Scan To BIM Benefits & Use Cases

Scan To BIM Benefits & Use Cases

Architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) technology has grown fast in recent years, with late-stage venture capital investment reaching $11.5 billion between 2020 and 2022—more than triple the amount from the previous three years. And building information modeling (BIM) is one of the technologies driving this transformation. 

At its core, Scan to BIM brings order in chaos, especially in AEC, where fragmented workflows are all too common, and there's an evident need for digital solutions.

Scan to BIM connects fragmented spatial data like laser scans, point clouds, and existing building data into a coherent, unified digital 3D model that captures your desired physical or built asset and interdependencies. And, by extension, it makes the planning and construction of the asset more accurate. However, despite common misconceptions, digital twins and BIM work quite differently. While digital twins allow you to manage and interact with these assets virtually, BIM only lets you visualize the digital representation.

In this article, we’ll unpack Scan to BIM, its benefits, real-world applications, and how it supports more efficient project workflows.

What is Scan to BIM?

Scan to BIM is the process where a 3D laser scanner captures millions of precise measurement points, forming a "point cloud" of the space or structure in real-time, then converts that into a BIM model that accurately reflects real-world structures or spaces. 

Scan to BIM creates a solid foundation for design, construction, and facility management because it offers a visual and data-rich representation of a space, which in turn facilitates better planning, design, and collaboration across all project phases.

What are the benefits of Scan to BIM?

Imagine a picture or sheet drawing, but in 3D, where you can zoom in on every detail. You can see everything behind the walls, from the pipes to the wiring, down to every individual component. You even get insights into what materials were used and how much they cost—that’s essentially what Scan to BIM brings to the table. And with Matterport digital twins, your 3D BIM models go even further. Let’s explore some of the upsides below. 

Create accurate, high-fidelity models

As we’ve covered, Scan to BIM creates detailed 3D models that capture every part of a structure in the built world. In turn, you’ll reduce any mistakes in the design or construction phase. By catching potential discrepancies early, these scans help you avoid costly project delays and budget overruns. 

With scan-to-BIM workflows, your teams and clients can explore and approve designs ahead of time, so you have smoother buy-in before any work begins.

^{Example of Matterport BIM files}

Matterport BIM files capture key building components like walls, doors, stairs, and windows, giving you a reliable starting point for your project, but it doesn’t end there. You can also incorporate models of non-architectural elements, like tables, seating, cabinets, and appliances, along with interior architecture features and visible MEP systems, including equipment, plumbing, and electrical fixtures. 

Put simply, you won't have to deal with guesswork when you're working with existing assets.

Enable architects, engineers, and construction professionals to connect effortlessly with all stakeholders

BIM models offer a single source of truth for projects, which in turn, enable smoother communication between architects, engineers, and construction professionals with all project stakeholders.

This means you can quickly spot potential clashes—where areas of a building may collide or conflict with another—before the work begins and keep the project on track. Plus, the digital format of Scan to BIM models makes remote collaboration easy, so all the involved stakeholders can access and update the model from anywhere, regardless of location. 

Move projects forward more efficiently with less site visits

Thanks to the fast, reliable 3D models from Scan to BIM, your team will be positioned to make decisions quickly and avoid potential bottlenecks, all while reducing site visits. This effectively reduces project downtime and cuts costs. 

As Heidemann, Lacopeta, and Overlack from McKinsey put it:

In the design phase, a fully digital construction project can reduce drawing revisions, redundant conversations, and version errors while lowering project risk and facilitating clash detection. Going digital also supports procurement across work packages and over time, increasing safety standards and allowing better workforce planning and machinery use.”

So, even though some in AEC may be weary of digital workflows, the benefits are certainly worth the investment.

Get better spatial data for maintenance, renovations, and future expansions

Scan to BIM gives facility managers the detailed data they need to stay on top of maintenance, handle renovations, and plan future expansions. In other words, it helps you manage the building’s lifecycle efficiently.

As stated in FacilitiesNet, accurate documentation is key for renovation projects. And Scan to BIM makes it easier to get a clear picture of existing conditions. This becomes especially valuable with heritage buildings, where it's important to preserve the building's historical details. Instead of relying on designs that might not be fully accurate, digital twins and Scan to BIM creates a digital model that reflects the building exactly as it is, i.e., "a true reflection of reality."

And that’s where Matterport shines.  In 2023, we documented the restored Aso Shrine Gate and nearby areas to help preserve Japanese cultural and historical landmarks as 3D digital twins.​

With built-in lidar sensors, the Pro3 camera collected precise point cloud data to create digital twins. These twins can generate BIM (.ifc, .rvt) and CAD (.dwg) files, offering both a photorealistic replica and detailed structural data. This way, Aso Shrine also has accurate documentation to support future maintenance and renovations.

As the restoration was underway, we explored several ways to demonstrate progress to our supporters both in the Aso region and afar. When we learned about Matterport’s capabilities not only to share the shrine, but preserve it with digital documentation, it became clear it was the best tool for the project.” – Mr. Hidetaka Ikeura, Chief Priest of Aso Shrine.

3 practical use cases for Scan to BIM

Scan to BIM is already being used effectively across the AEC industry in various ways throughout the building lifecycle. Below, we’ve covered 3 practical use cases. 

1. Design and planning

Scan to BIM benefits multiple stakeholders in the design and planning stage of a project lifecycle, from architects, structural engineers, and MEP engineers to project managers and BIM or virtual design and construction (VDC) managers. Specifically, it helps:

• Capture accurate as-built conditions, which means architects and engineers can plan renovations with confidence

• Use scanned data to assess site conditions, topography, and surrounding structures to make smarter building design decisions

• Build precise 3D models to support space planning and optimize layouts, especially in renovation projects

• Catch potential conflicts between old and new structures early through clash detection, ultimately avoiding project delays and extra costs

• Get a clear view of the space you’re working with, helping interior designers plan layouts and furnishings without multiple site visits

• Use virtual models to help clients picture the final design, making it easier for them to make decisions quickly

Matterport digital twins take BIM even further. Take ID Plans, for instance, a leading commercial real estate services provider that uses visual and spatial data to support sales, leasing, planning, and construction. 

With Matterport’s detailed digital twins, ID Plans sped up design and construction planning, cutting project costs and keeping projects on track, seeing up to 30% time savings.

2. Construction

Scan to BIM is becoming increasingly popular in construction industry management, too. Thanks to real-time, as-built spatial data (like digital twins in construction), you can:

• Use regular scans to align progress with the BIM model and ensure everything stays on track

• Verify quality by checking that the as-built matches the design specifications 

• Build detailed as-built models with periodic scans, which are essential for maintenance or future renovations

• Use scanned data for structural analysis, especially during renovations or when assessing the condition of existing structures

• Identify and address potential safety risks that could take place on-site, giving site visitors (like owners or external stakeholders) a remote view of the site and even using the digital twin as “training” to ahead of a site visit

And Scan to BIM is not just limited to buildings. As noted in aZoBuild, it's also used to construct civil structures like bridges, tunnels, concrete elements, and much more. Additionally, combining Scan to BIM with ground-penetrating radar makes detailed internal geometry analysis possible, so it's useful for assessing structures such as tunnels and bridge piers.

In fact, global commercial real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield used Matterport to digitize over 1,000 properties across 21 countries in less than 12 months, seeing 53% cost savings. Plus, with digital twins, stakeholders could collaborate remotely using accurate 3D models for better construction planning, speeding up project timelines and cutting down on-site visits.

3. Operations and maintenance

Scan to BIM comes in handy during the post-construction phase as well, especially when you’re looking at operations and maintenance of buildings. For instance, you can:

• Manage spaces, track assets, and plan maintenance efficiently, thanks to as-built models

• Renovation planning gets easier when you use an up-to-date Scan to BIM model as a starting point

• Use detailed models for energy analysis and to optimize building systems

• Improve emergency response planning, thanks to reliable building models

That said, Scan to BIM is evolving into more than just a visual representation of a building. It’s now layering deeper project management elements like schedules and budgets, adding new metadata to the models. 

And these expanded BIM dimensions help project teams track progress and costs more effectively, bringing richer context to every phase of a project, like with digital twins.

Healthcare Trust of America (HTA)—United States’ largest owner and operator of medical office buildings—streamlined property management with 3D digital twins, reducing the need for site visits. Plus, the organization leveraged 3D scans to support capital improvements in their medical office buildings. By virtually touring areas like patient waiting rooms and elevator lobbies, HTA could proactively identify what needed to be upgraded or replaced and do its part as a landlord.

Matterport elevates BIM with immersive digital twins

With Matterport, you can move quickly from site capture to design without the usual delays. 

The LOD 200 BIM files give you a reliable starting point, eliminating the need for manual translation and setup. Plus, Matterport’s free Revit plugin lets you seamlessly import BIM files and point clouds directly into Revit from your Matterport account—without needing an extra file conversion. By simplifying workflows, you can stay focused on scoping design requirements and delivering projects efficiently. 

Moreover, digital twins add real-time insights to traditional 3D models. This way, you can visualize spaces virtually, avoid needless on-site visits, and speed up project timelines.

Firms like Swinerton, HH Angus, Arup, and KUOP Design use Matterport to connect with platforms like Autodesk BIM 360 (now part of Autodesk Construction Cloud), Revit, and AutoCAD. These integrations make it easy to take accurate measurements, flag issues, and share progress remotely—helping you work faster, cut costs, and make smarter decisions at every project phase.

And you can get started right away. Create a free Matterport account.