How LiDAR scans and Digital Twins provide a smarter way to approach Preconstruction
- andrew cresswell
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
In the construction industry, the preconstruction phase is where the magic begins—or at least where it should. It’s the point where vision aligns with reality, as strategic planning, risk assessment, and collaboration come together to lay the groundwork for project success.
Fortunately, in recent years, this crucial yet traditionally time-consuming project phase has become significantly more efficient for forward-thinking teams due to the increasing adoption of digital twin technology.
Previously, preconstruction heavily depended on numerous physical site visits, manual measurements, and disjointed tools, leading to inefficiencies and a higher risk of costly errors. Now, with the advent of 3D reality capture platforms that offer AEC professionals immersive, highly detailed digital models of job sites, teams can work more efficiently, collaboratively, and accurately from anywhere in the world.
How it Works
Today, the preconstruction phase of projects empowered by digital twin technology typically begins with a digital scan of the project site. These scans, captured with a high-resolution 3D LiDAR camera, result in a highly accurate, immersive 3D model—a digital twin—that includes even the smallest details, such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC components, all rendered in 4K with precise measurements automatically captured by the camera—no tape measures, pencils, or notebooks needed!
From there, these newly captured digital twins fundamentally transform the preconstruction process, as the entire team—architects, engineers, contractors, and owners—has immediate, constant access to the work site from any web browser (no additional specialized 3D software required).
Accuracy, Efficiency
The best part? No more endless physical walkthroughs. This means teams save time, reduce costs, and make faster decisions, keeping everything on track and within budget. Additionally, there’s a significant sustainability benefit due to the substantial reduction of unnecessary travel and the associated carbon emissions from cars and airplanes.
Another major advantage is the ability to capture projects in context early in the planning process. Through the digital twin, architects, engineers, and construction professionals can collaboratively create comprehensive digital as-built surveys using point-cloud data, ensuring all details are accurately captured. AEC professionals can seamlessly import these point-cloud models into the industry-standard software they already use, including Autodesk Construction Cloud and Procore, enhancing their existing BIM and CAD workflows.
Here at TheCADdesigner Ltd we offer a LiDAR scan services to either:
Produce 2D CAD plans in .dwg format for our clients design departments use. This is our Scan-to-CAD service.
Create a Point-cloud so that we can design your steelwork project using Tekla within real-world data. This is our Scan-to-Design service.
For both services we also provide the client a Virtual Tour of the survey allowing their team and all collaborators to virtually walk the site from any web browser (no sofware is required).
Read more about our services and case studies:
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