How to plan a reality capture programme for 2026

Most organisations capture reactively: a listing, a claim, a renovation. The ones getting the most value plan it. Here is the checklist we walk through with clients at the start of a year.

1. Rank the spaces

List every building or unit and score it on three things: how often it changes, how often people need to see it remotely, and what it would cost to measure by hand. High scores get captured first.

2. Match the tool to the question

People need to see it: Matterport tour.
Software needs to measure it: laser scan and, if required, a BIM model.
The site matters as much as the building: add a drone survey.

3. Set a cadence

Marketing captures are one-off; facilities captures are annual; construction captures are weekly or monthly. Write the cadence down so it survives staff changes.

4. Own the data

Keep models in your own accounts, export point clouds and MatterPaks, and name files consistently. A capture you cannot find is a capture you will pay for twice.

5. Standardise tags

Decide what a tag means: equipment register, defect, or note. A shared schema is what turns a set of tours into a facilities system.