3D LiDAR to Vectorworks asbuilt models

[Cogent-Optics]

Hey everyone,

 

I run Cogent Optics, a 3D LiDAR scanning firm that's been doing as-built documentation for 12 years. We've primarily worked with architects using Revit, ArchiCAD, and AutoCAD - but just completed our first Vectorworks conversion and really enjoyed the workflow. I'm realizing there's a whole community of Vectorworks architects we haven't connected with yet, and honestly, we'd love to work with more of you.

 

What we do:

• 3D laser scanning of existing buildings
• Point cloud to BIM conversions
• As-built documentation for renovation projects

 

Why I'm posting:

We're specifically looking to build relationships with Vectorworks users. If you're working on renovation projects or adaptive reuse and need accurate existing conditions documentation, I'd love to talk.

 

Also - if anyone has insights on what Vectorworks architects specifically look for in scan-to-BIM deliverables (compared to Revit/ArchiCAD workflows), I'm all ears. Always learning.

 

Feel free to check out our work at cogentoptics.com or reach out directly if you've got a project coming up.

 

Thanks for having me in the community.

[Tom W.]

Presumably you don't do laser scanning globally...?

[zoomer]

2 hours ago, Tom W. said:

Presumably you don't do laser scanning globally...?

 

 

 

Quote

throughout California, and Hawaii.

 

 

As far as I know, that already covers nearly 98% of world population.

[Cogent-Optics]

14 hours ago, Tom W. said:

Presumably you don't do laser scanning globally...?

You’re correct — most of my laser scanning projects have been in California and Hawai‘i, with a few in Washington, Oregon, Missouri, and Texas.

 

I haven’t yet scanned outside the U.S., but I’m absolutely open to international work. I’ve got the experience to handle travel-based projects efficiently, and I’m always interested in collaborating with teams who value precision and reliability in their scans.

 

Do you have a specific project or location in mind?

[Tom W.]

6 hours ago, Cogent-Optics said:

Do you have a specific project or location in mind?

 

No I was just wondering if you were pitching your services to everyone here on the forum or a certain geographical area.

[Cogent-Optics]

42 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

 

No I was just wondering if you were pitching your services to everyone here on the forum or a certain geographical area.

Mainly California and Hawaii, but open to projects elsewhere. I'm here to connect with architects who need quality as-built work. 

[Tom W.]

7 hours ago, Cogent-Optics said:

Mainly California and Hawaii, but open to projects elsewhere. I'm here to connect with architects who need quality as-built work. 

 

I think there was a thread a year or two ago where people were asking about having buildings scanned + modelled in VW but I can't find it now. I believe this was entertainment venues. I imagine in that case it would be useful to have the scan converted to a readymade model because it's just a backdrop for the lighting/stage design (could be wrong!) but in architecture, where the existing building is being adapted/augmented, it might be less attractive/useful. For me at least I would rather model the existing conditions myself. And I use a local surveyor for the scanning. I am in eastern England in the UK. But be interested to hear what others say.

[line-weight]

Yes I too am in the UK so provide no business opportunity for the OP. But it would be interesting to hear what exactly the process is for converting survey data into a VW model for similar reasons. It seems to me the surveyor would need to know quite a bit about the recipient's preferred drawing setup, in order to provide something useful. If it was me I'd probably want it supplied along with the original point cloud data too, so that I could verify how accurately it had been converted, and see how things like non-plumb walls had been handled.

[Cogent-Optics]

15 hours ago, Tom W. said:

 

I think there was a thread a year or two ago where people were asking about having buildings scanned + modelled in VW but I can't find it now. I believe this was entertainment venues. I imagine in that case it would be useful to have the scan converted to a readymade model because it's just a backdrop for the lighting/stage design (could be wrong!) but in architecture, where the existing building is being adapted/augmented, it might be less attractive/useful. For me at least I would rather model the existing conditions myself. And I use a local surveyor for the scanning. I am in eastern England in the UK. But be interested to hear what others say.

Thank you Tom. Using a local surveyor is the more cost effective option for sure. I love the idea of traveling the world with my scanner. 

I used AI to help find the thread, was this it?
 

 

Edited October 7 by Cogent-Optics

[Cogent-Optics]

15 hours ago, line-weight said:

Yes I too am in the UK so provide no business opportunity for the OP. But it would be interesting to hear what exactly the process is for converting survey data into a VW model for similar reasons. It seems to me the surveyor would need to know quite a bit about the recipient's preferred drawing setup, in order to provide something useful. If it was me I'd probably want it supplied along with the original point cloud data too, so that I could verify how accurately it had been converted, and see how things like non-plumb walls had been handled.

Thanks line-weight.
We recently converted a point cloud to an ArchiCAD model, exported it as IFC, and imported that into Vectorworks where we had to modify it into a fully editable model. Modeling software isn't perfect across tech borders.
 

We typically don't release point clouds to clients, though some surveyors do. In twelve years, I've only had one client request the raw data. Our accuracy is within 1/8" for plumb walls.
 

The interesting difference with AutoCAD clients - they often want walls drafted as plumb even when they're slightly off. A slight angle in 2D AutoCAD creates messy files, but in 3D modeling it makes sense to show a wall with a 7-degree angle. We give clients the choice of how they want their projects drafted based on their workflow needs.

[Tom W.]

42 minutes ago, Cogent-Optics said:

I used AI to help find the thread, was this it?

 

It was, well done!

 

33 minutes ago, Cogent-Optics said:

We typically don't release point clouds to clients, though some surveyors do. In twelve years, I've only had one client request the raw data.

 

Interesting. From my surveyor I get a point cloud for the building/s + a point file for the terrain. If the client works in 2D the surveyor will trace the point cloud to generate 2D plans + elevations but this costs extra + I want 3D data not 2D.

 

36 minutes ago, Cogent-Optics said:

The interesting difference with AutoCAD clients - they often want walls drafted as plumb even when they're slightly off. A slight angle in 2D AutoCAD creates messy files, but in 3D modeling it makes sense to show a wall with a 7-degree angle.

 

In Vectorworks if you want to create a BIM model using Walls, Slabs, etc then you have to model everything plumb so the danger is that if the surveyor were to create such a model from the survey data but not supply that data to the client the client wouldn't necessarily know where rationalisation had taken place + to what extent. In the past I have modelled the existing architecture fairly accurately using 3D modelling tools initially (i.e. a faithful representation of the point cloud with all the leaning/twisting walls, sloping floors, bumpy roofs, etc) then modelled it again using Walls, Slabs, Roofs, etc in order to develop a BIM model for the project. The first model was a useful staging post producing the BIM model (rather than deriving it directly from the point cloud) + was useful to have in the background in the file to call on for specific viewports + to check critical dimensions. The point cloud itself was enormous + too unwieldy to retain in the file.

 

So in this scenario I could see a role for the surveyor to produce the initial 'realistic' model for the client as navigating/interpreting the point cloud can be quite tricky + time consuming.

 

1 hour ago, Cogent-Optics said:

I love the idea of traveling the world with my scanner. 

 

Well if you want to pay for the flights + accommodation... 🙂

[Cogent-Optics]

40 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

 

Thank you for sharing....yes, point-cloud data can be massive and unwieldy for large projects. 

 

Well if you want to pay for the flights + accommodation... 🙂 - I would charge for that, depending on how many projects and in what countries. It doesn't exactly make sense, but if the right opportunity shows up, I'm interested. 

 

Edited October 7 by Cogent-Optics

[line-weight]

2 hours ago, Cogent-Optics said:

We recently converted a point cloud to an ArchiCAD model, exported it as IFC, and imported that into Vectorworks where we had to modify it into a fully editable model. Modeling software isn't perfect across tech borders

Why the intermediate step in archicad rather than straight into VW?

[Cogent-Optics]

14 hours ago, line-weight said:

Why the intermediate step in archicad rather than straight into VW?

- We had not worked in Vectorworks with Point Clouds, so we took an existing point-cloud and 3D model we modeled in ArchiCAD and worked backwards to make the model fully editable in Vectorworks.