3D Modeling

BIM and CAD Integration for Construction

Point clouds and 3D meshes registered to your project coordinate system, ready for Revit, Civil 3D, Navisworks, and BIM 360. Used by VDC teams, BIM coordinators, and engineers to verify as-built against design, perform clash detection, and update the federated model.

Request a BIM Integration Assessment

What Is BIM and CAD Integration?

BIM and CAD integration is the registration of aerial-captured point clouds and 3D meshes to the same coordinate system as the design model, with the right units, orientation, and datums. The output drops directly into your BIM or CAD platform with no manual alignment.

The result is that VDC teams can compare as-built against design in the same view, run clash detection between existing conditions and new work, and update the federated model with reality-capture data. Engineers can use the point cloud for as-built verification, dimensional checks, and quantity takeoffs.

When To Use It

As-built vs. design comparison. Overlay the as-built point cloud on the design model in Revit or Navisworks. Identify deviations before the next phase of work begins.
Clash detection. Run automated clash detection between the as-built point cloud and the design model. Catch interferences between new work and existing conditions before they become rework.
BIM 360 and ACC. Upload the point cloud and mesh to Autodesk Construction Cloud or BIM 360 for cross-team access, version control, and audit trail.
Quantity takeoffs. Use the registered point cloud to extract quantities from as-built conditions. Validate contractor quantities and support pay applications.

What You Get

Registered Point Cloud

Point cloud registered to your project coordinate system. RCP/RCS for Revit, LAS/LAZ for Civil 3D, E57 for interchange. Drop-in ready.

Textured Mesh

A 3D mesh with photo texture, viewable in Revit, Navisworks, BIM 360, or any web viewer. Useful for stakeholder review.

Registration Report

A report documenting the coordinate system, control points used, registration accuracy, and software compatibility. Suitable for VDC records.

Clash Detection Setup

Optional setup of clash detection in Navisworks or Solibri between the as-built point cloud and your design model. Pre-configured for your project standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What coordinate systems do you support?

We support any standard civil/survey coordinate system: State Plane (Florida East or West, US Foot or International Foot), UTM, local grid, and project-specific datums. We need to know your project coordinate system and vertical datum before the flight, and we lay out ground control accordingly.

What is the cost of BIM and CAD integration?

Integration is included with our 3D modeling, point cloud, and as-built verification deliverables. The cost is the underlying service ($850 for photogrammetry, $1,200 for topographic, $950 for as-built) plus the registration work, which is typically 1-2 hours.

How large can the point cloud be?

Point clouds are typically 1-10 GB for sites up to 10 acres. We can produce tiled, decimated, or region-specific exports for projects with very large site footprints. For projects with multi-gigabyte point clouds, we recommend cloud-based platforms (BIM 360, ACC) for sharing.

Can you do ongoing BIM updates as construction progresses?

Yes. We offer monthly or quarterly BIM updates that register a fresh point cloud to the project coordinate system and upload to BIM 360 or your preferred platform. Each update is a snapshot of as-built conditions at that point in the project.

Request a BIM Integration Project Assessment

Tell us about your project, your coordinate system, and your BIM platform. We will confirm fit and recommend a documentation plan.