Shirts Versus Skins: The Ultimate Reality Capture Versus Virtual Model Showdown

Who would be picked last in a pick-up game of Building Information Modeling (BIM)? Would it be the point cloud, which is accurate and an actual representation of reality, or would it be the virtual model, which is light and nimble but is only a representation of reality. Dramatic improvements in the software over the past 2 years have enabled us to do more and more with our point cloud data. So do we need to convert them to models? Or can we just work with those millions of points? The answer is yes—it depends on the end use, and we'll explain why. There is no doubt that the accuracy of the point cloud is much higher than that of the best-fit model, but its size and inability to host information like a model does still leave something to be desired. We will show you how to maximize on your investment and expand its return. We will also share effective practices for converting clouds to models using products like ClearEdge 3D's Edgewise, and you'll learn effective practices for working with the cloud data across platforms such as ReCap software, Revit software, and Navisworks project review software.