User:Maarten.bassier/sandbox/Scan to BIM

Scan to BIM is the process of creating Building Information Models (BIM's) from Point Cloud data. It involves the segmentation and classification of the metric information data and the fitting of geometric entities. Existing environments such as buildings, tunnels, bridges, etc. are digitized using remote sensing techniques and converted to BIM geometry. BIM's for existing structures are used in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry for project planning, refurbishment, facility management, etc. Scan to BIM is also popular in the creation of as-built models that reflect the current state of the asset.

Currently the Scan to BIM process is mainly a manual process which is very labour intensive and error prone. Research in point cloud segmentation,classification and reconstruction may provide a solution. A popular approach is the implementation of supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques to aid the process,.

Scope
Scan to BIM is a form of point cloud processing intented to introduce intelligence to raw measurements. As the amount of data quickly becomes overwhelming, manual procedures are very labour intensive and error prone. For instance, point clouds acquired by Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) accumulate hundreds of millions of points of a structure. As the data accumulates, it becomes increasingly difficult to interpret. Therefore, current research focusses on aiding the user in dealing with this data trough (semi-) automated workflows.

Data acquisition
Typically Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) techniques such as Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) are used for the data acquisition of buildings. By capturing millions of points, a dense point cloud is created of the structure. This highly accurate metric data is often extended with intensity values and color information. Other data acquisition techniques for point cloud data are photogrammetry, Radar, etc. These techniques are integrated in hand-held systems, backpacks, trolleys, UAV's, driverless cars, etc.

Reconstruction
The reconstruction of BIM geometry involves the interpretation of the point cloud and the creation or placement of the proper objects. The user isolates a relevant portion of the point cloud and uses it as a bases to place objects such as floors, walls, furniture, etc. Usually, multiple section views are used for the placement of the geometry. For instance, an effecient way to place an desk in the point cloud is to have one horizontal section and one or two vertical sections. This allows the user to move to object into place using only one direction at a time instead of all three directions simultaneously. This reduces allows for fast and accurate placement of most objects.

Automation in Scan to BIM
Automation in Scan to BIM is divided in two groups: Semi-automated approaches and fully-automated Approaches. Semi-automated approaches look to provide a set of tools to aid the users modelling task. Typically, this involves point cloud handling such as cropping, density reduction, image overlay, sectioning, etc. Also, facilitated placement tools are popular. For instance, the user only has to select a couple of point for an entire entity to be properly reconstructed. While (semi)-automated approaches are still slow, they are very reliable all af the dicisions are user-driven.

Fully automated approaches look to replace the users input with computer-driven decision making processes. These algorithms typically only employ user input for initiation and validation. The automated workflow includes point cloud segmentation and classification aswell as the reconstruction of BIM geometry. While being very efficient, these algorithms require extensive computational resources and are prone to error in complex zones.

Segmentation
In order to properly fit objects onto the point cloud, the points are segmented in different clusters. Typically, the point clusters match a primitive such as a plane and are part of a single object. Unfortunately, interpreting and segmenting point cloud data proves difficult for humans. Machine learning techniques are employed to facilitate this process. In this case, segmentation is considered an unsupervised instance of object recognition.

Classification
Once the points are grouped together to match a certain primitive, each cluster is identified. Each group is given a label such as floor, ceiling, wall, desk, etc. This process is referred to as classification. By recognizing which class a cluster belongs to, class-specific reconstruction algorithms can be employed. Popular approaches include heuristics and machine learning techniques. Classification is considered a supervised instance of object recognition.

Reconstruction
Each class of object has a different reconstruction algorithm. For instance, the procedure to reconstruct a floor varies from the procedure of fitting a desk. By segmenting and classifying the point cloud, the reconstruction algorithms only need to operate on the significant part of the data. This is crucial for the performance and computational effort of the reconstruction process.