Existing Conditions - iPhone Lidar Scan to Vectorworks BIM model

[markymarc]

Just wondering if anyone has been able to develop a successful workflow to get a lidar scan converted to useable 3d objects in Vectorworks ? 

We use Polycam on iPad Pro and iPhones to do a 3d scan, and it is hugely helpful as you don't have to go back to site if you'v missed something - but still taking hand measurements to create an existing conditions BIM file. So would be awesome if there was a better workflow ? I've heard of some people using Canvas and the automated conversion (for a fee) there but it would only give us a non-native line drawing and cost a fair bit, so would be keen to hear of others's experiences and dabbling in this area 🙂

[Jeff Prince]

You could try Vectorworks Nomad and see if it is sufficient for your needs.

It captures and normalizes objects like walls, window and door openings fairly well with flat surfaces instead of bumpy scans.  Desks, cabinets, chairs, and such it makes boxlike representations of.  Partial height walls, level changes in a floor, and cabinets at angles other than 90 degrees can give it a bit of trouble.  You can export a USD file to Vectorworks and use that to place real walls and such manually.  It's not going to be perfect, but you can snap to things and such

 

I imagine scan to BIM will be here soon.  However, those claiming to do it now with sophisticated AI are just paying slave wages to people in the developing world to do it manually... and you get what you pay for in that regard.

 

Here's a partial scan of a house.  Note the lower left corner is a kitchen with 45 degree cabinet/appliance units in the corners.  It had some trouble there and one of the walls isn't straight.  However, the rest of the building is pretty good and faster than the manual method of measuring if you take a few overall dimensions to cross check against.

 

Here's the perspective view of the kitchen

 

and the reality....

[MarCur]

I've tested out Vectorworks Nomad function which let us make plans by using iPhone Pro embedded Lidar sensor.

Used my brand new iPhone 15 ProMax and for sure the speed and overall survey is pretty nice; but the resulting 3d model measures are not reliable.

Measures are always shorter by about 11 to 12 cm when between 150 to 450 cm. On a longer distance of 708 cm the model measure is 689 cm so -17 cm.