Heritage BIM (HBIM) & Digital Preservation Services

Every historic structure tells a story. But documenting that story with the accuracy it deserves—before restoration, before renovation, before time takes its toll—is the modern preservationist’s greatest challenge. For decades, professionals have grappled with the chaos of outdated drawings, fragmented data, and the ever-present risk of making irreversible mistakes. For 13 years, 3DVDT has been at the forefront of digital preservation, delivering precise 2D/3D digital building documentation that transforms uncertainty into clarity. We provide the digital foundation needed to protect our architectural heritage for future generations.

The Preservationist’s Dilemma: Overcoming the High Cost of Inaccuracy and Inefficiency

The work of preserving our architectural heritage is noble, but it is also fraught with practical challenges that can derail projects, inflate budgets, and compromise the very history we seek to protect. The root of these issues often lies in the quality of the foundational data available to the project team.

The Challenge of a Fragmented Past

Professionals in heritage conservation frequently face the monumental task of working from incomplete, conflicting, or entirely non-existent as-built information. This lack of a reliable single source of truth inevitably leads to cascading inefficiencies, costly overruns, and significant project delays. Traditional documentation methods, which rely on manual measurements and hand-drawn sketches, are not only slow and labor-intensive but are also inherently prone to human error. This approach often results in data loss, documentation conflicts, and information that is difficult to share and verify among team members.

This problem is amplified by the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of preservation projects. Stakeholders – including architects, structural engineers, archaeologists, conservators, and contractors—often work in isolation. This creates information silos where critical data is scattered across different teams and formats, leading to a fragmented understanding of the historic structure and frequent documentation conflicts that must be resolved on-site, at great expense.

When Data Fails, Projects Falter

These documentation challenges have direct and severe consequences for a project’s core constraints: time, accuracy, and budget. Without a data-driven, centralized process, restoration and renovation work lacks the well-defined mapping and documentation necessary to prevent accidental but irreversible damage to artistic and architectural heritage. The discovery of an unforeseen structural issue or a conflict between existing drawings and physical reality during the construction phase can halt work for weeks, requiring expensive redesigns and change orders.

Ultimately, preserving architectural heritage is about more than the physical restoration of brick and mortar; it is about protecting the intangible stories shaped by history, architecture, ownership, and time. This profound responsibility cannot be fulfilled when the project is built on a foundation of flawed, incomplete, or untrustworthy data.

3DVDT’s Digital Documentation Suite: Your Collaborative Partner for Digital Certainty

Confronting the complexities of heritage projects requires a partner who understands that the deliverable is not just a file, but a reliable process. The true value lies in transforming the chaotic reality of a historic site into a clear, actionable, and completely trustworthy digital asset.

A Full-Service, Tailored Approach

3DVDT is not just a scanning company; we are a full-service partner for 2D/3D digital building documentation. We offer tailored solutions backed by over a decade of specialized experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) and Historic Preservation industries. Our approach is defined by our core principles: we are Innovative in our use of technology, Reliable in our processes and results, Collaborative with your project team, and Precise in every measurement we take and every model we build. This ensures the digital foundation of your project is nothing short of flawless.

From Complex Reality to Actionable Intelligence

Our core mission is to leverage advanced 3D imaging technology to deliver precise digital documentation that supports every phase of your design, construction, and preservation efforts. We specialize in capturing the intricate and often unpredictable nature of historic structures and translating that complexity into manageable, data-rich digital assets. This process eliminates guesswork, mitigates risk, and provides the certainty needed to make critical decisions with confidence. By partnering with 3DVDT, project managers and firm principals can offload the significant risk associated with in-house data capture, focusing on their core competency of design while we handle the digital complexity.

Our Services: A Comprehensive Toolkit for Documenting Historic Structures

3DVDT offers a suite of specialized services designed to meet the unique demands of historic preservation, from initial assessment and data capture to the creation of sophisticated digital twins and federally-approved archival records.

Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM): The Living Digital Archive

Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is a highly specialized extension of BIM, meticulously adapted for the unique complexities of historical and heritage buildings. It is far more than a static 3D model; it is a dynamic process that marries cutting-edge reality capture technology with deep historical research to create a rich visual and informational digital twin. The primary objective of HBIM is to establish a comprehensive digital repository that serves as the single source of truth for every stage of a project, including preservation, restoration, structural analysis, and long-term asset management.

HBIM models are indispensable for a range of critical activities. They are used to document existing conditions with unparalleled accuracy for archival purposes, to analyze underlying issues like structural or material decay that may not be visible to the naked eye, and to meticulously plan, visualize, and execute complex restoration projects within a data-rich, collaborative environment.

Standard BIM methodologies, designed for new construction, rely on libraries of modern, uniform components. Heritage buildings, with their irregular forms, unique materials, and centuries of modifications, are anything but uniform. Our HBIM process excels where others falter. It requires a different theoretical and methodological approach—one we have perfected over 13 years—to meticulously model the non-parametric, complex geometries and unique architectural elements that define a historic structure.

High-Definition 3D Laser Scanning: Capturing Reality with Unrivaled Precision

At the core of modern digital preservation is 3D laser scanning, a reality capture technology also known as Terrestrial LiDAR. This technology uses millions of laser points to generate a “point cloud” – a dimensionally precise digital replica of a structure and its surroundings. This process opens the door to document, study, understand, and monitor any element or site of cultural world heritage with survey-grade accuracy, even under challenging environmental conditions. The speed and agility of modern scanners allow for rapid data capture, minimizing time on-site and disruption to the property.

The resulting point cloud data serves as the foundational raw material for all subsequent deliverables. It can be converted into 3D mesh models for visualization and analysis or used to create precise 2D documentation like as-built drawings and facade elevations. Critically, these point clouds can be archived indefinitely, providing a perfect digital record that can be used for restoration in the event of future damage from fire, natural disaster, or deterioration. For areas that are inaccessible or unsafe for ground-based scanning, such as complex roof structures, tall facades, or large cultural landscapes, we deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, equipped with advanced cameras and LiDAR sensors to ensure comprehensive data capture.

HABS/HAER/HALS Documentation: Meeting National Archival Standards

The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) represent the U.S. federal government’s highest standards for preservation documentation. This rigorous process creates a permanent, large-format record of a historic property for inclusion in the Library of Congress. This level of documentation is often a required mitigation measure for projects that receive federal funding or permits and will impact a significant historic property. 3DVDT possesses the specialized expertise to produce the full suite of HABS/HAER/HALS deliverables, including the precisely measured drawings, large-format black-and-white photographs, and written historical reports that meet these exacting archival standards.

Advanced As-Built Surveys & Conditions Assessments: The Foundation for Informed Decisions

A professional Conditions Assessment is more than a simple inspection; it is the critical bridge between site investigation and project analysis. It provides the objective, comprehensive data needed to make informed decisions about every aspect of a preservation project, from initial budgeting to the selection of appropriate treatment methods. The process involves a detailed accounting of all material elements and components of a historic structure, including its structural system, exterior and interior finishes, architectural ornamentation, and building systems.

Crucially, a thorough assessment seeks to identify and evaluate the root causes of deterioration—such as moisture intrusion, structural loading issues, or material incompatibility—not just the visible effects. The final deliverable is a comprehensive report containing detailed descriptions, extensive photographic documentation, and an evaluation of the property’s physical condition. This report becomes the primary guide for all subsequent work, allowing the project team to prioritize interventions, develop an accurate scope of work, and select the most appropriate and sensitive treatments for the historic fabric.

The 3DVDT Advantage: How Digital Twins Transform Heritage Projects

Leveraging a high-fidelity digital twin and a robust HBIM process provides tangible benefits that directly address the most pressing challenges faced by architects, project managers, and preservationists.

Unparalleled Accuracy to Mitigate Risk and Control Your Budget

Survey-grade accurate data captured through 3D laser scanning eliminates the guesswork, assumptions, and errors inherent in manual field measurements. This precision is the bedrock of budget certainty. By identifying potential clashes between structural, mechanical, and architectural elements in the digital model long before construction begins, our process prevents the need for costly on-site change orders, rework, and schedule delays. This proactive approach to problem-solving gives project managers unprecedented control over the budget from day one.

Streamlined Workflows to Accelerate Your Project Timeline

A centralized digital model streamlines the entire restoration and renovation process. The BIM-supported workflow improves the efficiency of documentation and analysis, allowing for faster and better-informed decisions at every project stage. Instead of wasting valuable time searching for fragmented information or resolving documentation conflicts, the entire team can focus on design and execution, leading to significantly compressed project timelines.

Enhanced Collaboration for a Unified Project Team

An HBIM model serves as the common data environment (CDE) and single source of truth for all project stakeholders. This shared information platform breaks down the data silos that typically exist between architects, engineers, preservationists, and contractors. When every team member is working from the same up-to-date, highly accurate model, miscommunication is minimized, and collaboration is enhanced. This unified approach ensures that all disciplines can work together effectively to solve the unique challenges presented by a heritage building.

A Permanent Digital Legacy for Future Generations

Perhaps the most profound benefit is the creation of a permanent digital archive. The digital twin serves as an exact blueprint of the historic structure at a specific point in time. Should the building ever be damaged or destroyed by fire, natural disaster, or conflict, this digital record provides an invaluable and complete reference for future restoration or reconstruction, ensuring the integrity of the cultural heritage asset is safeguarded for generations to come.

The 3DVDT Process: Your Collaborative Path to Digital Certainty

We believe in a transparent, collaborative process that demystifies the technology and builds trust from the very first conversation. Our structured workflow is designed to be reliable and predictable, ensuring a smooth journey from initial concept to final deliverable.

• Step 1: Project Consultation & Planning. Our partnership begins with a deep dive into your project’s unique goals, historical significance, and technical requirements. We collaborate closely with your team to define the precise scope of work, the necessary Level of Detail (LOD) for the BIM model, and the key deliverables to ensure our plan aligns perfectly with your project timeline and budget.
• Step 2: On-Site Data Capture & Field Execution. Our expert technicians arrive on-site with state-of-the-art 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, and drone technology. We work efficiently and non-invasively to capture millions of data points, creating a precise digital snapshot of your structure with minimal disruption to the site or its occupants.
• Step 3: Data Processing & Registration. Back in our studio, the raw point cloud data from dozens or even hundreds of individual scans is meticulously cleaned, processed, and registered. This is a critical stage where our experience shines, as we assemble the data into a single, cohesive, and highly accurate point cloud model that represents your entire site.
• Step 4: HBIM Modeling & Deliverable Creation. The registered point cloud becomes the foundational skeleton for your custom deliverables. Our team of skilled modelers translates the raw data into the actionable intelligence you need, whether it’s a sophisticated, data-rich HBIM model in Revit, detailed 2D as-built drawings in CAD, or a complete HABS/HAER documentation package.
• Step 5: Delivery & Ongoing Support. We deliver the final files in your required formats through a secure portal. Our engagement doesn’t end with delivery; we provide the support you need to integrate these powerful digital assets into your workflow, ensuring you can leverage their full value for the entire lifecycle of your project.

Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Heritage Documentation

Understanding Digital Preservation & Cultural Heritage

Understanding Historic Buildings & Preservation Approaches

Understanding BIM, HBIM, and the Technology

Understanding Project Costs

Partner with the Experts in Digital Heritage Preservation

Your historic preservation project deserves more than just data; it deserves certainty. With 13 years of specialized experience, 3DVDT provides the reliable, precise, and collaborative partnership you need to de-risk complexity, control your budget, and protect our shared architectural legacy.

Ready to bring digital clarity to your next project? Contact our specialists today for a no-obligation consultation and discover how we can tailor a solution for you.