Glossary for building digitalization, surveying & renovation

AI-powered measurement combines sensor-based building surveying with artificial intelligence to accelerate the creation of geometric data, floor plans, and BIM models.

A protractor measures, checks, or transfers angles between building components and supports precise as-built surveys, interior finishing, renovation, and building modeling.

Sections and elevations show buildings in vertical and exterior views, allowing for precise planning of heights, structures, openings, and facades.

As‑Built beschreibt den realen Ist‑Zustand eines Bauwerks nach der Ausführung.

BIM vernetzt Gebäudedaten in einem digitalen Modell und erleichtert Zusammenarbeit, Planung und Betrieb über den gesamten Gebäudelebenszyklus.

A BLK file stores raw scans, images, and project information from 3D laser scanning workflows and serves as a starting point for further digital processing.

The building envelope includes the facade, roof, windows, doors, and floor slab, and forms the foundation for energy efficiency and energy-efficient retrofitting.

Building refurbishment modernizes existing buildings using data-driven approaches to improve energy efficiency, ensure planning reliability, and preserve value.

A building survey is the precise capture of dimensions, areas, volumes or quantities directly on site

A thermal analysis evaluates a building's thermal data and identifies heat loss, thermal bridges, and energy-efficiency weaknesses for renovation and planning purposes.

CAD digitally represents building geometries and creates precise drawings or 3D models that serve as the basis for planning, renovation, and operation.

CAFM consolidates building data, processes, and documentation into a single digital platform, thereby simplifying operations, maintenance, and cost management.

Deformation-accurate as-built surveying captures the actual geometry of a building, including deviations, deformations, and irregularities, to enable precise planning and renovation.

Digital surveying generates precise digital building data that serves as the basis for as-built drawings, BIM models, renovation, and operations.

A digital twin combines the building model with real-time data to create an up-to-date digital representation that enables better decisions regarding building operations.

A DWG file is a well-established CAD format for precise architectural drawings and serves as an important foundation for planning, renovation, and collaboration among different trades.

A DXF file transfers CAD geometries in an open, cross-software format between design, BIM, GIS, and manufacturing.

Energy-efficient retrofitting uses reliable building data to plan targeted measures for the building envelope and building services, save energy, and ensure eligibility for subsidies.

The EPBD establishes the framework for energy-efficient buildings in Europe and provides reliable building data as the basis for renovation, certification, and planning.

Existing building modelling turns measurement data into a precise 3D model of the building stock for planning, renovation and operation.

The facade is a central component of the building envelope and plays an important role in thermal insulation, building value, and energy-efficient retrofitting.

Facade surveying precisely captures exterior walls, openings, and details digitally and provides reliable geometric data for planning, renovation, and bidding.

Floor area measurement accurately calculates building floor areas according to defined rules and provides reliable figures for planning, billing, leasing, and operations.

A floor plan accurately depicts rooms, walls, and openings and serves as the central basis for planning, renovation, and building documentation.

Geometric data describes the shape, location, and dimensions of buildings or building components and forms the basis for digital models, planning, renovation, and operation.

IFC is an open BIM exchange standard that enables building models—including geometry, component information, and attributes—to be used across different software applications.

Ein individueller Sanierungsfahrplan zeigt, wie ein Wohngebäude Schritt für Schritt energetisch modernisiert werden kann, und schafft Orientierung für Maßnahmen, Kosten und Fördermittel.

A distance meter provides precise digital measurements of length, area, and volume, and complements digital measurement workflows for detailed and control measurements.

An measured building survey drawing depicts the actual condition of a building—floor plans, sections, and elevations with up-to-date dimensions — as a reliable basis for planning, permitting, and management.

An OBJ file transfers 3D meshes, including textures and materials, for visualization, model review, and digital building representations.

Photogrammetry uses images to reconstruct digital models, point clouds, and orthophotos for building, facade, and roof surveys.

Eine Punktwolke bildet Gebäude als Millionen präziser 3D-Messpunkte ab und dient als Grundlage für Grundrisse, CAD-Pläne, BIM-Modelle und Analysen.

Rendering uses 3D data to create clear visualizations that clearly illustrate designs, materials, and variations.

A renovation plan outlines the measures, priorities, costs, and timelines for modernizing existing buildings based on reliable actual data.

A retrofit plan organizes energy-efficiency measures into logical phases and provides a solid foundation for costs, funding, implementation, and documentation.

A room book consolidates structured space data—such as floor area, usage, amenities, and technical specifications—and provides a reliable foundation for planning, operations, and CAFM.

A RVT file bundles the BIM model, views, plans, and parameters into a native project format and serves as the central working basis for model-based design.

Scan-to-BIM converts 3D scans and point clouds into structured BIM as-built models, creating a reliable foundation for planning, renovation, and operations.

A STL file describes 3D geometry as a triangular mesh and is primarily used for 3D printing, meshing, visualization, and shape comparisons.

Technical buildinh equipment encompasses all of a building's technical systems and has a significant impact on energy efficiency, operating costs, user comfort, and renovation planning.

Terrestrial laser scanning captures buildings from a stationary position with millimeter-level accuracy as a 3D point cloud, creating precise as-built data for planning, renovation, and BIM.

A thermal bridge is an area of a building's envelope where heat is lost more quickly, which can lead to energy loss, condensation, or mold growth.

Thermography reveals temperature differences in buildings and helps identify heat loss, thermal bridges, and moisture risks in a targeted manner.