Do You Need a 3D Scanner or Just a Good Floor Plan?
Most professionals who think they need a 3D scanner actually need an accurate floor plan with CAD export. A professional 3D scanner costs €5,000 to €50,000 and requires specialist operators. LiDAR
scanning on iPhone Pro produces a dimensioned floor plan and 3D model in 10 to 20 minutes — at a fraction of the cost.
Site Documentation for Renovations: What You Need Before You Start
Before a renovation starts, you need an accurate floor plan, photo documentation of existing conditions, and room data for material calculations. LiDAR scanning with iPhone Pro or iPad Pro captures all three in a single on-site visit — in under 30 minutes for a standard apartment.
How Electricians Create Base Plans for Electrical Layout
Electricians need an accurate base plan before laying out circuits, outlets, and cable routes. LiDAR scanning with iPhone Pro or iPad Pro produces a DXF floor plan in 10 to 20 minutes — ready to open in DDS-CAD, Ziemer SCC, RED CAD, and other MEP planning software.
As-Built Documentation: The Fastest Way to Capture Existing Conditions
As-built documentation captures the actual state of a building as it exists today — not as it was originally designed. LiDAR scanning with iPhone Pro or iPad Pro produces a complete as-built floor plan in 10 to 20 minutes per apartment, accurate to within 1%, exportable to DXF, IFC, and PDF.
How to Import a Room Scan into CAD or BIM Software
To import a room scan into CAD or BIM software, export from Metaroom as DXF for 2D CAD programs or IFC for BIM programs. Both files open directly in AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, DDS-CAD, DIALux, and 30+ other programs without conversion or intermediate steps.
LiDAR vs. Photogrammetry vs. Laser Measure: Which Is Right for Your Job?
LiDAR, photogrammetry, and laser distance meters each measure space differently. LiDAR is fastest for automatic floor plans and professional CAD export. Photogrammetry suits complex exterior or heritage capture. A laser distance meter is best for single precise measurements. Here is an honest comparison.
magicplan vs. Professional LiDAR Scanning: A Practical Comparison
magicplan works on any smartphone and uses camera-based measurement to produce floor plans. Metaroom uses LiDAR on iPhone Pro or iPad Pro to produce floor plans accurate to within 1%, with automatic room geometry capture and professional CAD export. Here is how they compare in practice.
Matterport vs. Mobile Scanning Apps: What’s the Difference?
Matterport produces immersive 3D tours primarily used in real estate marketing. Mobile LiDAR apps like Metaroom produce dimensioned floor plans, 3D models, and CAD exports for professional building documentation. They solve different problems at different price points.
How Energy Consultants Document Buildings Before an Audit
Energy consultants need accurate floor plans, room volumes, and wall areas before conducting an energy audit. LiDAR scanning with iPhone Pro or iPad Pro produces all required building data in 10 to 20 minutes per apartment and exports directly to Excel and PDF — the formats used by energy assessment software.
How to Get a CAD-Ready Floor Plan from a Real Building
To get a CAD-ready floor plan from a real building, you have three options: measure manually and redraw in CAD, digitize existing paper plans, or scan with a LiDAR-equipped smartphone. LiDAR scanning produces a DXF or IFC file in 10 to 20 minutes without manual redraw — ready to open in AutoCAD, Revit, or any BIM program.
