How do I turn a point cloud into a Revit model?

Get the scan into Revit

Revit reads point clouds through ReCap. Most scanners and registration tools export E57, which ReCap turns into a project Revit can link. Register the scans into one cloud before you start, and crop away anything outside the area you are modelling. A smaller cloud is much easier to work with.

Set up the model from the scan

• Levels. Cut a section through the cloud and place each level on the floor slabs you can see.
• Plan views. Set a view range that slices the cloud just above the floor, so walls show as clean lines.
• Orientation. Rotate the project so the main walls run square to the screen. It saves hours of fiddly drawing.

Model over the points

Draw walls along the sliced outline, then floors, ceilings and roofs from sections. Place doors and windows where the openings show in the cloud. Add columns, beams and services last, checking each against a section. Expect this to be the longest part of the job.

Check it against the scan

Before you hand the model over, look at it with the cloud turned on in plan, section and 3D. Anything that sits off the points is where the model and the building disagree.

Or skip the modelling

Tesseract by Landex takes the scan and returns the Revit model, so your time goes on checking it instead of drawing it.