What is Point Cloud to BIM?
PC2BIM turns the point cloud you capture on site into an editable 3D BIM model of the building, delivered in Revit or Archicad (and soon, AutoCAD). You scan, upload, and we build the model based on your point cloud.
How do I place a Point Cloud to BIM order?
Step 1: Pick your building type
There are two categories on the PC2BIM ordering page:
- Residential: Single family homes and individual condo/apartment units.
- Commercial: Industrial / Commercial / Multi-story facilities such as warehouses, offices, retail, special-use buildings like hospitals
Not sure which one fits? Contact us before you order and we’ll help you sort it out. Our team will always verify pricing before starting the job.
Step 2: Pricing
| Comparable scope | Commercial | Commercial for Essentials Members | Residential | Residential for Essentials Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D model – Architecture, Structure and MEPF in Archicad and Revit | $0.55/sqft | $0.51/sqft | $0.40/sqft | $0.36/sqft |
| Dimensioned plan set, delivered as an editable file in AutoCAD and PDF (coming soon) | $0.44/sqft | $0.40/sqft | $0.30/sqft | $0.26/sqft |
Step 3: How it works
- Upload your point cloud on the ordering page for the category you picked.
- Our modeling team reviews it and calculates the square footage.
- You get a price estimate before we start.
- Once you approve it, we start modeling.
- When it’s done, your invoice is based on the final modeled square footage.
What is it best for?
PC2BIM gives you fast, schematic-level as-built documentation. It works well for spatial coordination, early-stage design, and master planning.
What is it not meant for?
The model is not intended for high-precision fabrication, pre-fabrication installation, or detailed structural engineering analysis. If you need that level of precision, talk to us about a custom Scale Agreement.
Level of detail and accuracy
What level of detail (LOD) will my model have?
Standard Point Cloud to BIM models are built to LOD 200. Elements are generic placeholders that show approximate size, shape, location, and orientation based on your scan. Higher levels, such as LOD 300, are available through a custom Scale Agreement.
How accurate will my model be?
We use “scan-based accuracy.” The model reflects only what is visible in your point cloud, so its accuracy depends on how complete, dense, and well registered your scan is. Gaps, blocked views, shadows, and noise in the scan carry through to the model or are shown as generic geometry.
Does ceiling height affect the accuracy of my model?
Yes. Precision can drop for anything more than 15 feet (4.5 m) above the floor, because scan data gets weaker with distance.
What Twindo models
Which building elements are included?
Everything below is modeled to LOD 200 from what is visible in your scan.
| Discipline | What’s included | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural | Walls, floors, slabs, ramps, windows, doors, openings, stairs, railings, elevator shafts, roofs, skylights, kitchen cabinets and countertops | Generic wall and slab types with no layers or finishes. Openings follow the scanned frame size without custom trim. Cabinets are shown as simple boxes unless you ask otherwise. |
| Structural | Columns, beams, trusses | Shapes and positions follow the scan. No plates, bolts, or joints. |
| Electrical | Exposed conduit, cable trays and ladders, junction boxes, panels, equipment, IT racks, ceiling fans, smoke detectors, light fixtures | Conduit under 2″ (50 mm) is shown as a simple block. Junction boxes and interface boxes are modeled only above 4 x 4″ (100 x 100 mm). |
| Mechanical (HVAC) | Exposed ductwork, fittings, transitions, flex duct, duct caps, air conditioning and exhaust units, dampers, air terminals | Ducts use outside dimensions. Hangers and supports are not included. |
| Plumbing | Exposed pipes, valves, flanges, gutters, toilets, urinals, sinks, showers, bathtubs | Pipes over 2″ (50 mm) are modeled with standard fittings. Fixtures use generic placeholders. |
| Equipment | Water boilers, pumps, tanks, heaters, furnaces | Generic shapes placed and sized from the point cloud. |
| Fire protection | Wall- and ceiling-mounted devices and the exposed sprinkler system | Simplified placeholders and standard fittings. |
What if my scan only captures one side of a wall?
If we can’t determine wall thickness from the point cloud, we use a standard thickness measured from the scanned face: 6.5″ for exterior walls and 4.5″ for interior walls.
Will you model things hidden inside walls or ceilings?
No. Anything inside wall cavities, above hard soffits, or inside equipment enclosures is out of scope, because the point cloud won’t contain it.
Will you model a beam that sags?
Beams are modeled straight at their real position and slope. If a beam visibly sags more than 2″ over a 10 ft span, we’ll model the curve to within 1/2″ of the scan, but only if you ask for it.
What if the stairs are unusual?
Stairs that don’t fit standard stair types are modeled in place, so the shape follows what is visible within the point cloud.
What’s not included
What isn’t included in a standard model?
To keep delivery fast, the following are not part of Twindo’s standard Point Cloud to BIM service:
- Structural steel connections: plates, bolts, gussets, and welds
- Below-slab infrastructure: buried piping, foundations, and underground utilities
- Landscaping and site features: trees, vegetation, terrain, and exterior hardscaping
- Loose furniture and movable equipment, except cabinets that include plumbing fixtures
- Finishes and layers: multi-layer wall assemblies, membranes, insulation, and paint
- Concealed or above-ceiling piping and ductwork
- Internal wiring, circuitry, and concealed electrical runs
- Pipe hangers, duct hangers, and supports
Can I add any of those details listed above?
Some are available as part of a custom Scale Agreement. Please connect with our sales team to discuss.
Preparing your scan
What makes a good point cloud?
We check quality on the surfaces we’ll model, not on project-wide averages. A cloud can look dense overall and still be unusable in the rooms that matter.
| What we check | What we need |
|---|---|
| Point spacing, architecture and structure | 15 mm or finer (about 4,500 points per m²) |
| Point spacing, MEP (pipes, ducts, conduit) | 10 mm or finer (about 10,000 points per m²) |
| Coverage | Less than 5% of in-scope surfaces missing or blocked |
| Registration | Scans merged with no doubled walls, ghosting, or misaligned floors, and registration error of 15 mm RMS or better |
| Noise | Flat surfaces no more than 15 mm “thick” |
What happens if my point cloud doesn’t meet the specs above?
Point clouds that fall short of our standard specs, such as more than 10% of surfaces missing or unmerged scans, are returned to you with a deficiency report before any modeling starts. Point clouds may still be accepted with a scope adjustment, surcharge, or accuracy disclaimer. For example, if 5% to 10% of surfaces are missing, we model those areas by inference and flag them as assumed geometry, or leave them out. If MEP spacing is between 10 and 25 mm, MEP in those areas is modeled on a best-effort basis or excluded.
Which file formats do you accept?
Structured E57 is preferred. We also accept RCP/RCS, LAS/LAZ, and PTS/PTX. Please keep the original scan positions in the file when you can.
Which files will be rejected?
We can’t use point clouds that have been turned into a mesh and converted back to points, or clouds that were heavily thinned so the original scan positions are lost and we can’t check the registration. Unregistered or unmerged scans are also rejected.
Can I submit a point cloud captured from a handheld, smartphone, or SLAM scanner?
Yes, as long as the scans are merged and meet the registration and noise requirements above. These devices often capture enough points but can fall short on accuracy and noise, so check your results before uploading.
What is LOA, and why does it matter?
LOA is the USIBD Level of Accuracy scale. A standard LOD 200 model needs a scan that supports at least LOA20, and LOA30 is preferred. Your scan’s accuracy sets a ceiling on your model’s accuracy. If you can’t show how accurate your scan is, such as with a registration report, we classify the model one LOA level lower and note that on the deliverable.
Deliverables and process
What file formats will I receive?
- Revit: .RVT files, version 2023 (newer versions upon request).
- Archicad: native files for version 28, plus an Archicad Archive (.PLA) so custom library parts, surfaces, and textures open without missing pieces.
- AutoCAD: .dwg for version 2013 (coming soon)
- Open format: IFC 4.0 or IFC 2×3 on request.
What coordinate system will be used?
We use the Twindo default coordinate system unless you need something else, such as shared coordinates or a project base point set during scan registration. Scans are imported origin to origin.
What happens after I upload my scan?
- Upload your point cloud through the web platform.
- We review the scan for density, registration quality, and site coverage, and confirm scope and turnaround with you.
- We clean up the data and build the architectural model, then the building systems (MEP and structural).
- Our quality team checks the model against your scan.
- Your as-built models are delivered to your client portal.
What if I need changes to my model?
One round of revisions is included with every project. Send your request within 10 business days of delivery. Revisions cover elements that don’t line up with your point cloud, elements that are clearly visible in your point cloud but missing from the model, and elements placed with the wrong family.
What if I need something beyond the specifications above?
If you need additional elements below our standard size cutoffs, a different software or version, or additional areas modeled that are not visible in the point cloud, please reach out to our team to see if your request can be accommodated.