Revit model or 2D CAD background at a defined USIBD LOA — so design begins from reality instead of from a tape measure and hope.
Design decisions are only as good as the existing conditions they’re based on. When the base model is wrong, the error follows the project all the way to the field. We capture the building once, accurately, so your team designs against a model that matches what’s actually there.
What architects deal with
- Field measuring is slow, disruptive, and still misses things
- Old drawings rarely match the as-built reality
- Discrepancies surface during construction as costly RFIs and change orders
- Coordinating MEP against unknown above-ceiling conditions
How field-verified documentation helps
A laser scan captures millions of measured points in a single visit, which we turn into a Revit model or CAD backgrounds at a specified USIBD Level of Accuracy. You get accurate walls, structure, and MEP to design against — with a verification report proving the accuracy.
- Field measuring is slow and disruptiveManual measuring ties up staff, interrupts occupants, and still misses conditions — particularly anything above a ceiling or behind equipment.
- Old drawings rarely match realityLegacy plans seldom reflect the as-built condition, and decades of undocumented modification never made it back onto a sheet.
- Discrepancies surface during constructionWhat the base drawings got wrong resurfaces in the field as costly RFIs and change orders, long after the design decisions were locked.
- MEP hides above the ceilingCoordinating new work against unknown above-ceiling conditions is guesswork until something is opened up.
What we deliver for architects
- Scan-to-BIM Revit models (LOD 200–350, LOA 20–40)
- 2D CAD floor plans, elevations, and sections
- Registered, colorized point clouds (E57/RCP)
- Field-verification / accuracy report
- 360° virtual tour for remote reference
Why CAD Construct LLC
Twenty-plus years documenting existing buildings across Pittsburgh and Western PA. Every deliverable is tied to a defined LOA and verified, so your drawings start from ground truth.
- Capture the building onceA laser scan records millions of measured points in a single visit, working around occupancy with after-hours or weekend capture where needed.
- Register and verifyScan positions are aligned into one coordinate system, then checked against a specified USIBD Level of Accuracy rather than assumed correct.
- Model to a stated LOD and LOAGeometry becomes a scan-to-BIM Revit model at LOD 200–350 and LOA 20–40, with accurate walls, structure and MEP to design against.
- Issue the accuracy reportA field-verification report documents the achieved accuracy, so the model is provably tied to ground truth rather than trusted on faith.
- Design from realityYour team starts from a base model that matches what is actually there, plus CAD backgrounds, point clouds and a 360° tour for remote reference.
Frequently asked questions
Can you deliver a Revit model, not just a point cloud?
Yes — we deliver scan-to-BIM Revit models at a specified LOD and USIBD LOA, plus the point cloud if you want it. Compare scan-to-BIM vs. 2D CAD as-builts and BIM vs. CAD.
- LOD 200–350Scan-to-BIM Revit model detail range delivered for architectural work
- LOA 20–40USIBD Level of Accuracy range delivered, typically 20–30 for architectural scope
- 95%Confidence at which accuracy is verified and documented in the report
- 1 dayTypical capture time for a commercial floor, with deliverables following in days to a few weeks
How accurate is a scan-based model?
We typically deliver LOA 20–30 for architectural work, verified at 95% confidence and documented in an accuracy report.
- Base model built from legacy drawings
- Undocumented modifications stay invisible
- Above-ceiling MEP remains unknown
- Errors surface in the field as RFIs
- Change orders absorb the cost late
- Base model measured from the standing building
- Decades of modification captured directly
- Structure and MEP available to design against
- Conflicts caught on screen, not on site
How long does capture take?
A typical commercial floor is captured in a day or less; deliverables follow in days to a few weeks depending on scope.
Can you scan an occupied building?
Yes. We work around occupancy and can schedule after-hours or weekend capture.
- Scan-to-BIM Revit modelsAuthored at a specified LOD 200–350 and USIBD LOA 20–40, with the point cloud alongside if you want it.
- 2D CAD floor plans, elevations and sectionsDrawing backgrounds your team can import and start working from without hours of cleanup.
- Registered, colorized point cloudsDelivered as E57 or RCP so the data drops into ReCap, Revit and the rest of your toolchain.
- Field-verification accuracy reportDocuments the achieved Level of Accuracy at 95% confidence, proving the deliverable against the building.
- 360° virtual tourA navigable record of the space for remote reference, so the team can revisit conditions without another site trip.
Our services for Architects
From existing-condition capture to design-ready deliverables, here is how each service supports architectural work.
- 3D Laser Scanning — Capture existing conditions as a point cloud so your design starts from reality. Estimate cost →
- As-Built Documentation — Get accurate 2D as-built drawings of the existing building to design and detail against. Estimate cost →
- Scan-to-BIM — Receive a Revit model of existing conditions at your required LOD to design directly in BIM. Estimate cost →
- 360° Virtual Tours — Share a navigable 360° record of the site with your team and consultants. Estimate cost →
Related resources
Starting a project on an existing building? Request a quote.
Free tools & templates
- 3D laser scanning cost calculator
- As-built documentation cost calculator
- Scan-to-BIM cost calculator
- 360° virtual tour cost calculator
- Virtual storefront cost calculator
- As-built ROI & rework-cost calculator
- Scan-to-BIM RFP template (Word)
- As-built scope-of-work template (Word)
- Site-prep checklist (Word)
CAD Construct LLC
3D laser scanning, as-built documentation, scan-to-BIM & 360° virtual tours across Pittsburgh & Western PA — built on 20 years of architectural drafting, turning existing buildings into field-verified digital records. cadconstructllc.com
