Harnessing the Cross-Purpose Value and Power of Reality Capture

How JTM Construction Pushes the Limits of Scanned Data to Drive Better Project Delivery With Revizto

As a general contractor, JTM Construction is best known for its collaborative mindset that drives successful high profile projects. The firm provides preconstruction and construction services across many market sectors in the Northwest, primarily in the Seattle area. In many cases, the company self-performs critical scopes of work including concrete, selective demolition, carpentry, surveying and specialty installations.

Technology, including a full virtual design and construction (VDC) team, is essential to the firm’s success, with technologies that include BIM fully integrated into the workflow. A few years ago, the firm sought to better utilize its reality capture data by using a cloud-based collaboration platform, specifically Revizto. Today, reality capture is used from day one to capture every major phase of projects from high-rise buildings to infrastructure projects

About JTM Construction

Seattle-based general contractor JTM Construction specializes in preconstruction and construction services across multiple market sectors including commercial office buildings, hospitality, life science facilities, technology, and retail centers. The firm is also well known for specialty projects, such as performing arts centers, museums, and historical renovations. Since its founding, JTM has strived to drive better project delivery through technology. 

A Digital Transformation

Whatever the favored term—laser scanning, high-definition surveying or reality capture—the ability to quickly collect and connect large amounts of scan data within a digital ecosystem is powerful. For many, reality capture might be an occasional tool for use when there’s an issue or concern. Full deployment is often limited for several reasons.

Historically, it has been a challenge to integrate massive point cloud files with 3D models and then share that data with members of a project team. The potential for georeferencing anomalies and inaccuracies further adds to the list of pain points many experience in the AECO industry when it comes to reality capture.

For JTM Construction, identifying a solution that enabled them to effortlessly leverage point cloud data was a critical step in streamlining their processes. The firm’s investment in and commitment to reality capture on projects has been a progression over the years, testing, deploying and developing best practices to maximize benefits and resolve possible issues.

Revizto’s 2D/3D BIM collaboration platform is a foundational piece of its digital workflow and ideally suited to handling large quantities, such as point clouds. The software’s algorithms compress reality capture data, making it more manageable to merge both 3D models and drawings in one single view. Harbin added, “Revizto helps maximize the value of our scan data by enabling visualization, analysis and coordination all in one platform.”

Morgan Drivas points to a custom design that JTM helped facilitate on one project. In one case, JTM was asked to create a custom lid for a perk filter that was already installed in the field. “As a GC, we do a lot of design-build construction to support our engineers,” she added. “Using our scan data, we were able to cut sections and show them what would fit, all within Revizto. One of the things I love about Revizto is the ability to take elevations. In this case, the scan data helped design a lid very quickly—a task that previously might have taken several weeks with multiple back and forth between design and engineering.”

Reality capture and Revizto is a key piece of JTM’s current workflows from pre-construction plan through construction. For example, JTM uses scans during site visits before construction begins to get a preliminary look at conditions. Scanning existing structures help inform retrofit/renovation design decisions. Drone scans of raw sites regularly support cost estimating by tracking earthwork progress.

Data Focused Tools

There are several features and functionalities within Revizto that JTM particularly favors when it comes to reality capture.

• Temporary Move

  The move objects temporarily tool helps users modify design models to as-built conditions efficiently. Users can select model elements in Revizto and move, rotate or scale them directly in the software without having to modify the underlying CAD/BIM model.

  This capability is particularly beneficial during construction when something on the job has to be moved in a way that varies from the design, such as raising slabs or walls to meet clearances.

  Harbin said, "With the temporary moves feature, it’s quite easy to move objects to see if there’s going to be a clash without having to run a full clash test. It’s a capability that has saved us significant time compared to traditional modification methods.”

• 2D Overlay

  The 2D drawing overlay on the 3D model within Revizto is used to group a point cloud to identify a specific object.

  For instance, for a restaurant renovation project, the VDC team used the 2D overlay tool to combine a point cloud scan and design model within Revizto. With this capability, JTM was able to quickly visualize all instances of sleeves that needed coordination for kitchen equipment in a single view—rather than looking at elements individually, which is the more traditional method.

• Isolate/Filter/Section

  The isolate/filter feature lets users pull specific elements such as rebar or conduits from dense point clouds.

  On a condominium deck, the JTM VDC team used the isolate/filter tool to segment out specific elements like post-tensioning cables and conduit from a dense point cloud. This helped optimize the data for coordination tasks after importing into Revizto.

• Preset with Purpose

  Presets in Revizto help JTM manage large datasets and file sizes from numerous scans while still providing access to necessary scan and model elements for different coordination tasks. They drive performance, organize large datasets, and simplify the handoff of tasks between team members.

  "Every BIM or VDC manager knows the challenge of managing model size, particularly if you have point clouds,” Drivas said. “Presets help manage model size. It allows us to customize how scan and model data is displayed in Revizto.”

• Cloud Hosted

  Revizto's cloud hosting tool is also a big advantage for storing and sharing large scan datasets between project teams. The cloud hosting tool facilitates external storage and sharing of full resolution scan sources, while still enabling their review and use within Revizto in an optimized way for collaboration and coordination tasks.

  Drivas said: "We host all of our scans on Box. Anyone can download the RCS file and then import it into Revizto. The entire team can access and download those files without going through the VDC team.”

  Teams can still view optimized previews of scans hosted in the cloud directly within Revizto.

Best Practices for Digital Reality Success

For those just looking to better utilize reality capture, Drivas and Harbin offered some advice.

Harbin highlighted the importance of matching control to scanned space. “Early on, we found that multiple scan setups introduced errors when we didn’t have sufficient control points, which lead to misalignments between point clouds and models,” he said.

Those errors grow when trying to coordinate scan data with outdated or incomplete design models, especially if the models are not fully coordinated themselves. It can also be difficult to work with scan data that is missing important details like color information or full registration.

“If you’re doing an entire site, you might need to break it up into different zones and drill down on your control,” he continued. “Sync with your survey team to make sure they understand what you're trying to do with the control.” When properly registered and geo-referenced, point clouds serve as reliable references throughout construction.

Drivas added, “Have a plan for archiving scans. That way when someone new to the job and/or new to Revizto will have a guide. They might not realize that they should apply a preset to get a more manageable file size.”

Reality capture provides numerous benefits for construction projects when leveraged effectively. Technologies like laser scanning and photogrammetry allow contractors to accurately document as-built conditions of job sites through highly detailed point clouds.

For JTM, reality capture is essential to delivering projects successfully. Harbin confirmed, “When imported into software like Revizto, these scan datasets empower project teams for tasks like coordination, fabrication, installation verification, and quality control.”

Overall, reality capture improves communication of issues, supports innovative methods, and helps justify field decisions to minimize disputes and rework through comprehensive documentation of the project.