Point Clouds in BIM: Supporting Formats for Archicad and Revit

ROMAN MASLOV
Sep 10
2 min read

Accurate building data is the foundation of successful projects — especially when working with existing structures. This is where point clouds become invaluable. Captured through 3D laser scanning or photogrammetry, point clouds provide millions of spatial data points that represent a building with high precision.

At CUBICAE, we regularly integrate point clouds into our ArchiCAD and Revit workflows, ensuring that both architects and engineers can work from reliable as-built conditions.

Why Point Clouds Matter

Renovations & Retrofits – Point clouds provide an exact digital twin of the existing building.
Complex Geometries – Irregular forms or historic details can be documented and modeled accurately.
Reduced Risk – Errors from incomplete site surveys are minimized.
Faster Modeling – Teams can quickly reference and trace real-world conditions in BIM.

*An example of raw point cloud data from a building interior. Each dot represents a measured point, together forming a highly detailed spatial map of real-world conditions.*

Supported Formats in Archicad & Revit

Both platforms support the direct import of point cloud formats, though with some differences:

Revit: Supports RCP/RCS (Autodesk Recap), E57, and XYZ formats.
ArchiCAD: Supports E57, XYZ, and PTS files.
IFC Integration: Once point clouds are converted into geometry, they can be shared across platforms using IFC for coordination.

*With point clouds inside Archicad, our team can capture every detail of the existing structure and transform it into a coordinated BIM model.*

Conversion Tools & Software

Since raw point cloud data comes in many formats, conversion software is often required. Some of the most widely used tools include:

Autodesk ReCap – Processes raw laser scan data into RCP/RCS for Revit.
Leica Cyclone – Converts scans into multiple formats (E57, PTS, PTX).
Faro Scene – Prepares point clouds for use in Revit, ArchiCAD, or Navisworks.
CloudCompare – An open-source tool for converting and editing point clouds (E57, PLY, LAS, etc.).
Trimble RealWorks – Processes scans for use across BIM platforms.

These tools allow us to convert, clean, and optimize point clouds, ensuring smooth integration regardless of the design platform.

How We Use Point Clouds in Projects

At CUBICAE, we integrate point clouds into both ArchiCAD (for architecture) and Revit (for MEP and structure), giving all disciplines an accurate base model. This ensures:

Faster project startup.
Precise coordination.
Reliable as-built documentation.

Partner With Us

If your team works with existing buildings or heritage projects, point clouds can transform your workflow. Our team can help process and integrate point clouds into ArchiCAD and Revit, ensuring a seamless start to your project.