When integrated with live building systems and sensor data, these digital environments can support predictive maintenance, energy optimisation and more informed facilities management decisions.
“ In recent projects, calculating efficiency ratios for companies with a large portfolio of assets has proven incredibly useful when they look at acquiring new buildings,” De Jager says. In that sense, the technology is moving beyond architecture and construction into operational strategy and asset intelligence.
For BPAS, the value also lies in making technical data usable for people who are not working inside architectural software every day. LiDAR scans and architectural models are integrated into platforms that developers and stakeholders already feel comfortable using, allowing teams to engage with live project information in a more intuitive and practical way. This helps clients to better understand spatial relationships, operational implications and project risks without needing deep technical expertise themselves.
Technology backed by human expertise While advocating for the use of LiDAR and digital twins, BPAS is cautious about overstating what the technology can do on its own. De Jager says the technologies are often presented as highly automated, near-instant solutions. But, in practice, the quality of the outcome still depends heavily on interpretation, modelling expertise and ongoing data management.
“ There is also a misconception that a digital twin is a‘ setand-forget’ product rather than a living data ecosystem,” he says.“ Without consistent updates and integration with building management systems, a scan is simply a static 3D snapshot that loses its operational value as the physical building inevitably changes.”
LiDAR 17