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  • 1.  As-builts / Matterport Camera

    Posted 12-26-2025 11:36 AM

    I am curious to know if firms have found value in investing in a Matterport camera compared to outsourcing as-built services. If you handle the Matterport camera scanning in-house, do you also have Matterport prepare a BIM model? If so, what has been your experience with the quality of the model?



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    Will Teass AIA
    Teass\Warren Architects
    Washington DC
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  • 2.  RE: As-builts / Matterport Camera

    Posted 12-26-2025 05:44 PM

    My preference is to have the matterport to scan existing conditions, and then have the existing BIM model set up in-house. Personally I like for the BIM model to be started from the firm templates, using the firm's families, wall types, parameters, etc. I find there is still some bridging work to be done when outsourcing that existing conditions modeling. I do think it could possibly be more viable with scale - I.e. a very large existing building may be worth outsourcing to save the time for a small firm with limited resources. But I prefer to retain control of the modeling generally.



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    Michael Vineyard AIA
    Wier Boerner Allin Architecture, PLLC
    Nashville TN
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: As-builts / Matterport Camera

    Posted 01-05-2026 03:46 PM
    We have used the Matterport for documenting a number of existing buildings as part of our field verification process for renovation projects, not for as-builts.  We find it is very helpful in going back to "look" for things that perhaps you didn't note or notice.  This brings efficiency to the work, especially if the project in not located in close proximity.  Our clients have also enjoyed it and, though the image if of the existing conditions, it helps them understand the changes that are discussed during the design process.  

    As a previous response noted, we have not typically used it to create the BIM model, as we also can create it separately with more control and following our usual standards.

     






    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: As-builts / Matterport Camera

    Posted 01-05-2026 05:31 PM
    We've been using the Matterport Pro3 scanner for about 18 mos. 
    We send the point cloud off to a 3rd party who generate a sketchup model for us. You can get a Revit model directly from Matterport too. 
    Highly recommend and worth the initial investment. 


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    Daniel Zimmerman, Registered Architect, AIA
    ALLOY: Architecture + Construction 
    1109 Rose Hill Drive
    Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
    tel: 434-977-8733
    www.alloyworkshop.com
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: As-builts / Matterport Camera

    Posted 01-05-2026 05:38 PM
    Edited by Samantha Johnson, AIA 01-05-2026 05:38 PM

    In line with what most of the previous comments have stated, our firm primarily uses Matterport scans as a replacement for taking photos with a phone or tablet. Occasionally, we'll rely on it to capture a measurement that was missed during a site visit, or when a condition comes up later and we need a specific dimension.

    Most of our scanning is done in-house. If the space is particularly large, we may outsource the scanning, as we typically only have one Matterport camera per office and prefer not to tie up staff for more than a day of scanning and travel. This has only happened a few times, since most of our projects can be scanned within a day.

    We do not use Matterport's 3D file exports, as we have our own firm standards, families, and templates for BIM modeling. I have heard in the past that the file exports tend to bog down Revit and frequently cause crashes. 



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    Samantha Johnson AIA
    Plunkett Raysich Architects
    Sarasota FL
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    Original Message


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