CAD & BIM Workflows for Professionals

How to transfer real buildings into CAD software — DXF, IFC and BIM import workflows for architects and engineers.

Last updated: May 2026 · Review due: August 2026

Articles in this cluster

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.

What you learn from this cluster

These articles teach you: There are three main workflows for bringing real buildings into CAD and BIM software. LiDAR scanning produces the most accurate as-built data. DXF, IFC, and BIM formats each serve different software ecosystems. Metaroom exports directly to all three.