Practical case scenarios
Detailed methodological 3D-scanning scenarios, from field capture to BIM deliverable
These practical cases are anonymised sample scenarios representative of typical 3D scanning projects - not client references. They illustrate, step by step, how the methodologies detailed in our guides are applied to achieve high-precision BIM models.
Historical Heritage, France
HBIM Survey of a 12th Century Belfry
The Challenge:
Reconstruct a precise geometric model of internal wooden frame structures and the external dark stone facades.
Equipment & Method:
Leica RTC360 (terrestrial laser scanning), DJI Matrice 300 RTK + 45 MP camera (aerial photogrammetry), RealityCapture.
The Solution:
Setup of 120 terrestrial laser scanner stations matched using physical targets, combined with 1,500 aerial photos. The hybrid laser-photo alignment in RealityCapture yielded a colorized point cloud without drift.
The Result:
A point cloud of 4.2 billion points, high-res textured mesh LOD 400 used directly for structural restoration planning.
Industrial & Process, Germany
LOD 300 Digital Twin of a Chemical Plant
The Challenge:
Scan a dense network of pipes and vessels while keeping operations running and ensuring safety compliance.
Equipment & Method:
NavVis VLX 3 (mobile SLAM mapping), Faro Focus Premium (static checks), Autodesk Revit.
The Solution:
Global mobile scan done in a 4-hour walk to capture general layout, supplemented by 25 high-precision static scans for valves and hard-to-reach flanges. Automated cloud alignment in NavVis IVION.
The Result:
Complete piping BIM model delivered in about ten business days, with a massive reduction in prefabrication refitting errors - the typical gap observed on this kind of project when the model starts from a point cloud rather than outdated drawings.
Transport Infrastructure, France
15 km Railway Topographic Mapping
The Challenge:
Map a railway corridor bordered by thick vegetation for track duplication planning, with a vertical accuracy of 2 cm.
Equipment & Method:
DJI Matrice 350 RTK + Zenmuse L2 LiDAR, GNSS RTK receivers, DJI Terra.
The Solution:
Drone mission flown at 60 m height using 5-echo laser pulses to penetrate canopy foliage and hit ground level. Ground control points (GCP) measured on-site for geometric calibration.
The Result:
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 1.5 cm standard deviation, automated cross-section profiles exported for engineers.
Apply these workflows to your projects
All these sensor settings, coordinate calibrations, and registration workflows are covered in our step-by-step guides.
View book catalog