3D laser scanning of the structure during

reconstruction based on BIM technology

Volodymyr Iasnii1∗,†, Andrii Sorochak1,†, Liliya Melnyk1,† and Taras Hural1,†
1
Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, Rus'ka str., 56, 46001, Ternopil, Ukraine

Abstract
This paper analyzes the application of Industry 4.0, namely building information modelling, in
construction and civil engineering. It provides an overview of the advantages and opportunities of
using BIM in structural design, construction and operation. Discuss the practical aspects of
implementing BIM technology, including increasing the project team's efficiency, reducing errors
and costs, and improving project quality. Using the example of scanning a building, the
methodology that can be used to reconstruct a building, namely for quality control or comparison
of the designed dimensions and actual ones, is shown. The experimental approach shows that the
proposed methodology can also be used for reverse engineering of existing buildings.

Keywords
BIM, Laser 3D scanning, reverse engineering, design, reconstruction 1

1. Introduction
Industry 4.0 has transformed several economic sectors, including civil engineering. This new
era of technology, characterized by the interconnection of devices and the digitization of
processes, has significantly impacted how infrastructure is planned, designed and built [1].
This industry in the field of construction and civil engineering incorporates the trends of
the Internet of Things [2], Building Information Modeling (BIM) [3-5], 3D printing using
machine learning [6]), and Artificial Intelligence, Remote Sensing for the Sustainability of
Civil Infrastructure [7].
In the modern world, the construction and reconstruction of buildings are complex and
multifaceted processes that require not only high qualifications but also the use of advanced
technologies. In this context, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is proving to
be key, providing an integrated approach to project and information management throughout
the entire life cycle of construction projects.
BIM plays a significant role in ensuring the efficiency and quality of construction processes
by providing a convenient and effective platform for collaboration between all project
participants, including architects, engineers, clients, contractors and other stakeholders. BIM

1
BAIT’2024: The 1st International Workshop on “Bioinformatics and applied information technologies”, October 02-04,
2024, Zboriv, Ukraine
∗
Corresponding author.
†
These authors contributed equally.
[email protected] (V. Iasnii); [email protected] (A. Sorochak); [email protected]
(L. Melnyk); [email protected] (T. Hural)
0000-0002-5768-5288 (V. Iasnii); 0000-0001-8086-8173 (A. Sorochak); 0000-0001-8844-5490 (L. Melnyk)
© 2024 Copyright for this paper by its authors. Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).

CEUR
ceur-ws.org
Workshop ISSN 1613-0073
Proceedings
creates virtual models of a building that include information about all aspects of the project,
from geometric parameters to information about materials and technical characteristics of
elements.
The advantages of using BIM technologies include reducing the mistakes and conflicts in
the project due to the ability to detect them at the virtual modelling stage, increasing the
efficiency of the project team through shared access to a centralised database, as well as
reducing costs and increasing quality through optimisation of design solutions and
construction processes.
The analysis of recent research is devoted to various issues related to using BIM
technologies in the construction and reconstruction of facilities. The research topics are
related to the theory, practice, and evaluation of the impact of BIM technology on
construction processes in terms of efficiency, quality, and innovation. According to these
studies, implementing BIM saves time and costs and minimises mistakes in the design phase,
preventing possible virtual modelling and analysis [8]. In addition, the accuracy and quality of
projects are also guaranteed by more detailed modelling of engineering systems, as well as
how all building elements interact with each other through the use of BIM.
BIM became Gensler's main tool in the design of the Shanghai Spiral Skyscraper (Fig. 1).
Building information modeling helped to make a 120-degree turn of the tower. As a result, the
project authors minimized the impact of typhoons on the structure and reduced energy
consumption by 21% [9].

(b)

(a)
Figure 1: Rendering of Shanghai Tower (a) and BIM implementation (b).

Another subject area that is also covered by scientific research is the impact of BIM on
construction and operations. Research confirms that cost savings can be attributed to the
proper allocation of resources, while significant improvements in project management
efficiency result from improved information availability and productive teamwork between all
project participants. Some studies have focused on the use of BIM in renovation and
restoration projects. They provide evidence of how BIM can be used to accurately model the
condition of a building, identify problems that may arise, and develop effective strategies to
address them.
Laser 3D scanning is an important component of reconstruction [10]. This is a modern
technology for collecting spatial data. As a result of scanning, a three-dimensional model of
the object is formed - a “point cloud” consisting of a set of vertices, the position of each of
which is determined by the values of the X, Y and Z coordinates.

Figure 2: An example of the scanner operation.

3D scanning can be carried out in two ways - stationary (individual buildings and
structures, interior spaces are scanned) and mobile (large areas, linear objects are scanned).
The 3D scanning technology allows for simultaneous horizontal and high-altitude surveying
of the area. As a result of the laser scanner's operation, a “point cloud” is formed, based on
which orthophotomaps are created.
The principle of operation of a laser scanner is similar to that of a reflectorless electronic
total station and consists of measuring the time of the laser beam's passage from the emitter
to the reflecting surface and back to the receiver. By dividing this time by the laser beam
propagation speed, the distance to the object is determined. The scanner consists of a laser
rangefinder adapted for high-frequency operation and a laser beam scanning unit. The
scanning unit comprises a servo drive and a polygonal mirror or prism. The servo deflects the
beam by a specified amount in the horizontal plane while the entire upper part of the scanner
rotates. Scanning in the vertical plane is carried out by rotating or oscillating the mirror
Scanning buildings using a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanner in construction
is a modern and effective way to obtain an accurate three-dimensional model of a building
and its surroundings. LiDAR technology uses laser radiation to measure distances to object
surfaces and create an accurate image of the environment.
In general, scanning buildings with a LiDAR scanner opens up great opportunities for
obtaining accurate and detailed information about construction projects, which helps to
improve the quality of design, construction, and management of real estate.
This paper presents a methodology for scanning a building with its subsequent recognition
and creation of a 3D model.
2. Methodology of 3D scanning
The experimental study methodology using a LiDAR scanner integrated into the Autodesk
Revit program can be described in several stages. The first stage is preparatory and critical for
the successful implementation of the study. At this stage, the study's main parameters are
determined, work with the object is planned, the necessary equipment is selected, and a
general strategy is created. It includes the definition of the research object, i.e. it is important
to know what exactly will be investigated. It can be a building, structure, infrastructure, or
any other object requiring a detailed three-dimensional model. The object can exist or be
subject to construction or reconstruction. Next, a LiDAR scanner is selected depending on the
size and complexity of the object, the required resolution, availability, and other factors.
The scanner must be able to provide the required level of detail and accuracy of the data.
The next step is to develop a research strategy, i.e. at this stage, the main goals and objectives
of the research are formed, what kind of information needs to be obtained through scanning is
determined, and the method of data collection, processing and analysis is planned, including
the time and resources required for each stage. The second stage is the stage of scanning the
object with a LiDAR scanner. This stage includes the scanning process, data collection, and
quality control to ensure reliable information data is obtained. At this stage, the scanner
measures distances to the object's surface using laser radiation and analyses the received
reflected signals. The scanner can be placed on a moving platform (e.g., tripod, car, drone, etc.)
to ensure coverage of all desired areas of the object. LiDAR generates a large amount of point
data representing the object's surface during the scanning process. Each point contains
information about its XYZ coordinates, distance, and possibly other parameters such as
colours.
After the scanning is completed, it is important to conduct quality control of the data
obtained, including checking the coverage of all planning areas and identifying and resolving
any errors. The obtained LiDAR scan data needs to be prepared for further processing, which
includes cleaning the data from noise, removing unnecessary points, dividing the data into
different layers, and other operations to improve quality and accuracy. Generally, this stage
requires high precision and attention to detail during scanning. The third stage is integrating
the scanned object into the Autodesk Revit program for further use within BIM technologies.
The output file from the scanner needs to be imported into Revit. For this, we need to choose a
suitable format that will provide optimal quality and convenience for further work After
importing the model, it may be necessary to make adjustments to ensure that the model is
displayed correctly and meets the needs of the study or project. This may include placing
additional elements that can be added in Revit and removing unnecessary details.
One of the advantages of using Revit is the ability to add metadata and attributes to model
objects, which can facilitate further analysis and work with the model. For example, you can
add information about materials, dimensions, costs, and other characteristics of the object.
After integrating the model into Revit, you can use it within BIM technologies to perform
various analyses, plan reconstruction, assess the impact of changes, etc. The model can be
used to create additional structural and architectural elements, create layouts, study the
location of communications, energy analysis, etc. The next step after integrating the LiDAR
data into the Revit program is usually a detailed analysis of the model and its use for various
purposes related to constructing and reconstructing structures. This is model analysis,
meaning you can perform a detailed analysis of its structure, data, and characteristics. This
may include reviewing the geometry, checking the availability of the necessary elements,
placing objects, identifying materials, etc.
A restored building in the Ternopil region was chosen for scanning (Fig. 3a). The building
was scanned using a LiDAR scanner integrated into the iPhone 13 Pro to provide new
opportunities for inspecting and analysing the condition of the building using an affordable
and convenient device.

(a) (b)
Figure 3: Photo of structure (a) and 3D model in Autodesk Revit (b).

The starting point and final trajectory are shown in the green line in Fig. 4. With the help
of apps, you can scan a building by moving around it with your phone to get an accurate
image of its geometry and structure. Polycam software was used for scanning.

Figure 4: Trajectory of the LiDAR scanner.

The resulting point data is stored in a special format that allows for further processing.

3. Results and discussion

After scanning, a three-dimensional model of the building (Fig. 3b) was received. The resulting
model allowed us to conduct a detailed analysis of the building's condition. We studied
various aspects such as dimensions, construction and damage. Using a three-dimensional
model to analyse a building's condition allows you to draw more objective and accurate
conclusions about its current state, identify problems and risks, and develop effective plans for
further management and maintenance. This allows for a further lifecycle approach of BIM.
Using the obtained model and Revit software, a 2D drawing of the building was
created (Fig. 5).

Figure 5: 2D project.

The proposed methodology can be used for reverse engineering of existing buildings.
Typically, reverse engineering is used to renovate, modernise, or maintain existing structures.
The main idea is to recreate or restore a three-dimensional model of a building based on
available data or information to investigate its condition and characteristics.
It could be summarised that the use of BIM technology in the construction and
reconstruction of buildings proves to be a very promising and useful approach.

4. Conclusions
An overview of Industry 4.0 technologies in construction is provided. The use of BIM
technology in the construction and reconstruction of buildings proves to be a very promising
and useful approach. The use of BIM increases design efficiency, reduces costs and risks,
improves the quality and accuracy of construction works, and increases the level of
cooperation between all project participants. It was shown that laser scanning plays an
important role in modern construction and engineering. It is an important tool for obtaining
detailed information about objects with high accuracy and speed. Its use opens up new
opportunities for accurate analysis and can significantly improve the research, design, and
construction processes. The study shows that laser scanning can reduce the time and cost of
research, as its speed and efficiency ensure the rapid collection of large amounts of data
without the need for heavy equipment. Therefore, the use of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as
BIM and laser scanning, is an important tool to support various tasks in the field of
construction, reconstruction and architecture.
References
[1] de Almeida Barbosa Franco, J.; Domingues, A.M.; de Almeida Africano, N.; Deus, R.M.;
Battistelle, R.A.G. Sustainability in the Civil Construction Sector Supported by Industry
4.0 Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities. Infrastructures 2022, 7, 43.
[2] Ghosh, A.; Edwards, D.J.; Hosseini, M.R. Patterns and trends in Internet of Things (IoT)
research: Future applications in the construction industry. Eng. Constr. Arch. Manag.
2020, 28, 457–481
[3] Salman Azhar Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and
Challenges for the AEC Industry. Leadership and Management in Engineering Volume
11, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)LM.1943-5630.0000127
[4] Yavorskyi, A.V.; Karpash, M.O.; Zhovtulia, L.Y.; Poberezhny, L.Y.; Maruschak, P.O. Safe
operation of engineering structures in the oil and gas industry. J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 2017,
46, 289–295.
[5] Hevko, B.M., Hevko, R.B., Klendii, O.M., Buriak, M.V., Dzyadykevych, Y.V., Rozum, R.:
Improvement of machine safety devices. Acta Polytechnica 58(1), 17–25 (2018).
[6] Songyuan Geng, Qiling Luo, Kun Liu, Yunchao Li, Yuchen Hou, Wujian Long. Research
status and prospect of machine learning in construction 3D printing. Case Studies in
Construction Materials, Volume 18, 2023, e01952,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e01952.
[7] Ainalem Nega, Daba Gedafa. A Review of the Application of Artificial Intelligence,
Remote Sensing, and 3D Printing for the Sustainability of Civil Infrastructure. ASCE
Inspire 2023m https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485163.015
[8] Z.-Z. Hu, P.-L. Tian, S.-W. Li, J.-P. Zhang. BIM-based integrated delivery technologies for
intelligent MEP management in the operation and maintenance phase. Adv. Eng. Softw.,
115 (2018), pp. 1-16, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2017.08.007
[9] Xia, Jun, and Michael Peng. "The parametric design of Shanghai Tower’s form and
façade." Proceedings of the CTBUH 2012 9th World Congress, Shanghai, China. 2012
[10] Jang, A., Jeong, S., Park, M.J. and Ju, Y.K. (2023), Structural evaluation by reverse
engineering with 3D laser scanner. ce/papers, 6: 308-314.
https://doi.org/10.1002/cepa.1989