The problem
On complex, mission-critical projects, teams need to confirm exact dimensions, clearances, and installation accuracy long before problems become visible in a standard progress update.
Progress tracking tells you what has been installed. It doesn't allow you to verify whether it was installed accurately enough for the next piece of equipment to fit. That makes clashes, clearance issues, and dimensional errors harder to catch early — and leaves teams relying on a tape measure, a site walk, or a separate specialist tool to get an answer.
Pain points
Late issue detection. Layout and dimensional errors are hard to catch before they're installed, increasing the risk of rework.
Fragmented workflow. Checking a measurement means leaving Buildots for a separate scan tool, then coming back to act on it.
Limited access to scans. Scans can't be easily opened by all project team members, so the people making decisions on site can't check a dimension themselves.
Value proposition
Laser-precise verification, in the same place you track progress.
Laser Scans brings your survey-grade site captures into Buildots. When Buildots flags a deviation — or when you simply want to check an element — you can jump straight into the laser scan at that exact location, move freely through the space, and take a precise measurement. Because the scan sits alongside your progress data and BIM model, you can go from "something looks wrong" to "here is the measured clearance" in one workflow, instead of coordinating across tools and teams.
Scans also build a history of the space. Each capture of an area is kept alongside the earlier ones, so you can move between scan dates to see exactly how conditions changed — confirming that an issue was corrected, or checking what was behind a wall before it was closed up.
Benefits
Verify in one click. Jump from a deviation or element straight to the same spot in the laser scan — no site walk, no separate login.
Measure with confidence. Take precise measurements between any two points directly in the platform, at the accuracy of the scan you uploaded.
Keep equipment moving. Confirm clearances and access routes before major plant and equipment arrives on site.
User Guide
Open Laser Scans from the side menu to browse the scans available on your project, or start from a deviation or element as described below.
From Progress or Deviations, open a flagged deviation. Click through to the laser scan to land at the same location instantly.
You'll arrive in the scan at the same vantage point, looking at the same elements that were flagged.
Switch to point cloud mode: Click the View icon in the laser scan page to switch from the panoramic capture into raw point cloud mode. This is what lets you move away from the fixed position the camera happened to capture from.
Navigate the point cloud: Move freely through the space to get the angle you need — including past obstructions that would block the standard Explorer view. See the navigation commands below.
To measure, select the measurement icon, and then select the measuring method from the side menu.
The cursor snaps to the actual surface geometry, so the reading reflects real site conditions rather than an estimate off a photo. Measurements are as accurate as the scan you uploaded.
Use the minimap to reposition yourself in the space. The minimap is an orthophoto generated from the scan itself, so it carries more detail than the standard Explorer minimap.
Switch between capture dates: Where a location has been scanned more than once, use the date picker to switch between scan dates. This lets you compare conditions over time and confirm that an issue was resolved.
Sharing a view: To share a specific view, copy the link. Anyone with access to the project who opens it lands in the same position — no file transfer needed.
Downloading Scans: To hand a scan to someone outside Buildots, such as a subcontractor or consultant, crop to the area you need and download it in the format their software requires.
Navigating in point cloud mode
WASD— Move forward, left, back, rightQ— Move upE— Move down
Note: Occasionally the jump from an element lands you behind a wall or other obstruction. Move forward slightly, or float through in point cloud mode, and you'll be back on track.
Uploading scans to Buildots
Contact your CSM and coordinate a way to hand the scan file to Buildots (either direct link or file share). If needed, Buildots will provide a location to upload the file to. Uploaded scans must be in an e57 format (either with or without panoramas). A built-in scan uploader is coming soon!
Uploaded scans should be geo-referenced. Please communicate the reference system to the Buildots CSM, and which buildings and levels are in the scan.
The scan will appear within 2-3 days after upload.
FAQs
Q: Is Laser Scans available on mobile or tablet?
A: No. Laser Scans is available in the Buildots web app only.
Q: How accurate are the measurements?
A: As accurate as the scan you upload. Buildots measures against the point cloud you provide, so the precision you get reflects the scanner and capture process your team used.
Q: Do we have to use NavVis hardware?
A: No. Any laser scanner works as long as it exports the E57 file format. We recommend NavVis based on our own experience on large mission-critical projects, but it isn't required.
Q: Which file formats can we upload?
A: E57 — the industry standard format for point cloud data.
Q: We already use 360 captures and BIM. What do laser scans add?
A: Precision. 360 captures are ideal for frequent progress tracking; laser scans give you a measurable record of exact site conditions. Use laser scans when you need to confirm dimensions, clearances, or the position of a critical install.
Q: How often should we capture laser scans compared to 360 images?
A: Far less often. Buildots recommends 360 capture once or twice weekly. Laser scans are typically captured when site conditions need to be recorded precisely — weekly, monthly, or at key milestones, depending on the project and specific area.
Q: Does Buildots do the scanning or the processing?
A: No. Your team captures and processes the scans, then uploads them to Buildots for hosting, viewing, and measuring.
Q: How soon after upload can we use a scan?
A: Allow a 2-3 days from upload to usable. Each scan goes through geo-referencing validation before it becomes navigable.
Q: Does anything need to be geo-referenced?
A: Yes. Both the laser scan and the BIM model must be geo-referenced for you to navigate from an element or deviation to the matching location in the scan. If either are not geo-referenced, features such as jumping from an element to the same location in the laser scan won't be avialable.
Q: How many scans can we host?
A: As many as you like, up to the total scanned area you've purchased. If you reach your limit, you can either add capacity or delete an older scan to make room for a newer one. Scan hosting is available for areas already tracked by Buildots.
Q: Can we view the laser scan and the BIM model side by side?
A: Not yet. A single plant room's point cloud can run to several gigabytes, which most site machines can't render alongside the model. This is on our roadmap.
Q: Does Buildots flag deviations automatically from the laser scan?
A: No. Deviations are detected from your regular 360 captures. Laser scans are used to verify and investigate them, not to generate them.
Q: Is Laser Scans included in our subscription?
A: Laser Scans is an add-on. Speak to your Buildots contact about enabling it for your project.