2025 Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Property | Standard | Fast Track (+25%) | Rush (+50%) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2–3 bed | £400–£600 | £500–£750 | £600–£900 | | 4+ bed | £500–£800 | £625–£1,000 | £750–£1,200 | | Commercial | £800–£1,500 | £1,000–£1,875 | £1,200–£2,250 |
Survey Deliverables Reference
| Deliverable | Format | Use | | --- | --- | --- | | Floor plans | DWG + PDF | Design reference | | Elevations | DWG + PDF | Planning submission | | Sections | DWG + PDF | Building regulations | | Site plan | DWG + PDF | Planning boundary |
Navisworks and Point Clouds: A Practical Integration Guide
Navisworks is a BIM coordination software widely used in construction for clash detection and project review. Point clouds can be integrated with Navisworks for verification, clash detection, and progress monitoring.
This guide explains how to use point clouds in Navisworks and when this integration adds value to your project.
What Is Navisworks?
Navisworks is a BIM review and coordination tool from Autodesk. It allows project teams to combine models from multiple disciplines — architecture, structure, MEP — and identify clashes between them before construction.
Key Navisworks capabilities include:
Clash detection: Automated identification of clashes between models — pipes clashing with structural beams, for example.
Model review: Visualisation of combined models for design review and coordination.
Quantification: Measurement and take-off from combined models.
Animation and simulation: 4D construction sequencing and visual simulation.
Data integration: Combination of models from different software platforms.
Why Add Point Clouds to Navisworks?
Point clouds add the as-built reality to the design model environment. In Navisworks, point clouds can be used for:
Verification: Compare the design model against the point cloud scan to identify discrepancies. Construction can be verified against design.
Progress monitoring: Regular scans show the actual state of construction. Overlay design models to see what has been built and what remains.
Clash detection: Point clouds can be used as a reference for clash detection. Design models can be checked against point cloud geometry for unexpected obstructions.
As-built review: Review the as-built condition against design for snagging and handover.
Point clouds bring objective reality into the Navisworks coordination environment.
How to Import Point Clouds Into Navisworks
Point clouds are imported into Navisworks using the Pointcloud format. Supported formats include:
RCS files: ReCap Capture format. Native Autodesk format with good performance in Navisworks.
RCP files: ReCap project files. Point cloud collections with multiple scan files.
Faro files: PTS format from Faro scanners.
Other formats: LAS, PTS, and other point cloud formats can be converted to RCS for use in Navisworks.
Import the point cloud using File > Open and selecting the point cloud file. The point cloud appears in the Scene view alongside the BIM models.
Point Cloud Display in Navisworks
Navisworks provides controls for point cloud display:
Clipping planes: Clip the point cloud to show cross-sections. Useful for examining interior conditions.
Section planes: Cut through the point cloud to reveal interior geometry.
Level of detail: Adjust point density for performance. Lower density improves navigation speed.
Colour schemes: Point clouds can be displayed by height, intensity, or RGB colour from the scan.
Hide and isolate: Hide or isolate portions of the point cloud to focus on specific areas.
Display controls help navigate large point clouds efficiently.
Clash Detection With Point Clouds
Point clouds can be used in clash detection workflows:
Design vs reality: Clash detection between design models and point clouds identifies where construction differs from design.
Utilities verification: MEP models can be checked against point clouds for clashes with as-built conditions.
Hidden condition identification: Point clouds reveal what is behind walls and ceilings — useful for planning MEP installation in existing buildings.
Clash detection with point clouds is typically done using the Clash Detective module. Define search sets for the point cloud and design models, run clash tests, and review results.
Limitations of Point Clouds in Navisworks
Point clouds in Navisworks have limitations:
Large file size: Point clouds are large files. Performance can be slow, especially with multiple scans or large sites.
No geometry extraction: Point clouds are visualisation data. They cannot be directly used for quantification or model-based take-off.
Classification difficulty: Point clouds are difficult to classify — walls, floors, MEP — in Navisworks. BIM models carry this classification; point clouds do not.
Rendering performance: Large point clouds can slow down Navisworks navigation and clash detection.
For these reasons, point clouds are typically used as a reference layer rather than a primary clash detection medium.
Point Cloud Workflow Best Practice
To use point clouds effectively in Navisworks:
Crop to area of interest: Remove unnecessary portions of the point cloud to improve performance.
Reduce point density: Use lower point density for navigation and higher density for detailed review.
Use search sets: Create search sets for different portions of the point cloud to focus clash detection.
Combine with BIM models: Point clouds supplement BIM models. Use BIM models for classification and clash detection, point clouds for verification.
Archive originals: Keep the original point cloud files. Navisworks modifications are non-destructive — revert to original if needed.
When to Use Point Clouds in Navisworks
Use point clouds in Navisworks when:
Verifying construction: Compare as-built scans against design models to identify discrepancies.
Progress monitoring: Track construction progress by comparing scans at different stages.
MEP coordination: Check MEP designs against as-built conditions in existing buildings.
Quality assurance: Verify that construction matches design before proceeding to next stages.
For straightforward new-build coordination, BIM-only workflows are sufficient. Point cloud integration adds most value for verification and existing building projects.
Fixed-Fee Scan-to-BIM from icelabz
icelabz provides scan-to-BIM services that include point cloud delivery in formats compatible with Navisworks. We advise on point cloud integration workflows and deliver data that works effectively in Navisworks.
Contact icelabz with your project requirements for a fixed-fee quote.