The AEC industry is at the forefront of technological advancements and innovative approaches to the design and construction process. The industry constantly evolves to meet the demands of an ever-developing world and the growing requirements of the consumer.
The AEC professionals are integrating various approaches, such as BIM modeling services and 3D laser scanning into the construction landscape, transforming the way projects are perceived and executed. Matterport is one similar tool that acts as the beacon of transformation, redefining how the industry operates.
What is Matterport?
Matterport is an innovative platform that teleports the client to the digital iteration of the physical spaces through entrancing 3D virtual tours. It offers an immersive experience that is close to being physically present on the site, enabling them to explore the spaces and its ambiance for making informed decisions in the future.
It is a visual toolset that fine-tunes the imperfections and uses Matterport showcase to present the final work. The final digital model is available in 3D on the web, mobile devices, and even in VR format for users to engage with the immersive experience.
Matterport Pro and Pro Lite allow the users to document the floorplans and other crucial aspects of the space in high-quality 4K 2D format.
A real estate company can significantly benefit from Matterport by using 3D virtual tours and high-resolution 4K photos that include detailed schematic floor plans, for marketing purposes. 90% of agents using Matterport shared that it helps them build a stronger brand in the marketplace and 74% win more listings using it.
Matterport not only engages in better presentation of the property but also pinpoints the best suitable marketing strategies for each property, making it an indispensable tool for architects, designers, and real estate agents worldwide.
Unveiling the Benefits of 3D Laser Scanning
- A single laser is capable of capturing millions of cloud data points resulting in a detailed representation of every aspect of the project.
- 3D laser scanner allows the stakeholders to take spot dimensions and virtual site navigations being the digital eye of the project team.
- Hand-held devices are prone to human errors and do not provide dimensional accuracy. On the other hand, laser scanning is the least susceptible to errors and provides precise project measurements.
- The 3D laser scanning process captures everything in a full 360 degrees from every scan location and within a line of sight up to 1000 meters. Such a comprehensive process minimizes the need to make multiple site visits to find answers to unanticipated questions.
- Laser scanning eliminates the possibility of an operational shutdown that causes client inconvenience. It is a quick, safe, and non-intrusive process.
- The scanning process results in enhanced cost-savings in the long run as the cost of the process is less compared to the cost of construction delays and work orders.
How Does Matterport Bridge the Gap Between Drawings and 3D Laser Scanning?
In the pre-construction stage, using conventional methods of using old drawings is a common practice that can lead to multiple change orders throughout construction.
AEC contractors use these drawings for site study and survey the project sites manually. This increases the chances of errors and rework during the construction phase. Matterport can be used along with BIM modeling services to perform site surveys using high-end laser scanners.
The point clouds generated by this platform are interoperable with BIM stacks that use Revit, Bentley, ArchiCAD, and other common software used by architects and engineers.
The architects and engineers can eliminate the hassle of using old drawings, repeated site visits, multiple errors, and using an unnecessarily expensive laser scanner to complete the surveying work, and rather use Matterport for site scanning.
They can transfer the documented point cloud data to the preferable 3D modeling software and use the Matterport showcase for a virtual copy of the site for guidance.
Matterport and Leica Camera
The Leica BLK360 camera is another addition to the vast suite of products by Matterport, enabling users to use its proprietary infrared scanning technology to achieve the results of the combination of accuracy and range of a laser scanner.
It allows the users to enhance the overall quality of the scanned area and extend the range of each capture. There are two apps that only use Leica BLK360; one is Matterport’s Capture app, and another one is Autodesk’s ReCap app.
Users can use the Leica camera and Matterport Pro2 camera to combine IR data with point cloud data to host a virtual tour on Matterport’s cloud-based service.
Matterport and Artificial Intelligence(AI): The Forthcoming Collocation
The scanned images by Matterport are weaved together using AI to generate enhanced data sets, accelerate the process, and improve various other features of the light structure scans.
The platform also uses AI as a valuable tool to automate room recognition, a crucial feature for long-term facility management aspects, including facility inspection, insurance appraisal, mortgage appraisal, and insurance risk evaluation.
Matterport acts as not only the largest 3D database in the world but also a 2D image database aligning with it. It has a data cache in its database used for object recognition with deep learning, and it identifies with various objects found in it.
Integrating BIM and AI comprehensively into a project can facilitate service, maintenance, and construction documentation of a structure captured and updated throughout the building lifecycle.
Matterport is joining hands with BIMobject, which has the largest library of BIM objects, to integrate BIM information into their Mattertag system. Using BIM for maintenance facilities to keep track of every part of the facility holds huge potential and should be seriously considered by project stakeholders.
BIM object and Matterport will form an agreement for facility managers to include a viable system for tracking every area of the facility. The combination will enable a scanning process for the different stages of a building’s life cycle. Matterport should be consciously positioned to move forward with AI as it has a massive database of as-built 3D models and matching 2D images.
Conclusion
The AEC industry is rapidly urbanizing and demands innovative solutions to address complex challenges. Matterport has a cutting-edge technology for 3D Laser scanning that has emerged as a revolutionary solution to this industry scenario.
It provides unparalleled visualization solutions and global collaboration to explore the possibilities in the AEC sector. Its ability to develop detailed iterations of real-world spaces and interoperability with different software open doors to new avenues of creativity and innovation.
However, as with any technological development, it is imperative to understand its benefits and be aware of the challenges of pursuing it with a balanced approach. Matterport is not just a visualization tool, but a catalyst for change driving the industry towards a collaborative and innovative future.
