What is a 3D Model?
A 3D model digitally represents the geometry of an object or environment in three dimensions. In construction, 3D models range from design-intent BIM models to reality-captured meshes generated from photos or laser scans.
How It Works
Design models are authored in CAD/BIM tools from specifications → reality-capture models are generated from photographs (photogrammetry) or laser scans (point clouds meshed into surfaces) → both can be aligned in one coordinate system for comparison.
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Applications in Construction & AEC
- Design visualisation and coordination
- Progress comparison of as-built vs design
- Quantity take-off and measurement
- Stakeholder communication and approvals
- Facility management handover
3D Model vs. Point Cloud
A point cloud is raw captured data — millions of individual measurement points. A 3D model is structured geometry: surfaces, objects, and attributes. Point clouds are often the source from which 3D models are created.
