What Architects Get From a Matterport As-Built Scan

What is a Matterport as-built scan?

A Matterport as-built scan is a digital record of the visible, existing condition of a property. The Matterport Pro3 LiDAR scanner is moved through rooms and around accessible exterior areas, capturing a series of sweeps that connect into one navigable 3D model. Each sweep takes under 20 seconds, and the scanner is placed every few feet so rooms, circulation paths and visible building features connect.

For an architect, the immediate result is a shareable way to revisit the property after the site visit. The model can support measurements, design conversations and space planning. It can also become the source for separately ordered files such as an E57 point cloud, CAD drawings or a Revit BIM model. The scan documents what the camera can see; it does not reveal concealed conditions or replace verification of critical dimensions before construction.

The deliverables, file by file

How accurate is it, and when is it not enough?

Matterport specifies Pro3 accuracy at ±20 mm at 10 m. That level of capture suits as-built documentation, design and space planning, where the goal is a useful digital record of visible existing conditions. The Pro3 also works outdoors in direct sunlight, and E57 exports can use its extended range of up to 100 m.

A Matterport scan is not a replacement for a licensed survey. It also cannot document what is behind walls, above inaccessible ceilings or otherwise concealed from the scanner. Architects and builders should verify critical dimensions on site before fabrication or construction and use the appropriate licensed professional when boundary, legal or survey-grade information is required.

Interiors, exteriors and multi-building sites

The Pro3 can connect interiors, yards, building exteriors and multiple accessible structures into the project record. That makes the same scanning approach useful for a house, a commercial space or a site with several buildings. The scan plan should identify every room, exterior face and separate building the team needs documented so coverage matches the design scope.

One recent project type was exterior as-built scanning of several apartment buildings in El Cajon for an architect planning exterior repairs. The work focused on visible exterior conditions and included E57 point clouds. No client name is needed to explain the workflow: define the buildings and faces to capture, scan the accessible areas, then deliver the requested files for the architect's process.

Timeline from scan to files

On scan day, we confirm the on-site contact, walk the space and capture the property room by room and outside where ordered. The time on site depends on the size, layout and number of separate areas. After scanning, the model is processed before the tour link and ordered exports are delivered.

The finished tour is ready within 24 hours after the scan. If exports are added, delivery can take up to 7 days. Matterport's published processing times vary by deliverable: an E57 usually takes about 15 minutes to a few hours and can take up to a day for spaces over 10,000 sq ft; CAD is generally about 2–6 calendar days for projects up to 5,000 sq ft; and BIM is generally about 2–11 days up to 5,000 sq ft, with more time possible for large or complex scopes.

What it costs in San Diego

The base scan is priced by square footage: $249 up to 1,500 sq ft, $349 for 1,501–3,000 sq ft, $449 for 3,001–4,500 sq ft, $549 for 4,501–6,000 sq ft and $649 for 6,001–7,500 sq ft. Larger sites are priced per square foot, and extra buildings are priced individually; 6 months of hosting is included. E57, CAD, BIM, MatterPak and floor plans are priced separately from the scan.

How to order

Start with the instant quote tool on the home or pricing page. Enter the property address to look up the square footage, or type the square footage yourself, and the tool shows the applicable scan tier. Then open Book a Scan and request a first and optional second choice time, or suggest another time.

Use the booking notes to list the spaces to capture, every file format the project needs and the delivery deadline. The appointment is a request rather than an automatic confirmation. Everett confirms the time by email and sends a calendar invite. Providing the scope early makes it easier to confirm the right scan coverage and export timing before the site visit.