PointCab 4Archicad 2.0 – Archicad Plugin Released

Archicad point clouds PointCab 4Archicad 2.0

New release – pointcab 4archicad plugin 2.0

Archicad point clouds PointCab 4Archicad 2.0

Discover all new functions in the latest release of our point cloud plugin 4Archicad! 

Due to our constant development and the inspiring feedback from our Archicad users, our new 4Archicad plugin brings
a bunch of new functionalities and enhancements.
Check out what’s new below:

NEW FUNCTIONS

Vectorizer Transfer: Automatically create Walls & more from Vector Lines

What it’s for?

Simply create Vector Lines in PointCab Origins and effortlessly transfer them to Archicad via the PointCab 4Archicad Plugin. With the vector lines you can then automatically create Walls and more.

How it’s done:

Follow the steps in our video tutorial.

Create Mesh

What it’s for?

Create a mesh in Archicad by using 3D Points in PointCab Origins.

How it’s done:

Follow the steps in our video tutorial.

Point Cloud Transfer

What it’s for?

Transfer your unstructured E57 point clouds with ease to Archicad.

How it’s done:

Follow the steps in our video tutorial.

Import of Section as interior elevation

Interior-elevation support PointCab 4Archicad plugin
Interior-elevation support PointCab 4Archicad plugin

Click to enlarge the picture

What it’s for?

“Reference to” function for now with interior elevation!
Use it to create an interior elevation instead of a section or elevation.

General Improvements

  • Improved Settings window
  • Improved palette windows
  • Settings Option to set layer for Orthophoto pictures

Compatibility

  • Compatible with Archicad versions 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27

Conversion of a former mustard factory

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From mustard factory to residential building

In this application, an existing old mustard factory was to be converted into a residential building. The two-story, U-shaped building contained various rooms full of production machinery, storage rooms and garages.

A digital survey of the property was imperative for highly accurate as-built plans. The specific task was to deliver floor plans and sections as CAD plans to the planning office cost-effectively and at short notice.

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What exactly was it about? The purpose was the conversion of an existing old mustard factory. As is often the case, no current as-built plans were available. The complete acquisition of the object by means of 3D laser scanning, took 1/2 day. The result was 30 3D laser scans. Subsequently, floor plans and sections were created in PointCab Origins. Based on the evaluations created with PointCab Origins, the investment volume could be estimated. The duration of the data evaluation was only two hours.  Subsequently, the floor plans were imported into the customer’s CAD system. This provided a data basis for preliminary planning, design planning and final planning. In addition, the data could be used as a visualization basis for the creation of the apartment exposé.

WHY POINTCAB ORIGINS?

Software Speed

Even the most extensive point cloud data can be evaluated easily and quickly with PointCab Origins.

Direct workflow to CAD software

The information from the evaluated point cloud data can be easily and quickly transferred to CAD software.

Proximity to support

PointCab’s support is characterized by comprehensive expertise and individual attention.

The duration of the data evaluation took only 2 hours, which really surprised me!
Staff Bouwsupport
Jun. 2013

About BouwSupport

BouwSupport began in 1996 as an independent company that grew out of an existing architectural firm. Pre-construction and construction processes are part of our core competencies. You as architect or client provide the design or specification drawings, we prepare the specifications and working drawings. In the further course we can also take care of the complete or partial construction coordination.
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BIM model of a hotel in St. Moritz

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From scan to BIM on the fly – HMQ scans luxury hotel in St. Moritz

The Hotel Sonne in St. Moritz is a popular destination for skiing and Welness vacationers. To prepare the hotel for the future, HMQ AG was commissioned to generate a comprehensive 3D building model of all interior spaces and the exterior facade. The 3D point cloud data was required for further processing in Graphisoft Archicad to create a complete BIM model.

Right from the start, the project included a major challenge: the acquisition of the hotel with laser scanners from FARO had to take place during the peak winter season and also during ongoing guest operations. The entire building therefore had to be captured as quickly as possible and without major disruption to guests. In the interior, a floor area of 1,100 m² had to be surveyed, distributed over three floors and a building height of approx. 10 meters. Outside, the work was no easier. The snow lying at the time of the project, which is why vacationers primarily traveled to St. Moritz, made the scans of the facade difficult.

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HMQ, however, managed all challenges and had a huge amount of point cloud data from around 500 scans after only 72 hours. HMQ has been using Archicad 21 software to create BIM models for some time. To be able to use the point cloud data for processing in Archicad, HMQ uses PointCab Origins. More specifically, use the 4BIMm plugin, which allows the point clouds to be analyzed and the information seamlessly transferred into ArchiCAD. This reduced time for HMQ and, consequently, project costs. Putting all this together, the result was a relaxed project process for everyone involved. This can only be beneficial for a vacation hotel.

The basis for this is the uniquely fast processing of the most extensive point clouds in PointCab Origins. Ease of use was the main focus when Christian Vetsch, Managing Director at HMQ together with his team decided to use PointCab Origins three years ago. The great compatibility with all scanner types and makes made the decision even easier for HMQ.

“We chose PointCab Origins because the software is easy and intuitive to use and is constantly being developed,” says Christian Vetsch. If you ask HMQ employees, they also appreciate the uncomplicated proximity to PointCab support.

WHY POINTCAB ORIGINS?

Software Speed

Even the most extensive point cloud data can be evaluated easily and quickly with PointCab Origins.

Direct workflow to ArchiCAD

The information of the evaluated point cloud data can be easily and quickly transferred to Graphisoft ArchiCAD.

Proximity to support

PointCab’s support is characterized by comprehensive expertise and individual attention.

We chose PointCab Origins because the software is easy and intuitive to use and is constantly being developed
Christian Vetsch
Managing Director HMQ AG
Dez. 2018

About HMQ AG

HMQ AG, based in the cantons of Graubünden, Zurich and Aargau, is one of the leading Swiss engineering and planning companies.
The core competencies of the engineers, planners and consultants of the HMQ Group lie in the specialist areas of surveying, construction and planning. To ensure customer satisfaction as well as to offer employees an exciting work environment, HMQ AG builds on innovation, quality and technology.
To the HMQ AG website: http://hmq.ch/
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Renovation of an old farmhouse

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Renovation of an old farmhouse in Wattenwil near Bern – AAP Atelier für Architektur und Planung AG

For the renovation of an old farmhouse in Wattenwil near Bern, AAP Atelier für Architektur und Planung AG took over the surveying by means of 3D laser scanning as well as the evaluation. Since the object was hardly inhabited in the past years due to the high costs in maintenance, a renovation was to be carried out. This should allow the listed building to be fully used as a residential building again.

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As a surveying method, laser scanning was the optimal solution for obtaining exact plans as a basis for planning the refurbishment work. The fast and precise recording with a laser scanner significantly reduced the time and thus also the costs for the refurbishment work. The data obtained made it possible to precisely determine the effort and material requirements for all rehabilitation measures. Even the smallest deformations and irregularities were accurately recorded. The recording of the building with the 3D laser scanner FARO Photon 120/20 could be realized within two days. Thus, facades, floor plans, the supporting structure and much more could be captured. For further use, the laser scanner data was used in the CAD system with ArchiCAD. Thanks to PointCab Origins, the results could be easily read into the CAD system ArchiCAD. Within a very short time, floor plans, sections and facades were generated. PointCab Origins convinced with its ease of use and flawless functionality. The detailed results required a relatively short calculation time.

WHY POINTCAB ORIGINS?

Software speed

Even the most extensive point cloud data can be evaluated easily and quickly with PointCab Origins.

Direct workflow to ArchiCAD

The information of the evaluated point cloud data can be easily and quickly transferred to Graphisoft ArchiCAD.

Proximity to support

PointCab’s support is characterized by comprehensive expertise and individual attention.

Use FARO laser scanner data easily in ArchiCAD thanks to PointCab Origins.
AAP Atelier für Architektur und Planung AG
Dez. 2013

About AAP Atelier für Architektur und Planung AG

AAP – Atelier für Architektur und Planung AG – was founded on November 1, 1977 as a joint stock company based in Bern.

Markus Ammon has been the sole owner of the company since 2012. Our studio offers holistic services of high quality in the fields of architecture, general and spatial planning.

Our services range from consulting and initial studies to concepts in the field of settlement and traffic to project planning and construction of any kind including support in operation, maintenance, demolition and renewal. http://www.aap.ch/

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Acquisition of factory halls

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University of Siegen in the capture of factory halls - architecture

The Interdisciplinary Competence Center for Old Buildings (InKA) of the University of Siegen realized the registration of a complete industrial plant with the help of laser scanning. This involved a built-up area of approx. 10,000 m². All supply and disposal lines had to be documented, which meant that a relatively large number of scans were required. The goal of the scanning and documentation was the 3D modeling of the work in the CAD system ArchiCAD. As a basis for this, floor plans and sections were generated through the total point cloud.

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The area to be scanned in this project covered approx. 10,000 m², which were captured with a FARO Photon 80. The final result was 80 scans with a total data volume of approx. 7 GB. The subsequent modeling was to be done in Graphisoft ArchiCAD. How did PointCab Origins come into play at this point? Well, in the end it was possible to define sections at any point of the scans. The final product was a scaled pixel image with an accuracy of up to two millimeters per pixel. PointCab Origins then reduced the amount of data to a manageable size for CAD systems. Thus, the data output format was easily readable by all CAD systems commonly available on the market. By distributing the cut through the point cloud to several pixel files, the so-called “tiling”, the amount of data to be exported can be conveniently adapted for the respective CAD system. A huge advantage!

WHY POINTCAB ORIGINS?

Software speed

Even the most extensive point cloud data can be evaluated easily and quickly with PointCab Origins.

Direct workflow to ArchiCAD

The information of the evaluated point cloud data can be easily and quickly transferred to Graphisoft ArchiCAD.

Proximity to support

PointCab’s support is characterized by comprehensive expertise and individual attention.

The PointCab Origins plans can be easily processed in ArchiCAD without additional software.
University of Siegen
Jun. 2013

About Siegen University

The University of Siegen is a medium-sized, interdisciplinary research university. It is firmly rooted in the region of South Westphalia and widely networked both nationally and internationally. With its research and teaching, it wants to contribute to a future that is oriented towards people and characterized by responsibility for society. This is expressed in the guiding principle of the University of Siegen: Shaping the future in a humane way.

https://www.uni-siegen.de/start/

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As-built documentation of an old house

USER STORY

As-built documentation of an old house in Switzerland

Text: As-built documentation of an old house in Switzerland Picture: two point cloud views of building

Contents

As-Built Documentation of an Old House: Why a Complete 3D Laser Scan Was Essential​
Missing Plans, Irregular Geometry, and the Need for Precision
Survey: Faro Photon 120, Faro Scene, and Efficient On-Site Work
Processing the Point Cloud: Fast Extraction of Plans and Sections
What This Case Study Demonstrates
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As-Built Documentation of an Old House: Why a Complete 3D Laser Scan Was Essential

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An old residential building in a village in the Swiss canton of Ticino lacked reliable, up-to-date building plans. To prepare renovation and restoration work, the engineering firm Geomatica Righitto (Lugano, Switzerland) was commissioned to do a full 3D as-built documentation.

Traditional plans were missing or outdated, and the building required precise measurements to support planning in CAD and BIM software.

Missing Plans, Irregular Geometry, and the Need for Precision

Interior of kitchen in Ticino. Slight deviations are visible.

Older buildings rarely follow perfectly straight lines or standardized geometries. Over decades – or even centuries – walls may shift, floors may sag, and angles deviate from 90 degrees.

This means: assumptions based on symmetry or “standard” geometry can be highly misleading.

For renovation work, especially structural or restorative interventions, accurate data is crucial. Because no reliable plans existed for this house and its geometry was visibly irregular, a precise and complete measurement was essential, making 3D laser scanning the ideal method.

Survey: Faro Photon 120, Faro Scene, and Efficient On-Site Work

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Geomatica Righitto used a FARO Photon 120 laser scanner to capture the entire building, including:

  • three façades,
  • the basement,
  • the roof,
  • and all four floors.

In total:

  • 29 scans,
  • 6 hours on site,
  • 3 survey specialists.

All scans were registered and merged in FARO Scene, ensuring correct alignment and a unified, consistent point cloud.

This point cloud became the complete digital representation of the building, including all the irregularities typical of older structures.

Point clouds are for engineers, plans for architects. PointCab Origins is the fastest connection between them.
Marzio Righitto
Engineer - Pastorelli SA
Dez. 2018

Processing the Point Cloud: Fast Extraction of Plans and Sections

Layout and facade view in PointCab Origins

Once the unified point cloud was ready, Geomatica Righitto used PointCab Origins to extract essential architectural outputs:

  • 4 floor plans
  • 3 façade plans
  • 20 building sections
  • Orthophotos for façades and interior walls

These automated extractions significantly reduced manual drafting work.
 The final drawings — both as-built documentation and renovation plans — were delivered in a CAD/BIM-ready format for use in Archicad.

The entire processing workflow, including preparation for delivery, took about 8 hours.

What This Case Study Demonstrates

This project shows how even older buildings with irregular geometry and missing documentation can be comprehensively captured. Old buildings are rarely dimensionally perfect, but laser scanning captures reality exactly as it is, and the resulting point cloud becomes a trusted digital baseline.

The combination of FARO Photon 120, FARO Scene, and PointCab Origins enabled Geomatica Righitto to create reliable plans quickly –  giving architects and engineers the confidence they need to design renovations and restoration work effectively.

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