Comparative Analysis of Reality Capture Applications for the Construction Industry

Three-dimensional-visualization technologies such as 360-degree virtual tours and 3D spatial modeling have significantly increased in the domains of architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), and real estate. These 3D models can be used for creating Building Information Models (BIMs), digital twins, or educational environments, among other things. As the demand for this data is increasing, plenty of reality-capture computer software and mobile applications have been developed. Most of the previous research focused on experiential outcomes rather than technical benchmarks. This study presents a comparative study of reality-capture applications and their capability for generating 3D virtual models. Several applications are being evaluated using a 360 camera and a phone camera as the main collection devices. This study primarily evaluates the technical features, usability, cost factors, and limitations. Some of the technical features that are examined include panoramic capture, 3D walkthrough generation, 2D floor plan extraction, LiDAR integration, BIM compatibility, and virtual staging. The usability of the applications focuses on the applications’ user interface, ease of use, and intuitiveness. The results show varying capabilities of the compared applications. In addition, various suggestions are provided to fill the gap. The next step of this study includes a comparative analysis of the applications’ accuracy and the precision of the generated models.