Abstract
Architectural survey methods using terrestrial 3D laser scanning and digital photogrammetry prove capable of registering a building with a level of accuracy far superior to traditional methods, minimizing errors, and reducing fieldwork. Current developments in the construction industry, and new requirements emerging worldwide, have increased the demand for building information modeling (BIM) models as the end product of these surveys. Still, because BIM is a new paradigm, many professionals find the transition challenging, especially when dealing with old and heritage buildings. The new ways of the market demand solutions to optimize processes and make architectural reconstruction from point clouds even more efficient. An online questionnaire survey was carried out with 208 industry professionals working in 78 countries to assess the scope of these demands. As a result, the article presents an overview of current scan-to-BIM practices worldwide with data regarding the architectural survey and BIM modeling derived from point clouds. The implemented survey also identifies in which countries BIM adherence is most accelerated for conventional buildings and for listed buildings and non-listed old buildings, the main benefits and difficulties encountered by professionals, tools and workflows used, and the role of different professionals in collaborative work.
Highlights
Throughout history, together with architectural survey techniques, approaches to representing the building and its elements in three-dimensional reproductions have been created to better understand spatiality, proportions, geometry, and construction techniques employed [1]
Along with the general overview of scan-to-building information modeling (BIM) obtained with this survey, it was possible to analyze the progress and the use of reality capture technologies applied to heritage and to old buildings, and the use of BIM for these cases
This research aimed to draw the global overview of scan-to-BIM through the application of an online survey with expert professionals in building survey, point cloud data manipulation, or BIM modeling from this data
Summary
Throughout history, together with architectural survey techniques, approaches to representing the building and its elements in three-dimensional reproductions have been created to better understand spatiality, proportions, geometry, and construction techniques employed [1]. Due to government incentives and industry requirements, the use of BIM is on the rise, but still with a significant predominance of new buildings [7,8]. Even in these cases, there is still resistance on the part of professionals to incorporate this new work methodology to their offices. Some factors contribute to hindering the complete transition from previous methodologies to BIM, such as the need for better interpolation and exchange of information between the various tools, the need for organization and standardization of work methods, the existence of contracts and traditional work agreements that make change difficult, and the high initial cost that a complete transition can bring to companies [9,10]
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