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

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.

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.