Differences between Scan to BIM for the design and construction phase

Scan to BIM improves the process of new construction projects or renovations in several ways. It adds value in every aspect throughout the building’s lifecycle. It helps users save time and cost thanks to well-informed decision-making.

The BIM models created from the Scan to BIM process have been applied for various purposes according to different project phases (i.e, design, construction, operation, and management). Knowing the intended applications of BIM models will enable you to identify the right information requirements in the models.

That’s why we’ve put together this article for you on the differences between how the Scan to BIM is applied for the design phase and the construction phase. With extensive experience in creating 3D BIM models, we will have suggestions for you on 3D BIM models that are suitable for the intended applications.

But before jumping into BIM models, let’s get started with how the Scan to BIM can be beneficial at each project phase below.

1. How Scan to BIM benefits the design phase

Let’s say you are hired for a project at School. Your clients need to gather documentation on the existing construction conditions. This information is later used to design the building that meets the site conditions. What’s happened if BIM models were created on outdated or fragmented information. It is more likely to waste you much time, even then, trigger significant consequences for all users. So as for this type of situation, the Scan to BIM is a good choice.

The information from the Scan to BIM process is highly accurate and detailed. It enables designers to be aware of the existing site conditions better to make an optimal building design. For instance, a renovation project in the UK applied the Scan to BIM to create reliable and accurate data. All models required LOD 4 in the UK standard.

Not only the design phase but the Scan to BIM also continue adding values to the rest phase of the project lifecycle. It plays a more and more vital role in every aspect of the construction project. What’s more, it improves communication with the rest of the project team to ensure well-informed decision making. Keep reading the following section to discover the Scan to BIM uses in the construction phase.

2. How Scan to BIM benefits the construction phase

In the construction phase, the Scan to BIM has been adopted for various purposes. Especially, it can help to solve time-consuming and arduous tasks. For instance, you need to collect data to review the actual project progress. To get the job done, you are more likely to have to visit on-site construction to take measurements. This requires careful planning on when you visit the site, the amount of time you’re allowed to spend there, the number of personnel needed for the task.

All this costs your time, resources, and budget. But, by using the Scan to BIM, you can spend fewer efforts on these tasks. Some use-case scenarios of the Scan to BIM in the construction phase include:

• Quality assessment/ quality control (QA/QC);
• Early problem detection;
• Progress tracking on a project;
• Virtual environments for installation and assembly;

We’ve already analyzed in detail these applications in the previous article How Scan to BIM is used in the construction phase. Now hope that you can know the different applications of the Scan to BIM in each project phase. The next step is that you need to identify the information requirements of the BIM models.

Bonus: How Scan to BIM is used in the construction phase

3. Differences of required information in BIM models

The different uses of the Scan to BIM require different information in the BIM models. Thus, it is essential to identify all the requirements for the intended BIM models before getting started with the process of Scan to BIM. This enables you to avoid collecting too much information or insufficient information that impacts the quality of the BIM models.

So what requirements do you need to determine? There are three aspects we need to identify including:

• Required building elements: Refers to the building elements that should be modeled in BIM models. For instance, stair, exterior windows, exterior walls
• Required level of detail (LOD): Lets you know the degree to which the building element is detailed. Five popular levels include LOD 100, LOD 200, LOD 300, LOD 400, LOD 500;
• Required non-geometric attributes: Refers to some properties such as materials, colors of the building elements;

As mentioned above, the Scan to BIM application is different between the design and construction phases. So what information are BIM models included for these phases?

3D BIM models for the design phase

According to the NBS report, 71% of designers expect that manufacturers should create fully-functional parameterized 3D BIM objects. In other words, 3D BIM models for the design phase include two key factors:

• The functionality of 3D BIM objects. For instance, assigning internal or external function to BIM objects, adding tolerance of all warped objects, etc;
• Valuable and rich information. Some information includes size parameter, materials, naming conventions, etc;

The BIM models can need high LOD specification such as LOD 300, LOD 400. Creating parametric 3D models makes reviewing become quick, accurate, and intuitive. Also, it gives designers the flexibility to respond to on-going design challenges.

Bonus: It’s time to convey design intent value for Scan to BIM projects

3D BIM models for the construction phase

Yet, there will be a little bit of difference in BIM models for the construction phase. Unlike architects, some contractors use 3D BIM models to track the project progress or clash detection. Thus, the BIM Models generated from the Scan to BIM process may be less detailed. The BIM models for this type of application can be within LOD 200-300. They expect BIM models include some factors that help them group clashes or search components

Wrapping up

We hope that the article clarifies the different uses of the Scan to BIM in each project phase. Besides, you can also know the required information in BIM models for the intended use. Therefrom, you are able to add values to BIM models for your clients at any phase of the project lifecycle.

If you are looking for a Scan to BIM provider that enables you to create BIM models for intended applications, don’t hesitate to let us know. We are 100% confident to help you reach your goals. Our BIM consultants will work with you to analyze the project and give you an optimal solution with a budgetary quotation.

Contact ViBIM today for a free consultation and demonstration.