BIMmTool for Archicad 28 Collaborate or SSA + Forward & Technology Preview

[Illes Papp]

Dear Technology Preview Members,

We’re pleased to announce a new collaboration with BIMm Solutions GmbH. Following the release of Archicad 28, users with an SSA + Forward or an Archicad Collaborate Subscription will be able to access BIMmTool Lite, a comprehensive Point Cloud Handling Feature Set, as part of their subscription.

Key features include:

• New point cloud import
• Support for various point cloud formats
• Scalable resolution with preset options
• Ability to import large unstructured point clouds, including preview and story splitting function
• Point cloud switching functionality
• Distance-dependent resolution
• BIMmNavigator
• IVION point clouds

These features enhance productivity, streamline project management, and facilitate seamless collaboration across teams.

Additionally, as Technology Preview users, you can test even more advanced features with the BIMmTool Pro version. BIMm Tool Pro includes model-to-point cloud comparison as well as the Scan 2 BIM function, which transforms drawn details into BIM elements. The Pro Feature Set is available with the Technology Preview until October 25. After the official release of Archicad 28, it will be available for separate purchase directly from BIMm Solutions GmbH.

During the Technology Preview, the BIMmTool Pro version will be available in English, German, French, Italian, Japanese, and Polish. After the release of Archicad 28, both the BIMmTool Lite and Pro versions will be available in all Archicad-supported languages.

We invite you to download and test the add-on, available through the following link:

Graphisoft Technology Preview Program 2024 - Graphisoft Community

For further details and guidance, refer to the online BIMmTool add-on Knowledge Base:

https://kb.bimm-solutions.com/books/bimmtool-operation-manual

Please download the add-on and share feedback! Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to comment or post in this thread.

[Francois_MCD]

Great @torben_wadlinger, yes managing & manipulating point clouds for use in Archicad is +/-40% of our time.

Gladly BIMmTool removes the need to even reduce the raw files, which can save us a lot of time especially on projects with this size.

We can simply take any raw scan files and get to work immediately with the usefull optimization functions in BIMmTool Pro.

[runxel]

Thank your for that insight, Francois!

Have you ever used the a bit ill-named "3d Scanner App" app? 😄

Do you think the 300 dollars per year are worth it? I've never heard about this Dot3D before, so I'm curious.

[Francois_MCD]

Hi @runxel yes the $300/year is totally worth it.

And yes, I have used 3D Scanner App & tested at least 30+ others on my iPad.

3D Scanner App & Scaniverse for example are useful mostly to scan small apartments / cottages, single rooms & cars / objects, where accuracy is not that important. These & similar apps are good for scoping projects, they are "shoot-&-go" easy to use, fast & produce light weight scan files rather quickly. This is good in some cases, but definitely not survey grade results.

We started using Matterport Pro2 in 2018 and still use it to scan for Virtual Tours & point clouds of complete buildings on larger projects. But this platform also has it's ideal use cases & limitations. Advantage here is processing & registration is done for you in their cloud platform. I would however not tackle a project like @torben_wadlinger posted with a Matterport Pro2. We would love to replace our Pro2's with Pro3's though. The Pro3 is able to scan outside without issues with direct sun light like the Pro2 has and has a longer scan range which is helpful to scan larger spaces like warehouses, etc.

We've used Leica & Faro scanners on larger scope projects and they're perfect for the job, giving super accurate point clouds. The files are massive though and in most cases an overkill. Add to that the fact that just preparing these files for modeling takes way more time than it's worth on some projects.

It's all comes down to the end goal, what do you need to scan for:

• If you just need to quickly survey a structure to determine the scope of a project for your quote phase, then accuracy is not important yet. 
  Then 3D Scanner App & Scaniverse is perfect for the task.
• If you need to document existing conditions simply for approval my your Municipality, survey grade scans are overkill in terms of captured data, making it not affordable to the client while not being aligned with the core purpose of the project.
  Then Matterport Pro2 & Pro3 is more than good enough.
• If you are scanning a plant room / complete facility, millimeter accuracy is essential, because manufacture of extensions to the equipment / machines will have immediate impact of cost if things don't fit on installation.
  Here you have no choice than to go with ie. Leica, Faro, Trimble & NavViz, etc (if you / your client can afford this equipment).

So the reason why I say the $300/year for Dot3D is totally worth it is: (1) the point cloud files are equal / even denser than Matterport Pro3, Leica & Faro, (2) it scans & processed on a iPAD!!. That says it all, it's affordable, fast, accurate & easy to use.

Though RTAB-Map is open source, the output data is in the same range of Dot3D, but I need to learn about it's extensive (complicated) settings before I can know & trust what I will get for my projects.