What is a point cloud in the context of Revit?

A point cloud is a collection of millions of 3D measurement points captured by a laser scanner, representing the exact geometry of an existing building. In Revit, it serves as the digital reference for BIM modeling. A point cloud is raw geometry (XYZ coordinates), while a BIM model is an intelligent parametric model.

How do I insert a point cloud into Revit?

In Revit, go to Insert > Link Point Cloud, select your RCS or RCP file, and choose the positioning method. Always use Link (not Insert) to keep the file external. If your file is E57 or LAS, convert it first via Autodesk ReCap Pro.

What point cloud file formats does Revit support?

Revit natively supports only RCS and RCP formats. Other formats (E57, LAS, LAZ, PTX, PTS, XYZ) require conversion through Autodesk ReCap Pro. ATIS.cloud reads all of these formats directly without conversion.

What is the difference between BIM and point cloud?

A point cloud is raw data from a 3D laser scan: millions of XYZ coordinates. A BIM model is an intelligent model created in Revit where each element (wall, slab, beam) is a parametric object with properties like dimensions, materials, and cost.

How do I manage large point cloud files in Revit?

Use Link (not Insert), enable Section Boxes to limit the display, create a dedicated workset for the point cloud, and adjust the View Range. ATIS.cloud lets you verify the point cloud in the browser before loading it into Revit.

How do I align a point cloud with the Revit coordinate system?

Three methods: Auto - Center to Center (approximate), Auto - Origin to Origin (reliable when coordinates are consistent), and By Shared Coordinates (the most accurate). The point cloud must be properly registered before import.

Is ATIS.cloud a Revit plugin?

No. ATIS.cloud is a standalone web platform that sits upstream of Revit in the Scan-to-BIM workflow. Its role is to enable viewing, annotating, and sharing point clouds before Revit import. The two tools are complementary.

Do I need ReCap Pro to use point clouds in Revit?

If your file is RCS or RCP, no. For E57, LAS, PTX, PTS, or XYZ formats, yes — ReCap Pro is needed for conversion. ATIS.cloud doesn’t replace ReCap for conversion but lets you view and prepare files in all formats before that step.

Which scanners produce compatible files?

All major manufacturers: FARO (Focus S/M/Premium), Leica (BLK360, RTC360, P-Series), Trimble (X7, TX-Series), Topcon (GLS-2000), Riegl (VZ-Series), NavVis (VLX), Matterport (Pro3). ATIS.cloud is scanner-agnostic and works with all of them.

How do I share a point cloud with my BIM team without installing software?

Upload your point cloud to ATIS.cloud and share it by link. Every collaborator opens the file in their browser — no installation, no extra license. Annotations and measurements are visible to everyone with access.

Can ATIS.cloud replace Revit?

No. ATIS.cloud handles preparation and collaboration upstream, Revit handles BIM modeling downstream. The two tools are complementary: ATIS doesn’t do 3D modeling, Revit doesn’t provide collaborative browser-based point cloud viewing.

What is the maximum file size supported by ATIS.cloud?

ATIS.cloud supports point cloud files up to 500 GB. Most workstations struggle to open files over 20-30 GB locally. ATIS handles large files server-side for smooth browser-based visualization.

How to use point clouds in Revit?The complete guide

Revit only reads RCS and RCP files. Your scans are in E57, LAS, or PTX. Here’s how to prepare, view, and share your point clouds before and after Revit, without mandatory ReCap Pro.

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500 GB

Max file size

RCS, RCP, E57, LAS...

All major scanner formats supported

FARO, Leica, Trimble...

Scanner-agnostic: works with any hardware

Why BIM Managers Choose ATIS.cloud to Prepare Their Point Clouds

Before importing point cloud data into Revit, you need to view the scan, verify data quality, annotate areas of interest, and share the file with your entire project team. Today, this preparation workflow is cumbersome: it requires expensive software licenses, file copies on every workstation, and no straightforward way to collaborate.

ATIS.cloud solves this by providing an online workspace dedicated to preparing point clouds before Revit import.

High-Performance Viewing in the Browser

Point cloud files from laser scanning technology regularly exceed 50 GB, and on large-scale projects, 100 GB is not unusual. ATIS.cloud loads your point cloud data directly in the browser, with nothing to install. Files up to 500 GB, smooth rendering, intuitive 3D navigation.

Every Point Cloud Format Revit Needs, and More

Revit natively reads only two point cloud formats: RCS and RCP. ATIS.cloud reads all of these formats directly: E57, LAS, LAZ (Standard), RCS, RCP, LGSx (Advance). View and prepare your data without any intermediate conversion step.

Preparation and Quality Check Before Revit Import

Importing a point cloud into Revit without verifying it first means risking quality issues mid-modeling: missing coverage, excessive noise, incorrect registration. With ATIS.cloud, inspect the scan data upfront. Use the annotation and measurement tools to flag areas that need rescanning.

Share with Your Entire BIM Team, No Extra Licenses

ATIS.cloud lets you share a point cloud with your entire project team. The surveyor, BIM Manager, architect, and building owner all access the same file. No installation, no per-seat license. Annotations and measurements are visible to everyone.

BIM Model Comparison with IFC Overlay

On the Advance plan, ATIS.cloud allows you to overlay a point cloud with an IFC file (BIM model). This comparison capability is invaluable for as-built verification: detecting geometric deviations, validating existing conditions, and quality control before delivery.

Data sovereignty in 22+ countries, GDPR / CCPA compliant, SSL encrypted

Your 3D scan data may contain sensitive information about buildings, infrastructure, and industrial facilities. ATIS.cloud hosts your files closest to you, with data sovereignty in 22+ countries, SSL encryption and full GDPR / CCPA compliance.

From Scanner to Revit: How ATIS.cloud Fits Into Your Workflow

ATIS.cloud is not a Revit plugin. It’s the missing link between the scanner and Revit: a preparation, visualization, and collaboration tool that fits naturally into the Scan-to-BIM workflow.

Step 1

The Surveyor Scans the Building

The surveyor performs the laser scan with their 3D scanner (FARO, Leica, Trimble, Riegl, NavVis, Viametris, Matterport, or GeoSLAM). The scan produces a point cloud file in the scanner’s native format (E57, LAS, RCS, etc.).

Step 2

Upload the Point Cloud to ATIS.cloud

The file is uploaded to ATIS.cloud. No prior conversion is needed: the platform accepts all common formats. Even large files (up to 500 GB) are fully supported.

Step 3

View, Annotate, and Share with the BIM Team

The surveyor, BIM Manager, and architect view the point cloud in the browser. They can annotate areas of interest, measure distances and surfaces, share the file with the entire project team, and compare against an existing IFC model (Advance plan).

Step 4

The BIM Manager Downloads and Imports into Revit

Once the point cloud is validated and annotated in ATIS.cloud, the BIM Manager downloads the file and imports it into Autodesk Revit for BIM modeling. The annotations created in ATIS serve as a guide for 3D modeling accuracy.

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Full Point Cloud Format Compatibility

Not all 3D scanners produce the same file format. And Revit natively reads only two: RCS and RCP. Here is a complete table of formats supported by ATIS.cloud, with their native Revit compatibility.

Format	Extension	Compatible Scanners	ATIS Plan Required	Native Revit Support?
E57	.e57	All (open standard)	Standard	Requires ReCap Pro conversion
LAS / LAZ	.las / .laz	All (open standard)	Standard	Requires ReCap Pro conversion
RCS	.rcs	Leica, FARO, etc.	Advance	Yes (native)
RCP	.rcp	ReCap project	Advance	Yes (native)
LGSx	.lgsx	Leica (Hexagon)	Advance	Requires ReCap Pro conversion

Revit only natively reads RCS/RCP files. All other formats (E57, LAS, LGSx) must be converted through Autodesk ReCap Pro before import. ATIS.cloud reads every one of them directly, without conversion.

Point Cloud and Revit: Best Practices Guide

Whether you’re a BIM Manager, architect, or modeler, here are proven best practices for working with point cloud data in Revit.

Prepare before import

The most overlooked step, yet the most impactful on performance.

Check scan quality and coverage (missing zones, noise)
Confirm registration and coordinate system
Verify file size before import

ATIS.cloud lets you view and validate scans online before committing to modeling.

Link Point Cloud (not Insert)

Always use Link: the file stays external, the .rvt stays lightweight.

Insert tab > Link Point Cloud > RCS/RCP file > positioning

Align the point cloud

A misaligned cloud produces inaccurate modeling.

Origin to Origin: recommended for most projects
By Shared Coordinates: most accurate for georeferenced scans

With a georeferenced scan (verifiable in ATIS.cloud), alignment happens automatically.

Optimize performance

Large point clouds are resource-intensive. Key techniques:

Section Boxes: limit visible area to active work zone
Worksets: dedicate a workset to the point cloud
View Range: show only the current floor

Common issues

Problem	Likely Cause	Solution
Cloud not visible	Positioned outside view bounds	Zoom to Fit or verify alignment coordinates
Very slow performance	Entire large file loaded without filtering	Section Boxes + dedicated workset + reduced View Range
Format not recognized	E57, LAS, PTX used directly	Convert to RCS/RCP via Autodesk ReCap Pro

Do you need ReCap Pro to work with point clouds in Revit?

No. Here's how ATIS.cloud simplifies your workflow without an extra license.

View without ReCap

ATIS.cloud natively reads E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP, and LGSx files. View and annotate your scans in the browser before even opening Revit.

Share without converting

Share results with your team and clients. They see the 3D scan in their browser, no ReCap, no Revit needed.

Validate before modeling

Check scan quality, coverage, and georeferencing online. Save time by identifying issues before starting Revit modeling.

Minimal hardware requirements

ATIS.cloud runs in a standard browser. No dedicated GPU, no 64 GB RAM. Even a site laptop handles a 100 GB scan.

ATIS.cloud vs. the Traditional ReCap + Revit Workflow

Compare the point cloud preparation workflow with and without ATIS.cloud.

Criteria	Traditional Workflow (ReCap + file sharing)	With ATIS.cloud
Pre-import viewing	Requires ReCap Pro (paid license)	Browser-based, zero installation
Team sharing	Local copies on each workstation	Secure sharing, instant access
Supported formats	RCS/RCP only	E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP, LGSx
Collaborative annotation	Not natively available in ReCap	Yes
Annual cost	ReCap Pro included in AEC Collection	Request a quote
All scanners compatible	RCS/RCP only	Yes (agnostic, 19+ formats)
Secure storage	Local hard drive / NAS	Data sovereignty in 22+ countries, GDPR / CCPA compliant
BIM/IFC comparison	Not available	Yes (Advance plan)

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What our customers say

Discover why over 2,600+ companies trust us.

"ATIS.cloud allowed us to reduce delivery time by 2 hours per project. Our clients can view scans immediately."

2h saved per deliverable

James

Licensed Surveyor, Horizon Surveying

"The interface is intuitive and comparing with our BIM models has become child's play. A real productivity gain."

+40% productivity

Sarah

BIM Manager, Arcadia Construction Group

"We were able to abandon our expensive on-premise solution. ATIS.cloud is much more accessible and simpler."

Affordable pricing

Michael

Technical Director, Meridian Industries

"Sharing has revolutionized how we work with our clients. No need to explain how to install an application anymore."

0 client friction

Emma

Heritage Manager, Atlas Heritage Foundation

Data sovereignty in 22+ countries

GDPR / CCPA Compliant

SSL Encryption

No data resale

Other integration guides

Point clouds in other software.

AutoCAD

How to import a point cloud into AutoCAD. RCS/RCP formats, E57/LAS conversion.

SketchUp

How to use point clouds in SketchUp. Scan Essentials, Undet plugin.

File Formats

E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP, LGSx: which format for which use.

See our FAQ→

Frequently Asked Questions About Point Clouds and Revit

A point cloud is a collection of millions (sometimes billions) of 3D measurement points captured by a laser scanner, representing the exact geometry of an existing building or infrastructure. In Revit, a point cloud serves as the digital reference for BIM modeling: users trace walls, floors, roofs, and MEP elements directly onto the 3D scan data. The fundamental difference: a point cloud is raw geometry (XYZ coordinates), while a BIM model is an intelligent parametric model containing information about materials, systems, and the properties of each building element.

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