As-built documentation is fundamental to every construction or renovation project, and accuracy is the key. Traditional site surveys using tape measures and manual sketches are slow and prone to error. By contrast, today’s 3D laser scanners can capture millions of measurements in minutes, generating a detailed point cloud of the existing building. This dense data forms the foundation for reliable digital drawings and models that keep the project on track.
Modern site surveys with 3D laser scanning
Today’s architects, engineers, and contractors often begin projects by conducting a comprehensive 3D scan of the site. Specialized laser scanners (such as LiDAR devices) collect distance readings for every visible surface, effectively creating a “digital fingerprint” of the structure. Because the scanner records all visible geometry — walls, floors, ceilings, piping, and ducts — the resulting point cloud can capture details with millimeter-level precision. This rich data set represents the complete existing geometry of the building, giving project teams a reliable virtual survey of the site without having to measure each element in the field. For example, capturing a building via laser scan is often completed in hours or a few days — a fraction of the time required for a manual survey.
This faster data collection greatly reduces labor costs and limits disruption on site. For many firms, the accuracy and speed of a laser scan more than justify the initial investment. In practice, point clouds can be imported into CAD or BIM software (like Revit or AutoCAD) so designers can overlay new models onto the reality-capture data. And because one scan captures everything, teams rarely need to revisit the site for additional measurements — the entire structure is recorded up front.
Scan to Plan: producing accurate as-built 2D drawings
The Scan to Plan workflow uses the point cloud from the 3D survey as a reference to create traditional 2D CAD drawings. After a site scan, Voyansi’s surveyors extract precise drawings such as floor plans, ceiling plans, roof plans, exterior elevations, and sections directly from the captured data. Because these drawings are based on the actual scan, they accurately reflect wall positions, window locations, beam layouts, and other features to within a few millimeters. For example, a floor plan generated from the scan clearly shows the exact location of walls, doors, and windows.
Other outputs — like an updated site layout or a section view — ensure that every feature is documented to scale. And because the as-built drawings are delivered digitally, future project teams can easily locate any element (such as plumbing risers or structural columns) without searching through old paper blueprints. These reliable 2D plans also support permitting and approvals, since regulators and stakeholders often require up-to-date, as-built drawings.
Scan to BIM: building detailed 3D models
Scan to BIM starts with the same site scan but takes the data further. Instead of stopping at 2D drawings, Voyansi’s modelers use the point cloud to construct a full 3D Building Information Model of the structure. In this process, each wall, door, duct, beam and other element is modeled as an intelligent object in a BIM environment, complete with dimensions and metadata. The resulting BIM model effectively serves as a high-fidelity digital twin of the facility, capturing every measured detail in the structure.
This comprehensive model can then be used for renovations, clash detection, facilities management or any other purpose, giving everyone the context they need in three dimensions. For instance, engineers can now run clash detection or energy analyses on the BIM model – tasks that flat drawings cannot accommodate.
Deciding which workflow fits your project
Choosing between Scan to Plan and Scan to BIM depends on your project requirements and how the information will be used. If you mainly need updated 2D plans or elevations – for example, revised layouts for permitting, area calculations, or general renovation blueprints – then a scan-to-plan process is often sufficient. In that case, Voyansi delivers fast, to-scale drawings from the scan data, saving you the time of manual measurement while providing the conventional deliverables your stakeholders expect.
On the other hand, Scan to BIM is the better choice for projects that require full 3D models and advanced coordination. A BIM-based workflow provides unmatched insight into the building’s as-built condition: it shows exactly where every element sits in space. Complex projects benefit most from this approach, because a 3D model will reveal details that flat drawings can miss. For example, above-ceiling mechanical rooms and tight utility shafts become clear in a 3D model. This is especially valuable for renovation and retrofit projects involving complex MEP systems, where seeing the full 3D layout avoids errors.
Voyansi’s comprehensive reality capture services
Regardless of the approach you choose, Voyansi provides end-to-end scanning and modeling services to fit the job. Our experts use state-of-the-art Leica 3D laser scanners (and other high-end equipment) to quickly capture accurate point clouds of your site. We then process that data into whatever output you need: precise 2D as-built drawings or fully developed 3D BIM models. In addition to Scan to Plan and Scan to BIM, our reality capture team can provide immersive 360° photo tours of the site and detailed deviation reports that highlight any discrepancies between the as-built conditions and the original design.
For example, Voyansi stands out as a responsive, one-stop Reality Capture provider. We handle everything in-house — from data capture through modeling and drafting — optimizing quality while cutting costs and time. As a Hexagon partner with a large team of professional surveyors, Voyansi can tackle projects of any scale using industry-leading equipment, ensuring precise, actionable results. Voyansi’s solutions span the USA, Latin America, and Europe/Africa, so our large team can respond wherever the job is.
By producing reliable scan data and models up front, Voyansi helps set the stage for whatever comes next. The detailed models or drawings we deliver effectively become a high-fidelity digital twin of the building, enabling better collaboration, maintenance and decision-making long after construction ends.
Contact us to learn how a tailored reality capture solution can provide a precise as-built foundation for your project’s success.
