Solibri Point Cloud checking brings your reality capture data into the rule-based checking engine. Import point cloud scans, run clash, clearance, and matching checks against your IFC model components, and produce structured findings that reflect what has actually been built. Available in Solibri Premium.
Construction does not always follow the model. Components shift during installation. Clearances that were adequate on paper are insufficient in the field. Structural elements, mechanical runs, and architectural finishes occupy space that the design assumed was free.
For most teams, identifying these deviations means conducting visual inspections on site, comparing photographs against drawings, or relying on individual site engineers to flag discrepancies before they become problems. This process is slow, inconsistent, and dependent on who happens to be in the right place at the right time.
Laser scanning changes what is possible. When a site scan is captured as a point cloud, every measured surface, obstruction, and deviation from the design intent is present in the data. The limitation has not been the data: it has been the inability to check it systematically against the model.
Solibri Point Cloud checking closes that gap. Import your scan data, apply configurable rules, and receive structured results that identify exactly where the built environment deviates from the design: clashes, clearance violations, and geometric mismatches between modeled components and as-built reality.
Solibri Point Cloud checking is a set of rules within Solibri Premium that compare imported point cloud scans against IFC model components. Three rule types cover the core as-built verification scenarios: clash checking, clearance checking, and matching checking.
Point cloud scans are imported in E57 and LAS/LAZ formats and appear in the Solibri Model Tree alongside your IFC models. Density and display size settings can be adjusted at import or from the Model Tree. Once loaded, Point Cloud checking rules process the scan data against model geometry and produce structured findings using Solibri's standard checking engine.
The result is not a visual comparison tool. It is a rule-based checking system that applies defined tolerances and parameters to scan data and produces auditable findings at the component level.
Solibri Point Cloud checking provides three dedicated rules, each targeting a distinct verification scenario.
The Point Cloud Clash Check reports model components where scan points fall inside or near the component, within a configurable clash tolerance. When laser scan data penetrates the boundary of a modeled element, or comes within the defined tolerance of it, the rule flags the component as a clash result.
This check identifies cases where a built element occupies space that the model assigns to a different component: pipes running through structural members, ductwork encroaching on reserved zones, or partitions built in positions that differ from the design. Each result links to the affected model component and the scan data that triggered it, surfacing the exact location in the 3D view for review and coordination.
The Point Cloud Clearance Check reports model components where scan points fall inside a configured clearance range around the component. Where the Clash Check identifies penetrations, the Clearance Check identifies insufficient separation: the space around a component is specified in the model, but the scan shows that built elements encroach on it.
This check is relevant wherever minimum clearance is a design or regulatory requirement: maintenance access routes, emergency egress corridors, equipment service zones, and fire safety compartments. The clearance range is configurable, giving teams the ability to enforce different clearance standards for different component types or conditions within a single checking pass.
The Point Cloud Matching Check detects deviations between point cloud data and model components, including unmatched point data. Where the Clash and Clearance checks identify spatial conflicts, the Matching Check identifies positional and geometric divergence: components that exist in the model but are not reflected in the scan, scan data that has no corresponding model component, and components whose modeled position or geometry does not match what was built.
This check is the core as-built verification tool for comparing design intent against constructed reality. It reports both model-side discrepancies and scan-side discrepancies, providing a complete picture of where the as-designed and as-built states diverge.
Point Cloud checking produces results in the same format as all other Solibri rule-based checks. Findings are organized by rule, by component, and by severity. Each result links to the specific model component and scan data involved. The 3D view shows the exact location of each finding: where the scan penetrates a modeled element, where clearance is insufficient, or where as-built geometry diverges from the design.
Solibri Point Cloud checking is a set of rules within Solibri Premium that compare imported point cloud scans against IFC model components. Three rule types are available: Point Cloud Clash Check, Point Cloud Clearance Check, and Point Cloud Matching Check. Results are produced using the same structured checking system as all other Solibri rules and export to BCF and coordination reports. Available in Solibri Premium and for Enterprise customers.
Point Cloud checking is available in Solibri Premium and for Enterprise customers. It is not available in Solibri Starter, Solibri Essential, Solibri Advanced, or Solibri Security+.
Solibri imports point cloud data in E57 (.e57) and LAS/LAZ formats. Files are added to the Solibri Model Tree via drag and drop. Point density and display size can be adjusted at import or from the Model Tree after loading.
The Point Cloud Clash Check reports components where scan points fall inside or near the component within a configurable tolerance, identifying where built elements conflict with modeled geometry. The Point Cloud Clearance Check reports components where scan points fall within a configured clearance range, identifying insufficient separation between the as-built environment and a modeled element. The Point Cloud Matching Check detects positional and geometric deviations between the scan and the model, including scan data with no corresponding model component and modeled elements with no corresponding scan data.
Yes. E57 and LAS/LAZ point cloud files are supported as model inputs in Solibri Autorun. Teams can include point cloud checking rules in automated overnight workflows, enabling scheduled as-built verification without manual intervention. Autorun is available in Solibri Advanced and Solibri Premium.
Point Cloud checking results use the same output structure as all other Solibri rule-based checks. Findings can be exported as BCF files for use in any major CDE or coordination platform, and are included in Solibri coordination reports alongside clash detection and data validation results. Each result links to the specific model component and scan data that triggered it, with 3D view navigation to the exact issue location.
Yes. The Point Cloud Clash Check includes a configurable clash tolerance. The Point Cloud Clearance Check includes a configurable clearance range. These parameters allow teams to define the acceptable deviation or clearance threshold for each check type, matching the checking standard to the project's construction tolerances or regulatory requirements.
Point cloud import and visualization were introduced as a pre-release in the April 2026 Solibri update for Premium and Enterprise customers. Point Cloud checking rules (Clash, Clearance, and Matching) are an expansion of that capability. Contact the Solibri team for current availability and release timelines.
Solibri Point Cloud Checking is included in Solibri Premium. Talk to the Solibri team about how point cloud verification can extend your BIM quality governance to cover as-built conditions.
