Planning a renovation or refurbishment? How to get reliable as-built data
Anyone planning a renovation or refurbishment needs a reliable basis that reflects the actual condition of the existing building. But what if up-to-date as-built plans are missing, existing documentation is outdated, or no digital building survey has been carried out yet?
Not every project starts with an up-to-date point cloud – and not every project requires a new laser scan. Depending on the documentation already available and how the data will be used, as-built plans and 3D BIM models can be created from different sources.
If suitable and up-to-date as-built data is not available, a new building survey using laser scanning may be the right solution. Even if no laser scan has been carried out yet, Miviso can support the entire process: from defining the required data and selecting a suitable surveying partner to creating the final 2D plans or 3D BIM model.
What you’ll find in this article:
What as-built data do I need for a renovation or refurbishment?
For a renovation or refurbishment, planners need reliable information about the existing condition of the building. Depending on the project, up-to-date 2D as-built plans or a 3D as-built model may provide the appropriate basis for further planning. If existing plans are outdated, incomplete, or not accurate enough, a new building survey using laser scanning may be useful.
The specific as-built data required depends on the planned work and the information already available about the building. For smaller projects, up-to-date and sufficiently accurate 2D plans may be enough. For more extensive renovations, refurbishments, or BIM-based planning processes, a three-dimensional as-built model may be beneficial.
The key is not to capture as much data as possible, but to have the right as-built data for the intended use.
Existing information that can serve as a basis for further planning and modeling may include:
DWG files and digital 2D plans
older as-built or approval plans
paper plans
existing 3D data
point clouds from a previous building survey
planning and design documentation
Before commissioning a new survey, it is therefore worth checking whether the available data is already sufficient for the intended use and the required modeling.
Do I always need a laser scan to create a BIM model?
No. Depending on the project, a 3D BIM model can also be created from existing 2D plans, DWG files, paper plans, or other planning documentation.
What matters is what the model is intended to represent. If, for example, a model is to be created based on existing planning or design documentation, these documents can serve as the basis for modeling.
The situation is different when the actual as-built condition of an existing building needs to be documented as accurately as possible. Particularly in older buildings, existing plans do not always correspond to the current condition. Renovations, subsequent alterations, or deviations from the original design can mean that historical documentation is no longer sufficiently reliable.
In such cases, a new building survey may be useful. One commonly used method is 3D laser scanning.
From laser scan to a digital planning basis
Laser scanning digitally captures the existing building geometry on site. The result is a point cloud that spatially documents the surveyed building.
However, a point cloud alone is not yet a BIM model and, in many planning processes, is not the required final deliverable.
In the next step, the relevant building elements are derived from the captured data and modeled according to the project requirements.
A point cloud can be used to create, for example:
2D floor plans, sections, and elevations
3D as-built models
BIM models with a defined Level of Detail (LOD)
IFC models
native CAD or BIM files, for example for Revit or Archicad
This process is commonly referred to as Scan-to-CAD or Scan-to-BIM.
What if no laser scan is available yet?
A Scan-to-BIM or Scan-to-CAD project can also be started if no laser scan has been carried out yet.
Miviso does not carry out on-site surveying itself. However, we regularly work with surveying and laser scanning service providers throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and can involve a suitable partner for the building survey if required.
The most suitable service provider for a project depends primarily on the location and type of building. Wherever possible, we work with partners with whom we have already had positive experiences on previous projects.
Depending on how the client prefers to organize the project, there are different options: We can put you in direct contact with a suitable surveying partner or coordinate the process together.
Upon request, we can also provide a combined quotation for the building survey and subsequent modeling. This keeps the process as straightforward as possible for the client, while the surveying and modeling are carried out by specialized teams.
Why should the modeling requirements be considered before the laser scan?
The data required from a building survey depends largely on what needs to be created from it afterwards.
If the point cloud is intended to serve as the basis for specific floor plans, sections, or a BIM model with defined requirements, the relevant parameters can be coordinated before the survey takes place.
Before laser scanning begins, Miviso can therefore work with the client and surveying partner to define which data will be required for the subsequent modeling process.
This reduces the risk of discovering during modeling that important areas were not captured sufficiently or that the available data does not meet the agreed model requirements. Surveying and modeling are therefore not treated as two separate steps but are coordinated with each other from the very beginning.
What is the process from building survey to BIM model?
The exact process depends on the project and the documentation already available. A typical workflow may look like this:
1. Review requirements and available data
First, we clarify what the as-built data will be used for and which documents and data are already available. This also helps determine whether a new building survey is required.
2. Select a suitable surveying partner
If a new laser scan is required and no service provider has yet been appointed, Miviso can recommend a suitable partner in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland and establish contact.
3. Coordinate the survey requirements
Before the survey, the requirements for the necessary data are defined. This allows the building survey and subsequent modeling to be coordinated from the outset.
4. Survey the building and create the point cloud
The surveying partner captures the building on site and provides the agreed data for further processing.
5. Create the as-built plans or BIM model
Miviso then takes over the evaluation and modeling. Depending on the project, the result may include 2D as-built plans, a 3D model, or a BIM model in the required Level of Detail and file format.
How much do laser scanning and BIM modeling cost?
The costs of a building survey and subsequent modeling are calculated individually for each project.
The cost of laser scanning depends on factors such as the location, size and type of building, as well as the specific survey requirements.
The cost of subsequent modeling
depends on factors including the building area, complexity, required Level of Detail, accuracy requirements, and required deliverables.
For the modeling, you can use our [price calculator – LINK] to get an initial price range in advance.
The calculated price range applies exclusively to the modeling. The cost of any required building survey or laser scanning is not included and is calculated individually.
No up-to-date as-built data yet? We can help define the next steps
Whether existing plans are sufficient, a new building survey is advisable, or a suitable point cloud is already available is best assessed based on the specific project.
If no laser scan of your building is available yet, we can involve a suitable surveying partner in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland if required. Together, we define the survey requirements and ensure that the resulting data is suitable for the subsequent modeling process.
Upon request, you can receive a combined quotation for building surveying and modeling, providing a straightforward process from capturing the existing building to the final 2D plans or 3D BIM model.
Are you planning a renovation or refurbishment and unsure which as-built data you need? Send us your existing documentation and some information about your project. Together, we will determine which basis is most suitable for the next planning steps.
Michael Danklmaier
Miviso Co-Founder
Tel.: +43 512 931824 200
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