How drones and laser scanners are reshaping building digitalisation

That’s where the European RETIME project comes in — using cutting-edge digital technologies to make the built environment more resilient.

Over summer 2025, the project team scanned pilot buildings in Lisbon and Žilina with two powerful tools:

• Laser scanners (LiDAR): By sending laser beams and measuring their return, LiDAR (which stands for Light Detection and Ranging) builds a precise 3D “point cloud.” It’s ideal for interiors and smaller buildings, delivering accurate results quickly and safely.
• Drones with photogrammetry: Drones capture hundreds of photos from above, later combined into a detailed 3D model. This method is perfect for large or complex structures, such as Lisbon’s Arquitecto Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles Basic School or Žilina’s Straník Social Services Centre, where laser scanning alone isn’t enough.

By combining the two methods, RETIME can capture both the interiors and exteriors of even the most complex buildings.

Members from Lisbon Town Council, Gebalis, TUU, and Iscte and local inhabitants of Bairro da Boavista

What’s next?

Collecting this data is just the beginning.

With it, RETIME is building digital versions of real buildings. First, Building Information Modelling (BIM) —  smart blueprints that include not only 3D representations of buildings but also details like material properties, building systems (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), cost estimates and logistical planning. Then, the next step: Digital Building Twins (DBTs) — dynamic replicas that show how a building actually works in real time.

Think of a DBT as a “living model.” It can reveal how much energy a school uses on a hot day, flag a maintenance issue before it becomes a costly repair, or test how a care centre would cope in an emergency — all in the digital space, before changes happen in real life.

With BIM and DBTs, RETIME is turning buildings into smarter, safer, and more sustainable spaces. Thanks to drones and laser scanning, we’re one step closer to future-proof buildings that don’t just stand, but help us adapt.