Learn the Technology
Behind Every Scan

What is LiDAR Scanning — and Why Does It Matter?

If you've ever hired a contractor to measure a space and received drawings that were off by several inches — or worse, discovered discrepancies mid-construction — you've experienced the cost of traditional measurement methods. LiDAR scanning was built to eliminate that problem entirely.

What Does LiDAR Stand For?

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. The technology works by firing millions of laser pulses per second in all directions from a scanner positioned in a room or exterior space. Each pulse travels outward, strikes a surface, and bounces back to the sensor. By measuring the time each pulse takes to return — and the angle it was fired at — the scanner calculates the precise X, Y, and Z coordinates of that surface point in 3D space.

How Accurate Is It Really?

The scanners we use at SmartScanz — including FARO, Leica, and Trimble equipment — achieve positional accuracy of ±2mm under standard conditions. For context, the width of a Canadian dime is approximately 1.75mm. That level of precision is impossible to achieve with tape measures, laser distance meters, or even total stations under typical field conditions.

What Happens After the Scan?

The raw output of a LiDAR scan is called a point cloud — a massive collection of 3D data points that together form a precise digital replica of the scanned space. From that point cloud, our team can produce as-built floor plans, exterior elevations, Scan-to-BIM Revit models, sections, and more — all derived from a single site visit.

Who Uses LiDAR Scanning?

LiDAR scanning is used across architecture, construction, engineering, insurance, heritage preservation, and facility management. Any professional who needs accurate spatial data — and can't afford the cost of errors — benefits from LiDAR. In the Kitchener-Waterloo region, we work with architects renovating century-old commercial buildings, manufacturers documenting complex equipment layouts, and insurance adjusters documenting property damage.

Why Not Just Use Photographs?

Photographs capture appearance. LiDAR captures geometry. A photograph can tell you what a room looks like. A LiDAR scan tells you exactly how large every surface is, where every wall, column, and fixture sits in 3D space, and how everything relates to everything else — to within millimetres. These are fundamentally different types of information.

Scan-to-BIM Explained: From Point Cloud to Revit Model

Building Information Modeling — BIM — has transformed how architects, engineers, and contractors design and manage buildings. But BIM is only as useful as the data that feeds it. For existing buildings, that data has historically been expensive and time-consuming to collect accurately. Scan-to-BIM changes that equation completely.

What is Scan-to-BIM?

Scan-to-BIM is the process of converting a LiDAR point cloud — a precise 3D capture of an existing building — into a fully coordinated Building Information Model, typically built in Autodesk Revit. Instead of manually measuring every wall, ceiling, column, window, and door by hand, we scan the building in a single visit and use that data to build a parametric digital model that matches the real structure exactly.

What is LOD — and Which Level Do You Need?

In BIM, Level of Detail (LOD) describes how much information is modeled. The scale runs from LOD 100 (conceptual massing only) to LOD 500 (as-built with full asset data). For most renovation and retrofit projects, LOD 200 to LOD 350 is sufficient. For facility management and complex MEP coordination, LOD 400 is often required.

At SmartScanz, we deliver models from LOD 200 through LOD 400 depending on project requirements. We discuss LOD requirements during scoping so you receive exactly what your workflow demands — no more, no less.

What Can You Do With a Scan-to-BIM Model?

A properly built Revit model derived from a LiDAR scan gives your team the ability to design renovations with confidence, run clash detection before construction begins, coordinate structural, architectural, and MEP systems in a single model, extract accurate quantities for cost estimation, and hand off a reliable as-built record to facilities management teams. Each of these applications depends on the model accurately representing the real building — which is only possible when the model is built from measured scan data.

How Long Does It Take?

Scanning a typical commercial floor plate of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet takes two to four hours on site. Point cloud registration and cleaning adds another day. Revit modeling time depends on scope and LOD — most projects are delivered within five to ten business days from the scan date.

Revit, IFC, or Both?

We deliver native Revit (.RVT) files by default. For clients using non-Autodesk platforms such as ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, or Tekla, we export to IFC format — an open standard that maintains full model geometry and metadata. We can also deliver DWG exports from Revit for CAD-based workflows.

What is a Point Cloud? The Foundation of Every Scan We Deliver

Every deliverable we produce at SmartScanz — whether it's a floor plan, a Revit model, or a property damage report — begins with the same raw material: a point cloud. Understanding what a point cloud is, and what makes a good one, is the first step to understanding the value of LiDAR-based documentation.

The Definition

A point cloud is a collection of individual data points in three-dimensional space. Each point has three coordinates — X, Y, and Z — that define its exact position. A single LiDAR scan of a residential home might capture 200 million to 500 million individual points. A large commercial facility might produce several billion. Together, these points form a dense, precise digital replica of the scanned space.

What Does a Point Cloud Look Like?

Viewed in software like Autodesk ReCap or Leica Cyclone, a point cloud looks like a dense constellation of coloured dots that together form recognizable shapes — walls, floors, ceilings, columns, equipment. The density of points varies by distance from the scanner: surfaces closer to the scanner are captured in higher density than surfaces far away. Our processing workflow compensates for this variation to produce clean, uniform output.

What File Formats Are Delivered?

Point clouds are delivered in industry-standard formats depending on your workflow. RCP (Autodesk ReCap Project) files integrate directly with Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D. E57 is an open-standard format compatible with most professional point cloud viewers and modeling platforms. LAS and LAZ formats are used in geospatial and survey workflows. We discuss format requirements during scoping and deliver in the format your team actually uses.

Raw vs. Processed Point Clouds

A raw point cloud — fresh out of the scanner — contains noise: stray points from reflective surfaces, moving objects captured mid-scan, and registration errors between scan positions. Our processing workflow removes noise, registers multiple scan positions into a single unified coordinate system, and delivers a clean point cloud ready for modeling or direct measurement. This processing step is what separates usable data from unusable data — and it's where a significant portion of the value we provide is created.

Can You Just Give Me the Point Cloud?

Absolutely. Not every client needs a fully modeled deliverable. If you have the in-house capability to work with point cloud data directly — using Revit, AutoCAD, ReCap, or a similar platform — we can scan, register, and deliver a clean point cloud and step back. Our point cloud processing service is designed precisely for clients who need clean data but handle the downstream modeling themselves.