Reality capture / Architects

Reality capture for architects · Cape Town

Design on the building as it is, not as the old drawings say

Measured building surveys and as-built Revit models for alterations, renovations and heritage work. Scan only if you model in-house, or scan and model in your template.

Africa's only Autodesk Platinum Partner · Fixed price for a defined deliverable · Registration report with every project

See an architectural sample ↓

Request a quote

SOUND FAMILIAR?

Existing buildings rarely match their drawings

The approved plans are 30 years old
They miss the alterations made since, and you find out once the builder opens up a wall.

Measuring takes days and still misses things
Tape and laser-measure surveys mean return visits for the dimension nobody took, and they rarely show walls out of square or floors out of level.

Heritage and awkward geometry
Curved walls, mouldings, pitched roofs and sagging floors are slow to measure by hand and easy to get wrong.

Modelling what is already there eats your fee
Every hour spent drawing existing conditions is an hour not spent on the design your client is paying for.

WHAT YOU GET

Choose the deliverable your project needs

One building, four ways to receive it. Order the point cloud on its own, or let us turn it into a model and drawings.

  • Point cloud

    Scan only

    Registered and in colour, as E57 or RCP. Links straight into Revit, Archicad or AutoCAD.

    For practices that model in-house

  • As-built Revit model

    Scan and model

    LOD 100 to 300, built in your template. Walls, floors, roofs, doors and windows as real Revit elements on the right levels.

    Alterations, renovations and fit-outs

  • Plans, sections and elevations

    Scan and draw

    Measured drawings in DWG and PDF, ready to use as the existing-conditions base for your drawing set.

    Submission and tender drawings

  • Renders, walkthroughs and meshes

    Add-on

    Show your client the proposal in its real setting, or keep a 3D record of a heritage building.

    Client sign-off and heritage records

Also available: control-point tie-in · LOD 350 and 400 on request.

Model it yourselves? We supply ReCap Pro, Revit training that covers working with point clouds, and workstations that handle large scans.

PROJECTS

Buildings we have captured

  • Maitland Town Hall

    Cape Town · Heritage · Scan and model

  • International hotel, Lusaka

    Lusaka, Zambia · 18,000 m² · Scan and model

  • Llandudno residence

    Cape Town · Residential · Scan and model

FAQ

Questions architects ask us

Do we need a model, or is a point cloud enough?

If your team is comfortable modelling from a point cloud in Revit, scan only is the cheapest route. If not, or the programme is tight, we model it for you. Not sure? Tell us what the survey is for and we will recommend the simplest option that works.

Can you model in our Revit template?

Yes. Send us your template and standards and the model arrives with your families, levels, naming and view setup, ready for your team to start designing.

We use Archicad. Can we still use the scan?

Yes. The registered point cloud imports into Archicad as an E57 file. We model in Revit, so if you are weighing up a move, our Archicad to Revit guide covers what the switch involves.

Which level of detail do we need?

LOD 100 for feasibility and space planning, LOD 200 for concept design, LOD 300 for detailed design and submission drawings. Most renovation work is LOD 200 or 300. We agree the level in the quote, and LOD 350 and 400 are available on request.

How accurate are the drawings?

Our FARO Focus S70 has a ranging error of ±1 mm, and every project comes with a registration report showing the accuracy achieved. The model tolerance is agreed in the quote, typically [±X mm] for walls and openings.

Can we use the drawings for a municipal submission?

Yes, as the existing-conditions base. The plans, sections and elevations are drawn from the scan; you add the proposed work, and the submission set and sign-off stay with you.

Can you scan an occupied house or office?

Yes. Scanning is non-contact and we work around the people using the building. Most homes and small commercial buildings take a day or less on site.

What does it cost?

Every project is a fixed price for a defined deliverable, based on floor area, complexity, access and whether you need a model. Send us the basics and we will come back with a price.

Which areas do you cover?

We are based in Cape Town and work across the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, and take on international projects.

WHY CLIENTS USE MODENA

A model your team can work in, not just look at

  • Real Revit elements, not a traced shell

    Walls are walls and doors are doors, classified and on the right levels, so your team edits the model instead of redrawing it.

  • Built by the people who teach Revit

    Our modellers are the same BIM specialists who run our Revit training, with their own tools for working with point clouds.

  • Accuracy you can check

    FARO Focus scanners with ±1 mm ranging error, and a registration report with every project showing the accuracy achieved.

  • Scope and price in writing

    Deliverable, level of detail, tolerance and template agreed before we scan, quoted as a fixed price.

  • 1. Send us the basics

    Address, approximate floor area, what the survey is for, and any existing plans.

  • 2. Fixed-price quote

    Deliverable, level of detail and timeline agreed in writing.

  • 3. Site scan

    Most buildings take a day or less on site. Occupied homes and offices are fine.

  • 4. Registration and QA

    Scans joined into one point cloud, checked, and documented in a registration report.

  • 5. Model and handover

    Modelled in your template if ordered, then a walkthrough of the files with your team.

REQUEST A QUOTE

Tell us about the building and we will come back with a fixed price

Include the address, approximate floor area and what the survey is for. Existing plans help if you have them.

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