The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is undergoing a digital transformation. By providing precise, real-time data, reality capture helps firms reduce rework, improve collaboration, and enhance decision-making.
According to a report by Dodge Construction Network - SmartMarket Report, companies that integrate Building Information Modeling (BIM) and reality capture into their workflows experience a 73% reduction in errors and rework, significantly minimizing costly mistakes during project execution. Furthermore, Swinerton, a leading California-based construction firm, reduced travel by 50% by leveraging Matterport digital twins to remotely share worksite scans with distributed teams and stakeholders, cutting down on travel costs while improving project coordination. For design and construction leaders, Matterport offers a comprehensive solution to streamline communication, reduce site visits, and ensure project accuracy, ultimately driving better project outcomes across the industry.
However, despite its promise, the integration of reality capture into AEC workflows comes with its own set of challenges. Many industry leaders struggle with a number of items, including:
In this blog, we’ll explore these challenges and discuss how to help design and construction leaders navigate them to fully harness the potential of reality capture.
As projects become increasingly complex and geographically dispersed, the ability to scale reality capture technology across multiple sites and ensure instantaneous access is more important than ever.
But relying solely on expensive, overpowered lidar scanning options can force scarcity, limiting capture to just a few job sites or skilled users across the project portfolio. Instead, leaders need to adopt a secondary scanning tool which offers the best combination of ease of use, quality imagery, and affordability.
Take Matterport for instance. Its cloud-based platform allows teams to capture, store, and access 3D models from any location on almost any device, making it scalable across projects of all sizes. A prime example is Gilbane, a construction firm that used Matterport to significantly improve operational efficiency. In one recent project, Gilbane saved 168 working hours by using Matterport’s digital twins to review 21 project sites in just 4 hours during a virtual design team meeting. By eliminating the need for physical site visits, Gilbane achieved cumulative time savings of more than 1,000 hours across 300 sites, streamlining project management and maintaining timelines. These substantial time savings illustrate how Gilbane demonstrated the scalability and accessibility of reality capture technology, particularly for large, geographically dispersed projects.
As reality capture technology continues to advance, the AEC industry is generating more data than ever before. A study by FMI Consulting found that 95% of all data captured in the construction industry goes unused, leading to missed opportunities for efficiency and insight. For design and construction leaders, effectively managing and integrating this data into existing workflows is essential for maximizing the benefits of reality capture.
Early design hurdles, such as obtaining existing conditions documentation, often take days or even weeks longer than necessary. These delays are compounded by the time spent on manual work and managing multiple vendors.
Cloud-based platforms like Matterport help eliminate these inefficiencies. By integrating seamlessly with leading AEC software, including Autodesk Construction Cloud and other design software, it allows leaders to obtain accurate documentation and automatically integrate it with their design tools. This integration not only accelerates project timelines but also reduces the risk of errors, turning raw data into actionable insights that drive better project outcomes.
Maintaining data accuracy is critical in the AEC industry, where errors can lead to costly rework and project delays. A study conducted by Autodesk and FMI Consulting revealed that 52% of rework is caused by inaccurate or incomplete data, highlighting the importance of precision in reality capture. One common mistake is relying on outdated or incorrect data, which can easily compromise the integrity of the entire project.
AEC-grade reality capture solutions often fall short in terms of visual clarity, making it difficult to thoroughly review 3D walkthroughs. However, tools like Matterport provide high-fidelity digital twins with 4K visual clarity paired with dimensional accuracy. This ensures that digital representations of projects are both visually precise and accurate in measurement.
For instance, Arup used Matterport’s digital twins to accelerate project timelines by importing point clouds directly into Autodesk Revit, allowing for quicker documentation of as-built conditions. This enabled their design teams to gain a comprehensive understanding of spaces, ensuring they had the data they needed to move forward with early design and spatial planning. With Matterport, Arup received LOD 200 BIM files directly from site scans, Arup eliminated the need for time-consuming manual processes and started projects with an accurate foundation, improving efficiency across engineering teams and preventing costly rework.
The cost of implementing reality capture technology can be a significant concern for many AEC firms. A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) found that the U.S. construction industry could save up to $15.8 billion annually through the full adoption of advanced technologies, including reality capture. However, one of the most common mistakes is underestimating the true costs of implementation, leading to budget overruns or insufficient use of the technology.
For AEC leaders, balancing initial costs with long-term benefits is essential. Reality capture solutions that are scalable and easy to deploy can help firms manage these costs without heavy investment in specialized tools. For example, Corgan, an architecture firm, reduced their capture time by 50%, improving resource utilization and reducing rework by leveraging the remote accessibility provided by these tools. This kind of efficiency can help firms control expenses while still benefiting from the enhanced accuracy and collaboration that reality capture offers, making it a value investment in the long term.
With the rise of digital transformation in the AEC industry, data security has become a top priority. A report by Construction Executive found that 75% of construction companies have experienced a cyberattack, underscoring the importance of protecting sensitive project data. Leaders who fail to prioritize data security when implementing reality capture technology risk exposing their projects to breaches, which can lead to financial loss and reputational damage.
By ensuring that all information is securely stored and transmitted, leaders can safeguard their sensitive data while still benefiting from the convenience and efficiency of cloud-based reality capture technology. Solutions like Matterport have been built with data security as a core feature, offering robust encryption and secure cloud storage solutions to protect captured data.
As AEC firms scale projects globally, documentation and collaboration are crucial for maintaining high-quality standards. Unfortunately, the construction process is one of the biggest contributors to global pollution, making it essential to find innovative ways to increase sustainability efforts. Distributed teams are increasingly adopting digital twins to minimize travel, cut emissions, and improve efficiency.
Beyond the operational benefits, Matterport can play a significant role in supporting sustainability within the AEC industry. By preventing waste, saving time, and reducing costs, Matterport contributes to a more environmentally friendly construction process. The platform’s ability to capture accurate data quickly and remotely not only enhances collaboration but also helps reduce the carbon footprint associated with unnecessary travel and rework. This aligns with the broader industry goals of reducing environmental impact while maintaining high-quality standards across global projects.
Reality capture technology is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the AEC industry, offering the potential to revolutionize project planning, design, and execution. For design and construction leaders, the effective implementation of this technology is key to maintaining a competitive edge and delivering exceptional results for their customers.
As the AEC industry continues to evolve, those who embrace and effectively implement reality capture technology with Matterport will be better equipped to meet the demands of modern construction and design, staying ahead of the competition and delivering projects that exceed expectations. See how Matterport supports AEC firms from scan to build.
For more information on how Matterport can empower your design and construction teams and integrate with Autodesk, visit the Matterport + Autodesk partner page to explore the possibilities and get started.
