Questions that always come up in a first call.

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Basics

What is a digital twin of a building?

A digital representation of the real building, maintained across its entire life cycle. It consists of the georeferenced capture, the structured BIM model and the data added during operation. The difference from a 3D model lies in currency and structure: a digital twin is maintained and can be queried.

What is the difference between a point cloud and a BIM model?

The point cloud is the measurement. Millions of points with coordinates, without meaning. The BIM model is the interpretation. A wall is recognised as a wall and carries build-up, material and properties. For evidence you need the point cloud, for design and operation the model. That is why we deliver both.

What does scan-to-BIM mean?

The path from capture to structured model. Capture, register, georeference, model, verify.

Cost and duration

What does digitising a building cost?

Price depends on three variables: area, level of information need and plant density. An open logistics hall at LOIN 200 costs far less per square metre than a plant floor at LOIN 400. That is why we clarify the LOIN before quoting. For a reliable figure we need asset type, area, location and your use case.

How long does a project take?

Capturing an 8,000 m² office building takes one to two days. Point cloud and panoramas sit in the viewer after about a week, the BIM model after three to five weeks. For plants and distribution centres, plan in weeks rather than months, depending on area.

How much area do you cover per day?

Up to 37,000 m² with mobile mapping in open halls. That is five IKEA stores. In dense areas with heavy plant we range from 3,000 to 8,000 m² per day.

How long does the strategy phase take?

From workshop to approved roadmap, plan four to six weeks. The larger part of that is your internal alignment, not our work.

Technology and accuracy

How accurate is the capture?

Terrestrially we reach 2 mm, with mobile mapping 5 mm. Which class you need depends on the use case. For an area schedule mobile mapping is enough; a clash check on plant needs the terrestrial scan. An accuracy record accompanies every capture.

Which formats do you deliver?

IFC 2x3 and IFC 4 as open handover, plus the native format of your environment, usually Revit or Archicad. Point clouds in E57, RCP and LAS. Drawings as DWG and PDF.

Does operation have to stop for capture?

No. We capture production sites, distribution centres, stores and hospitals during operation. Mobile mapping runs at walking pace; people and vehicles are filtered out in post processing, and faces and licence plates are automatically blurred.

What happens when no drawings exist?

Then the capture is the only basis, and that is exactly what the method is built for. We do not need legacy drawings. Where they exist we use them for an as-planned to as-built comparison and show the deviations.

Data and operation

Where is our data stored?

In the EU, in data centres certified to ISO 27001. Access is logged. On request we run the viewer inside your own cloud environment.

What happens to people in the imagery?

Faces and licence plates are automatically blurred before the data enters the viewer. Areas with confidentiality requirements are captured without imagery.

Does the digital twin replace our CAFM?

No. The twin provides the spatial truth, the CAFM runs the processes. Through the interface your CAFM adopts areas and asset inventory from the model.

How often does the twin need updating?

On demand, not on a calendar. Triggers are refits, extensions and retrofits. Where movement data from AGVs or cleaning robots exists, smart re-scan triggers flag the changed zones.

Where do the AI models run?

In the EU, in the same environment as the digital twin, certified to ISO 27001. Building data does not leave the agreed environment.

Working together

Do you work with our existing consultants?

Yes. We do not require a tool change. Via IFC and BCF everyone stays in their own environment, and coordination still happens in one model.

How quickly do you respond to an enquiry?

Within 48 hours. For a reliable quote we need asset type, area, location and time frame.

Your question is not here? Then ask us directly.

We reply within 48 hours. Including when no project comes out of it.