A brief description about point cloud files The raw point cloud data is effectively processed once it is sent to architectural and engineering service providing companies by survey firms which execute 3D laser scanning process for acquiring inclusive geometrical information of the as-built building which is either disintegrated due to natural disasters or which has become quite old and hence require renovation. The most important tools which are necessary for survey firms for conducting laser scanning process are highly sophisticated and powerful 3D laser scanners. During 3D laser scanning process the existing building is scanned through laser beams which can be defined as digital rays that are emitted from laser scanners. With the support of laser beams scanning becomes too simple as they can reach out to every part of the building and can capture geometrical information from there.
The entire information that is obtained by laser beams from building surface is captured in 3D. This explicitly explains that scanned data effectively incorporates 3D information
about architectural, structural and MEP elements which can properly represent their physical form. Since the physical form of the elements is effectually captured in point cloud data, it becomes sufficient for architects and engineers to understand the existing geometrical condition of the building for which renovation is scheduled by its owners. The raw point cloud data require some sort of processing such as indexing and scaling prior to its utilization in 3D modeling and building design solution Revit for the execution of point cloud modeling. Indexing which is also done in Revit itself, is the method and process of producing .rcp and .rcs files from raw 3D laser scanned data. This indicates that raw point cloud data cannot be optimized by design and construction professionals for executing point cloud modeling which results into the production of 3D models for different building disciplines. Both .rcp and .rcs file formats are newly discovered file formats which are highly convenient to use in Revit building design software. All the three major Revit disciplines which include Revit Architecture, Revit structure and Revit MEP services can effectively utilize .rcp and .rcs file formats during point cloud modeling. So with the assistance of these point cloud files AEC professionals can create 3D BIM models which include appropriate information about the existing building.