Pointfuse Reality Capture Changes the Game for Construction | Innovation

Innovative construction companies have been using reality capture for several years as a valuable tool in the construction process. Images and point clouds can help stakeholders plan the project, monitor progress, and identify issues before they become major problems.

But until now, there has been a gap between the capabilities of reality capture technology, and the ability to use it to its fullest potential during the construction process. A new integration between Autodesk BIM 360 and Pointfuse changes that.

What PointFuse Does

Pointfuse is a construction software solution that creates intelligent, manageable 3D mesh models with separable objects based on as-built images and point clouds. It is currently being used by customers around the world to aid in clash detection, scheduling, verification, and other construction processes that benefit from reality capture.

Why the Integration Matters

By integrating Pointfuse into BIM 360, Autodesk bridges the gap between reality capture and digital construction. When exported to BIM 360, a Pointfuse model allows easy comparison between the original design at each stage and the reality as captured in up-to-date images and point clouds. Armed with this information, teams can more accurately update construction schedules, issue RFIs, detect clashes, and assign responsibilities by trade, owner, contractor, and profession.

“The integration of Pointfuse with BIM 360 bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds, and allows a far more connected and efficient construction process.”

Sarah Hodges, Sr. Director, Construction Business Strategy and Marketing at Autodesk.

“When reality capture data is exported to BIM 360,” Hodges explains, “Pointfuse models allow easy comparison to the original design at each stage of the building process and puts all the project data into a single platform, breaking down silos that currently exist among various technologies.”

Benefits of the Pointfuse Integration

The Pointfuse integration with BIM 360 brings as-built data into the construction management software that is effective, manageable, and useful.

• Effective. Pointfuse converts “dumb” point clouds into intelligent mesh models that can be manipulated and investigated from any location with access to BIM 360 project documents.
• Manageable. Pointfuse reduces file size so that they are easily uploaded, downloaded, manipulated, and managed from within BIM 360.
• Useful. Pointfuse models allow easy comparison to the original design at every stage and part of the building process, arming team members with information that improves construction scheduling, RFI management, clash detection, and responsibility assignment.

How Does Pointfuse Work Inside BIM 360?

Pointfuse converts point clouds into high fidelity, intelligent mesh models. Surfaces are grouped together based on common attributes, then simplified by removing redundant information and triangles, leaving only the essential details. This results in a mesh file up to 100x smaller than the original point cloud, making it easier to view, manipulate, and share.

The Pointfuse process is completely automated, so it is repeatable and not subject to human subjectivity. This means that your scans are directly comparable.

The fact that the mesh is segmented into discrete, selectable surfaces means that key objects and features can be classified, isolated, and exported independently. Classification hierarchy is maintained when exported to BIM 360, which has the effect of:

• Further reducing file sizes
• Improving clash detection analysis
• Providing a unique Object ID for each surface

 Get more information by visiting the Pointfuse + BIM 360 integration page. We’re excited to share it with you, and can’t wait to hear what you think of it.

Ready to unleash the full power of reality capture in your company?