What do 2D CAD, BIM and drone capture have in common?
They all start with one thing: a field team on site, capturing what is really there. Our technicians laser scan the building and our FAA Part 107 pilots fly the roof and site. From that ground truth we deliver three standard outputs: 2D CAD drawings, Scan-to-BIM Revit models and aerial maps.
Each one answers a different question. Drawings tell you where the walls, openings and systems are. The model lets architects and engineers design against real geometry. The aerial maps show the roof and site that are hard to read from the ground.
What is scan-to-2D CAD?
A 3D laser scan produces a point cloud. Our drafting team traces that data into 2D CAD that outlines walls, openings and systems. You get floor plans, elevations and site drawings from the scanned record, not tape measures alone.
- As-built documentation for renovations and adaptive reuse.
- MEP sheets and space planning for commercial interiors.
- Construction documents and printable sheets that still sit alongside a Scan-to-BIM model.
- Irregular geometry that is slow and error-prone to measure by hand.
Our standard 2D CAD delivery spans LOD200 to LOD400, from floor plans and elevations to facade, store, c-store, building and site work.
What is a Scan-to-BIM Revit model?
Field technicians collect 3D laser scans sized to the project goals. That capture goes to our BIM team, who build detailed 3D Revit models for design, retrofits, progress checks and facilities work after handoff.
- Design-ready geometry. Architects and engineers work from scanned conditions instead of incomplete drawings.
- Fewer site revisits. Faster as-builts with less rework, and earlier catch of deviations during construction.
- Safer remote review of areas that are hard to access, through 3D walkthroughs.
- One shareable model for architects, engineers, contractors and owners.
Models span LOD200 to LOD400, from warehouses and kitchens to restaurants, education, retail, residential and adaptive reuse.
What does aerial drone capture add?
The view from above. Experienced FAA Part 107 pilots on our crews collect high-resolution visual and thermal imagery of roofs, sites and construction progress. Close-up stills and video help spot defects and structural issues.
- 3D models of site geometry for pre-planning and layout review.
- Orthomosaic maps, true top-down imagery for progress and site understanding.
- Thermal maps for roof condition.
Maps are typically ready 3 to 5 hours after a site visit. Drones reach steep roofs and tall structures without heavy lift equipment, and DroneDeploy integrations are available for multi-site rollouts.
How do the three fit together?
As one record of the building, not three separate files. Capture scopes cover interior, above ceiling, roof, exterior and site. The laser scan feeds the drawings and the model. The drone covers the roof and the site around it.
Capture
Field teams scan with LiDAR and fly the site. This is the ground truth every deliverable is built from.
2D CAD
Plans, elevations, sections, roof, site and MEP sheets traced from the point cloud.
BIM
Revit models at the LOD the project needs, from generic LOD 200 to fabrication-level LOD 400.
One platform
Scans, photos, drawings and models live together in RVT, CAD, PDF and XLSX, where your team can find any building.
The hardware is a means, not the point. Laser scanners, phones and drones each capture what they do best. What matters is that every output traces back to the same measured site.
Which LOD should you order?
Start from the decision you need to make. We use the BIMForum LOD Specification definitions:
- LOD 200, Generic. Approximate size, shape and location.
- LOD 300, Design. Measurable size, shape and location for design intent.
- LOD 350, Coordination. LOD 300 plus measurable interfaces with adjacent elements.
- LOD 400, Fabrication. Detailed enough for fabrication, assembly and installation.
Over-ordering wastes time. Under-ordering means a second visit. Match the level to the work.
Why do field teams matter more than the software?
Because every drawing, model and map is only as good as the capture under it. A scan tech decides where to set up so the point cloud covers the corners a drafter will trace. A pilot plans a flight so the orthomosaic lines up and the roof edges are clear. That judgment is the ground truth.
Software extends that work. It turns one careful visit into drawings, models and maps that architects, engineers, contractors and owners can all use. After construction, the same scans and models support facilities management, maintenance and the next renovation.
See the full range on our Reality Capture page, or open roboticimaging.ai.
Frequently asked questions
- How do 2D CAD, BIM and drone capture fit together?
- All three start with what field teams capture on site. Laser scans feed 2D CAD drawings and Scan-to-BIM Revit models, drone flights produce aerial maps, and it all lives in one platform.
- How does scan-to-2D CAD work?
- A 3D laser scan produces a point cloud. Drafting teams trace that data into plans, elevations and related sheets.
- What deliverable comes with Scan-to-BIM?
- A standard 3D Revit model built from project-specific laser scans, at LOD200 to LOD400.
- Who flies the drones, and how fast are maps ready?
- Experienced FAA Part 107 pilots on Robotic Imaging crews. Maps are typically ready 3 to 5 hours after a site visit.
Your buildings. Fully documented.
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