FARO Scene Archive - Pointcab https://pointcab-software.com/en/tag/faro-scene-en/ ALL point clouds. ONE software. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:16:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://pointcab-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-PointCab_Favicon-32x32.png FARO Scene Archive - Pointcab https://pointcab-software.com/en/tag/faro-scene-en/ 32 32 As-built documentation of an old house https://pointcab-software.com/en/as-built-documentation-of-an-old-house/ Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:36:25 +0000 http://2020.pointcab-software.com/?p=7255 USER STORY As-built documentation of an old house in Switzerland Contents As-Built Documentation of an Old House: Why a Complete 3D Laser Scan Was Essential​Missing Plans, Irregular Geometry, and the Need for PrecisionSurvey: Faro Photon 120, Faro Scene, and Efficient On-Site WorkProcessing the Point Cloud: Fast Extraction of Plans and SectionsWhat This Case Study Demonstrates​ […]

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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
​

As-Built Documentation of an Old House: Why a Complete 3D Laser Scan Was Essential

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Traditional plans were missing or outdated, and the building required precise measurements to support planning in CAD and BIM software.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

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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Der Beitrag As-built documentation of an old house erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

]]> Acquisition of factory halls https://pointcab-software.com/en/acquisition-of-factory-halls/ Sun, 02 Jun 2013 13:39:43 +0000 http://2020.pointcab-software.com/?p=7276 USER STORY Acquisition of Factory Halls: 3D Laser Scanning for Complete Documentation Contents Why Detailed Factory Acquisition Matters​How the Factory Halls Were Surveyed: FARO Photon 80 and Point Cloud CapturePoint Cloud Registration in FARO SceneDeriving Accurate Plans and Sections from the Point CloudWhy 3D Acquisition Is Valuable for Industrial Facilities As part of a major […]

Der Beitrag Acquisition of factory halls erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

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USER STORY

Acquisition of Factory Halls:
3D Laser Scanning for Complete Documentation

Text: User Story. 3D Laser Scanning of Factory Halls

Contents

Why Detailed Factory Acquisition Matters​
How the Factory Halls Were Surveyed: FARO Photon 80 and Point Cloud Capture
Point Cloud Registration in FARO Scene
Deriving Accurate Plans and Sections from the Point Cloud
Why 3D Acquisition Is Valuable for Industrial Facilities

As part of a major industrial documentation project, the Interdisciplinary Competence Center for Old Buildings (InKA) of the University of Siegen carried out a full 3D laser scanning of factory halls covering approximately 10,000 m². The goal was to create reliable documentation for subsequent CAD modeling and planning in Graphisoft ArchiCAD.

Why Detailed Factory Acquisition Matters

Large factory halls and industrial plants contain extensive structural geometry as well as supply and disposal lines, machinery, and installations. Without precise as-built data, even well-intended renovation, retrofitting, or layout planning can suffer from:

  • geometry mismatches between the physical structure and the existing drawings
  • misaligned equipment due to outdated plans
  • planning delays due to manual re-measuring on-site

A modern 3D laser scan provides an accurate, coherent representation of the facility that eliminates guesswork and supports efficient engineering and design.

How the Factory Halls Were Surveyed: FARO Photon 80 and Point Cloud Capture

The survey covered approximately 10,000 m², using a FARO Photon 80 laser scanner. 

  • Total scans: 80
  • Total data volume: approx. 70 GB
  • Geometry captured: complete interior of the factory halls and all supply/disposal lines

This dense set of scans ensured full coverage and detailed capture of the existing infrastructure — even in areas with complex pipework or machinery.

Point Cloud Registration in FARO Scene

All individual scans were registered and merged using FARO Scene to produce a unified point cloud. This step ensures:

  • correct alignment across all scans
  • a single 3D dataset covering the entire facility
  • consistent coordinate referencing for export and further processing

A unified point cloud is the foundation for accurate plan extraction, CAD modeling and coordination between engineering teams.

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

Deriving Accurate Plans and Sections from the Point Cloud

section in pointcab origins

Once registered, the point cloud was evaluated in PointCab Origins. The software enabled rapid extraction of 2D plans and sections at any desired position through the point cloud. These derived outputs consisted of:

  • orthographic images scaled to real dimensions
  • tiling across multiple files to adapt the export size for different CAD systems
  • export formats readable by all major CAD/BIM platforms

PointCab Origins reduced the raw data to manageable file sizes without sacrificing accuracy, which made it possible to transfer directly into Graphisoft ArchiCAD for further modeling.

Why 3D Acquisition Is Valuable for Industrial Facilities

This case highlights the core strengths of laser scanning in industrial environments:

  • Complete coverage: Includes structural elements, machinery, and services in a single dataset.
  • High accuracy: Up to 2 mm per pixel in scaled outputs allows precise modeling.
  • Flexible export: Tiling and export options make datasets usable in virtually all CAD systems.
  • Faster workflows: Engineers and planners can start modeling directly from evaluated scans, saving time and reducing rework.

For production halls, large plants, or technical facilities, 3D laser scanning is now considered a standard method for creating trustworthy as-built documentation that supports engineering, renovation, and expansion projects.

wide shot of factory halls and uni siegen logo

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]]> Conversion of production facilities https://pointcab-software.com/en/as-built-documentation-production-facility/ Sat, 01 Jun 2013 13:19:22 +0000 http://2020.pointcab-software.com/?p=7270 USER STORY Conversion of Production Facilities: Safe Retrofit, Installation and As-built Documentation with Laser Scanning Contents From Physical Reality to Actionable Insights: Capturing the Existing State​The Challenge: Adapting Production Infrastructure Within an Existing Concrete ShellHow the Survey Was Performed: FARO Laser Scanner + Point Cloud Registration in FARO SceneProcessing the Point Cloud: From Scan to […]

Der Beitrag Conversion of production facilities erschien zuerst auf Pointcab.

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USER STORY

Conversion of Production Facilities: Safe Retrofit, Installation and As-built Documentation with Laser Scanning

Text: User Story. Retrofit and Installation of production Facilities

Contents

From Physical Reality to Actionable Insights: Capturing the Existing State​
The Challenge: Adapting Production Infrastructure Within an Existing Concrete Shell
How the Survey Was Performed: FARO Laser Scanner + Point Cloud Registration in FARO Scene
Processing the Point Cloud: From Scan to CAD-ready Data
Why 3D Scanning Is Essential for Industrial Retrofit Projects

From Physical Reality to Actionable Insights: Capturing the Existing State

Industrial Grinding Plant in Factory building

In a major project by Intercem Engineering GmbH, a leading supplier of turnkey solutions for cement plants, 3D laser scanning technology was deployed to support the conversion and upgrade of existing production infrastructure. The project involved the retrofit of an existing filter system on a concrete building and the installation of a new cyclone with a filter system within the concrete framework of a heat exchanger.

Because precise as-built documentation was essential to plan prefabrication and avoid costly rework, the team chose to use 3D laser scanning. The method proved to be fast, efficient and safe — even in hard-to-access areas, providing a robust digital foundation for retrofit planning.

The Challenge: Adapting Production Infrastructure Within an Existing Concrete Shell

point cloud of industrial plant

Retrofitting a filter system and installing a new cyclone in an existing concrete structure poses multiple challenges:

  • Exact compatibility required between new equipment and existing geometry – tolerances had to be respected to avoid alignment issues.
  • Some areas of the building were difficult to access, making manual measurement hazardous or unreliable.
  • Any misfit would lead to costly rework, shutdowns or delays in installation.

In this context, traditional measurement methods bear high risk. 3D laser scanning offered a precise, comprehensive and reliable alternative.

How the Survey Was Performed: FARO Laser Scanner + Point Cloud Registration in FARO Scene

faro focus laser scanner in front of a industrial machine

For this project, a laser scanner by FARO was used. For the retrofit of the filter system, 7 scans were made; for the heat exchanger area, 10 additional scans covered the relevant geometry. 

After data capture, all scans were registered and merged in FARO Scene, producing a unified point cloud of the building’s interior geometry. This ensured high accuracy and comprehensive coverage – even in difficult-to-reach zones.

We were able to use FARO laser scanner data as floor plans in Inventor thanks to PointCab Origins.
Intercem Engineering GmbH
Jun. 2013

Processing the Point Cloud: From Scan to CAD-ready Data

model of maschine

Once the point cloud data was ready, PointCab Origins was used to define floor plans and sections from the scan data easily and quickly. Then, the resulting CAD-ready data was imported into the mechanical CAD software Autodesk Inventor, where final modeling took place. 

This Scan-to-CAD workflow provided:

  • Accurate floor plans and sectional data based on real-world conditions
  • A reliable basis for the prefabrication of new components (filter system, cyclone)
  • Minimized risk of misalignment, rework or installation errors

Why 3D Scanning Is Essential for Industrial Retrofit Projects

This case highlights several key strengths of 3D laser scanning in industrial environments – especially when modifying existing facilities:

  • Precision: Point clouds capture true as-built geometry, including irregularities or deformations in old concrete structures.
  • Coverage: Even hard-to-access areas are recorded — no need for manual measuring in confined or hazardous zones.
  • Planning reliability: CAD/CAD-BIM models generated from scan data allow for prefabrication and exact fit of new installations.
  • Time and cost savings: Avoiding on-site rework, installation delays or retrofit errors reduces overall project risk and expense.

In short: for industrial retrofit and conversion projects, 3D laser scanning is often not just useful — it is indispensable.

Modern and clean looking industrial food processng factory. Man in surveyor gear, holding a tablet.

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