From hand-drawn blueprints to the rise of Building Information Modelling (BIM), the construction industry has continuously adapted to meet the ever-changing demands of a dynamic world. Today, companies must stay ahead of the curve by embracing the latest technologies to streamline processes, enhance communication, and deliver cutting-edge solutions.
What is Matterport?
One such technological innovation that is emerging as a game-changer is Matterport. Founded in 2011, this 3D scanning platform was established to examine the intersection of hardware, AI, and the built world and is quickly becoming a must-have tool that’s transforming how businesses approach sustainable office design, project management, and real estate marketing.
Matterport is a state-of-the-art 3D scanning and imaging technology that creates highly detailed, interactive 3D models of physical spaces. Using specialised cameras or mobile devices, Matterport captures spatial data to generate a digital twin of a real-world environment. These digital twins are 3D representations of spaces that can be explored, measured, and manipulated virtually. It covers the entire lifecycle of objects, is continuously updated with real-time data, and leverages simulation, machine learning, and reasoning to support decision-making.
Whether you’re looking to scan an office design, residential property, or an entire construction site, Matterport gives you a powerful tool to view, analyse, and share spaces like never before.
”The whole process with Virtus was seamless and hassle-free. There was no handholding, no need to coordinate someone to be there when the scans were being done, it was just done and done well. They were super professional, and honestly, it was such a relief for us not to have to worry about it until we received the final product.
Sahar Wani, Databricks
How Does Matterport Work?
First, a Matterport camera is used to capture a series of 360-degree images throughout a space. Here at Virtus we use the Pro2! These images are automatically stitched together to create an interactive 3D model.
The model generated isn’t just a static image or a video; it’s an interactive, immersive experience where users can navigate the space simply by clicking or tapping their screen. This allows them to look up, down, and side to side, just as they would in real life. Additionally, the experience can be visualised using a VR headset, providing an even more immersive way to explore. This can be remotely accessed, shared, and explored from anywhere in the world on any device, 24/7.
How Matterport Can Benefit the Construction Industry
Construction is a complex sector with a wide range of stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, building owners, owner’s representatives, and municipalities. Matterport and the use of digital twin technology, allow these diverse groups to manage and share data seamlessly, breaking down divisions and enhancing data-driven decision-making across both physical spaces and departmental boundaries.
1. Benefits for Clients:
Clients involved in office design services often face challenges when visualising the space. With Matterport, they can get accurate, immersive virtual tours to view progress made at any stage of the process, whether that be pre-, during or post-construction. Other benefits include:
• Save time: Remote access means that clients can review spaces from the comfort of their own office or home without needing to be on-site. Matterport customers have seen a 75% decrease in in-person site visits from stakeholders.
• Make informed decisions: Clients can easily view layouts, check design details, and see where changes need to be made.
• Showcasing the space: Matterport scans can enhance the way their workspace design is showcased and strengthen their brand’s unique selling proposition (USP). Continue reading to see how one of our clients, Databricks, has utilised their Matterport scans as a way for prospective employees and visitors to find their way around their offices.
2. Benefits for Designers:
For designers, Matterport offers a powerful tool to enhance the creative process. It allows for precise measurements and space planning in a way that traditional blueprints and sketches simply can’t match. At Virtus, our design team uses Matterport for:
• Enhanced visualisation: The immersive nature of Matterport’s 3D scans allows designers to visualise spaces and layouts realistically, helping them make better design decisions.
• Collaboration & communication: The 3D models allow for seamless collaboration between designers, architects, and other stakeholders. This improves communication and ensures everyone is on the same page throughout the design process.
• Documentation & record-keeping: The scans provide an easily accessible and permanent digital record of the space, which can be referred to throughout the design and construction phases.
3. Benefits for Sub-Contractors:
Sub-contractors, that previously relied on multiple site visits, can use Matterport to access detailed, accurate scans of spaces. This helps them to understand the project scope and requirements before stepping onto the job site and throughout the office fitout process. The benefits include:
• Precise measurements: Matterport’s scanning technology ensures that sub-contractors can double-check measurements against plans.
• Reduced travel: Contractors can access a replica of what is on-site, reducing the need to travel. Matterport customers have seen a 50% reduction in travel needs.
• Improved planning: With a 3D model of the space, sub-contractors can prepare for their work more effectively, ensuring smoother execution, fewer delays and reduced rework. According to Matterport customers, 75% of project issues were resolved without escalation.
How Virtus Has Utilised Matterport: Case Study Examples
These benefits made it an obvious choice for us to integrate Matterport into our workflow, particularly as we can add the scans into Procore – the construction industry’s most widely used management software. As a result, the entire team can collaborate on the project and share access to documents, planning systems and data in a single, centralised location.
The following case studies showcase the versatility and value of Matterport’s technology and how it has benefited our team and clients.
Databricks
In 2024, we completed an office fitout for Databricks, a global leader in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence, headquartered in San Francisco with offices around the world. In addition to delivering Matterport scans for their London office, we also successfully carried out scans for their Paris and Amsterdam locations.
Both buildings were occupied during the scanning, requiring careful coordination to minimise disruption while capturing the necessary data. The postproduction stage was crucial to meet the client’s privacy needs, involving the manual blurring of sensitive information such as screens and monitors. These immersive 3D walkthroughs have now been integrated into the Databricks site, allowing visitors and new employees to explore and familiarise themselves with the spaces remotely.
Sahar Wani, Workspace Specialist at Databricks commented:
““The Matterport scans have been such a huge help for Databricks. Being a global company, we always have teams from other offices asking about event space bookings, and having these scans has made that process so much smoother. Instead of back-and-forth emails or trying to describe the space over Slack, people can just check out the scans and get all the info they need. It saves the workplace team a ton of time!
The whole process with Virtus was seamless and hassle-free. From the initial setup to getting the scans transferred to our account, they walked us through everything and made sure we had exactly what we needed. The best part? They were completely self-sufficient. There was no handholding, no need to coordinate someone to be there when the scans were being done, it was just done and done well. They were super professional, and honestly, it was such a relief for us not to have to worry about it until we received the final product.””
24 Britannia Street
Following two decades at their Holborn headquarters, Thames & Hudson embarked on an ambitious relocation, selecting a 16,000 sq. ft. space in the former Gagosian Gallery at Kings Cross. We were tasked with transforming the space into a CAT A office renovation with polished concrete floors, timber-lined mezzanines, and exposed services. It being a big, open space, we thought that it was the perfect opportunity to test out our Matterport scanning for the first time. The Virtus design team were then approached to design a CAT B proposal, and upon completion, we conducted another scan.
Capturing both scans after the CAT A and B refurbishments provided us with a range of benefits beyond just trialling the technology. The before-and-after models serve as a valuable visual record of the transformation, allowing us to showcase the quality of our work to future clients and use the content for marketing and case studies. Internally, the scans offer opportunities for training, process review, and knowledge sharing, helping to refine our workflows for future projects. They also provide clear documentation for accountability, support future maintenance or office fitout renovations, and enhance transparency should clients request a detailed project overview.
Britannia Street CAT A Scan
Britannia Street CAT B Scan
The Future of Matterport
The future of Matterport is already looking promising. In the Fall 2024 Release, Matterport unveiled AI-powered tools like the “Defurnish” feature, which allows users to virtually remove furniture and clutter from digital twins as well as the “Merge” tool, which enables the seamless combination of multiple digital twins. Over the next decade, it is clear that Matterport will continue to evolve with the growing demands of the construction, real estate, and design industries and is expected to focus on several key areas and technologies that will further enhance its capabilities and usability:
1. Integration with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
As the immersive experience becomes increasingly important, Matterport will continue to evolve its integration with AR and VR. This will allow users to explore spaces virtually in real-time, offering even more detailed and interactive walkthroughs without physical visits.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
Matterport will likely expand its use of AI and machine learning to automate tasks, so much so that AI-powered personal assistants in virtual tours could guide users, answering questions and providing tailored recommendations. Additionally, AI-driven insights can offer predictive analytics, such as detecting potential design flaws, predicting maintenance needs, or optimising space usage.
3. Autonomous Capture with Robotics & Drones
Drones and autonomous robots could be integrated to scan large commercial properties, construction sites, and industrial facilities faster and more accurately. Real-time progress tracking for construction projects using digital twins could become standard.
4. BIM Integration
As Building Information Modelling (BIM) becomes more widely adopted in construction and design projects, Matterport’s ability to integrate with BIM will continue to be a major focus. This integration will help architects, engineers, and construction professionals use Matterport’s digital twins alongside other BIM software, providing a seamless connection between the physical world and the digital model.
5. Higher-Resolution Scanning and Enhanced Detail
As scanning technology continues to improve, Matterport will likely focus on providing higher-resolution and more detailed scans. This will allow for more accurate and detailed digital twins, which can be especially beneficial in industries like architecture and construction, where precision is critical. The ability to capture fine details in textures, materials, and spatial relationships will improve the quality of the models, making them more useful for a wider range of applications.
6. 5G & Cloud-Based Solutions
With the rise of 5G and edge computing, Matterport is expected to evolve its cloud-based capabilities. For businesses, the ability to upload, access, and share 3D scans securely and instantly from anywhere in the world will be a significant advantage, making real-time collaboration and inspections smoother.
7. Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Given the growing focus on sustainability, Matterport could play a key role in helping organisations achieve their ESG goals and help create more sustainable workspace design solutions. By providing accurate as-built models, Matterport scans can lead to better energy modelling, help reduce waste, optimise material usage, and improve overall project efficiency. Furthermore, by significantly reducing the need for frequent site visits, companies can cut down on travel-related emissions and lower their overall carbon footprint.
The future of Matterport looks incredibly bright in construction and also wider industries, such as real estate, retail, tourism and manufacturing. As technology continues to advance, it will become a key tool in transforming how projects are designed, managed, and maintained. From improving efficiency and collaboration to enhancing precision and reducing waste, Matterport’s 3D scanning technology is setting the stage for a more streamlined, data-driven, and sustainable construction future.
Why Choose Virtus for Your Office Fitouts?
At Virtus, we believe that every office fit-out project deserves the highest level of precision and innovation. That’s why we offer Matterport scanning services exclusively to clients who choose us as their office remodelling contractors and similar projects. By integrating this cutting-edge technology into our services, we provide you with an advanced, reliable solution to enhance your project’s workflow and outcome.
Here’s why selecting Virtus for your office fit-out ensures you’ll benefit from the best in Matterport scanning:
• Expertise: Our team is highly skilled in utilising Matterport technology to capture your space with exceptional detail and accuracy, ensuring the perfect digital representation of your workspace design.
• Custom Solutions: Every project is unique, so we offer tailored Matterport scanning solutions designed to meet your specific needs—whether you’re an office manager, landlord, architect, or contractor.
• Seamless Integration: As part of your office fitout, we make it effortless to incorporate Matterport scans into your project at every stage, from initial design to post-construction.
• Remote Accessibility: No matter where you or your stakeholders are located, our Matterport scans provide easy access to a 3D model, making collaboration and decision-making more streamlined than ever.
Choose Virtus for your next office fitout and experience the precision and convenience of Matterport scanning as an integrated part of your project.
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