Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Answer-first explanations of the questions buyers ask most: accuracy, cost, file formats, scan to BIM, the process, and where we work. Need something specific? Contact us or read our resource guides.
General
What is 3D laser scanning?+
3D laser scanning is a survey method that uses a laser to measure millions of points on the surfaces around it, building an accurate 3D record called a point cloud. A scanner such as the Trimble X7 sits on a tripod, sweeps a laser across the scene, and records the exact position of every surface it sees. The result is a measured digital twin of a building, site, or object that you can take dimensions from, model from, and revisit at any time.
What is a point cloud?+
A point cloud is the raw output of a 3D scan: millions or billions of measured points, each with an X, Y, Z coordinate and often colour and intensity. Together those points describe the shape of everything the scanner captured. A point cloud can be measured directly, used as a backdrop to draft from, or modelled into a 3D BIM model or 2D CAD drawings.
Why use 3D laser scanning instead of a tape measure or old drawings?+
Scanning captures the whole space at once to a few millimetres, so you avoid the gaps, errors, and assumptions that come from hand measurement or out-of-date drawings. Old paper drawings rarely match what was actually built after years of alterations, and manual measurement misses what nobody thought to record. A scan records everything, which removes guesswork from design, coordination, and quoting.
Do I need to be on site during the scan?+
No. You only need to arrange access. Our team works independently once on site and captures everything in the agreed scope. If there are sensitive areas, security requirements, or specific features you want recorded, a short briefing or a marked-up plan beforehand is enough.
Accuracy
How accurate is 3D laser scanning?+
A professional terrestrial scanner measures individual points to about +/-2 mm at typical building ranges. After multiple scans are registered together and tied to survey control, the accuracy you can rely on across a whole building is usually +/-3 to 5 mm. That meets BIM LOD 300 and the needs of renovation design, structural assessment, and heritage documentation. We provide an accuracy report with the deliverable so the achieved figure is documented.
What is the difference between accuracy and precision in scanning?+
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value. Precision is how repeatable measurements are when taken again. A scan can be precise but inaccurate if it is consistently off by the same amount, and accurate but imprecise if results scatter around the truth. Reliable survey work needs both, which is why registration quality and survey control matter as much as the scanner specification.
Can scanning tie into my survey control and datum?+
Yes. We can register the point cloud to your site control and to a datum such as AHD for height and MGA2020 for position, so the model aligns with your other survey and design data. Where boundary or formal control work is required, a registered surveyor is involved. Tell us your coordinate system up front so the deliverable lands in the right place.
Cost
How much does 3D laser scanning cost in Australia?+
Cost depends on site size, complexity, and the deliverable you need. A single commercial floor (around 500 m2) often starts near $1,500 to $2,500 for a registered point cloud in Southeast Queensland. Larger sites, multi-storey buildings, and BIM modelling add to that. We provide fixed-price quotes before any site visit. Use the pricing calculator for a ballpark, then send plans for a written quote.
What drives the cost of a scan to BIM project?+
Capture and registration are often only 30 to 40 percent of a scan to BIM project. The rest is modelling labour, which scales with the target LOD, the number of disciplines, and how much service detail is visible. A floor modelled at LOD 200 costs less than the same floor at LOD 300 because fewer elements are built to measurable detail. Our scanning cost guide breaks the variables down.
Is point cloud only cheaper than scan to BIM?+
Yes. A registered point cloud or 2D CAD package costs less than a full Revit model because there is less labour after capture. If your internal team will model from the cloud, buying scan only is usually the best value. If you need the model delivered on a deadline, bundled scan to BIM with a stated LOD avoids handover gaps between surveyor and modeller.
Deliverables & formats
What file formats do you deliver?+
We deliver in the format your team needs. Common outputs are E57 for software-neutral exchange, RCP and RCS for Autodesk Revit and ReCap, LAS and LAZ for GIS and civil work, and DWG or DXF for 2D CAD. For BIM projects we deliver a Revit model to your specified LOD. Tell us your target software and we export once in the right format.
Which file format should I request for Revit?+
For Revit teams, request RCP with RCS, the indexed Autodesk format that loads fast and links directly into Revit point cloud worksets. It is also worth taking E57 as a software-neutral backup in case you change platforms later. Our point cloud file formats guide explains the trade-offs between E57, RCP, LAS, PTX, and PLY.
What is the difference between point cloud to CAD and scan to BIM?+
Point cloud to CAD produces flat 2D drawings such as floor plans, elevations, and sections in DWG or DXF. Scan to BIM produces a 3D parametric model of intelligent elements, usually in Revit, that carries data and supports clash detection and scheduling. CAD is cheaper and suits 2D workflows; BIM costs more and suits coordination and data-rich design. Our comparison guide covers how to choose.
How do I receive the data?+
Deliverables are provided via a secure cloud link with a readme that states the coordinate system, units, and recommended import steps for your software. Point clouds can be large, so we package them for the format you requested and confirm you can open them before closing the job.
Process
How long does a typical scan take?+
A single commercial floor of 500 to 1000 m2 takes roughly 2 to 3 hours with terrestrial LiDAR. A three-storey office building is usually completed within a single day. For large open floors, a mobile scanner can cover a 10,000 m2 warehouse in under an hour. We provide a time estimate as part of every quote.
What happens during a scanning site visit?+
Our technician plans scan positions to cover every required space without gaps, then captures each station in sequence. We add survey control where the project needs it, check coverage before leaving, and note anything that affects the deliverable. Field capture is the first step; registration, cleaning, and any modelling happen back in the office.
How do you handle people and vehicles in the scan?+
Moving objects such as people and vehicles are removed during processing so the final point cloud shows only the permanent building and site. We plan capture to minimise interruption and clean transient noise out of the registered cloud before delivery, leaving a clear dataset to measure and model from.
Coverage
Do you service areas outside Brisbane?+
Yes. We are based in Brisbane and regularly work across the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba with modest travel. We also take projects in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and regional areas, with travel quoted at cost for work outside Southeast Queensland.
Can you scan occupied or operating buildings?+
Yes. Scanning is non-contact and works around occupants, so we can capture live offices, retail, healthcare, and operating industrial sites with minimal disruption. We schedule around access windows and remove transient objects in processing, so an occupied space still produces a clean as-built record.
Scan to BIM & CAD
What is scan to BIM?+
Scan to BIM is the process of turning a 3D laser scan of an existing building into an accurate Revit model. You capture the building as a point cloud, register it to survey control, then model walls, floors, structure, and services to an agreed level of detail. The output is a measurable, editable model your design team can coordinate and document from.
What do LOD 200 and LOD 300 mean?+
LOD (Level of Development) sets how detailed and reliable each model element is. LOD 200 elements are generic placeholders with approximate size and location, which suits feasibility and space planning. LOD 300 elements have measured size, shape, and location that support documentation and coordination. LOD is a modelling contract, not a scanner setting, and it drives the time and cost of the model.
When do architects and engineers need scan to BIM?+
Scan to BIM pays off whenever you design into an existing building and cannot trust old drawings. It is the right choice for renovation and adaptive reuse, services upgrades that thread through existing structure, vertical extensions, heritage works, and coordination-heavy projects where clashes are expensive to find on site. Measuring the building once removes guesswork from every later decision.
Read the full guides
How accurate is 3D laser scanningLiDAR vs photogrammetryScan to BIM explainedPoint cloud to CAD vs scan to BIMPoint cloud file formats3D laser scanning cost guide
Try our tools & calculators →By service
Architectural & BIM ScanningCivil & InfrastructureIndustrial & As-BuiltDrone 3D Mapping Brisbane3D Laser Scanning & Point Cloud SurveyPhotogrammetry ServicesScan to BIM ModellingPoint Cloud ProcessingHeritage Documentation ScanningConstruction Verification ScanningTopographic Survey BrisbanePoint Cloud to CAD
View 18 service locations →Still have questions?
Get a fixed-price quote or book a scoping call. We respond within one business day.