3d Modelling from a point cloud despite vallient efforts remains an area of processing that requires human input. The interpretation required is currently beyond the scope of current software. Some Companies claim to do a percentage of the processing and leave the rest to human interpretation. However even this approach is not desirable as the inspection of the automatically generated solids will take time and any remedial work will start to erode the benefits. Also adding "intellegence" to the model using this process is not possible - so an intellegent model will need another process. It seems at least for the foseeable future that intellegent 3d modelling will remain a human activity. The market place for this Activity is vast and exciting, Both the risk of getting it wrong and the benefits of getting it right are immense. So if you are about to get some 3d Modelling done it is well worth considering some factors that could save a lot of money and reap a lot of rewards.
The first criteria you may need to consider is why are you ordering a model ? There are many reasons to order an asbuilt 3dmodel of assets, is there already a model exixting in your company from a previous or parallel project? Is your priority the geometry(ie your doing some remedial work or revamp) or is it more important to have some intellegence inteligent 3d model or possible both are important .
It is certainly worth considering the legacy of any modelling that is to be used for a project. It may be worth talking to different departments and talking to other project managers, Would a model be of use to them? are there future projects that would require a model? The model if correctly specified should have a significant legacy, Although it was commissioned for say a revamp the 3d model can equally be used for visualisation, for maintenance scheduling, for asset management for process modelling, costing, engineering, advertising and planning. However if the model bought for the revamp is not specified correctly new models will be needed for all the other activities. As can be seen from the power of Modern 3d Modelling and such innovations as the .NET framework the value of Modelling is moving higher up company's infrastructures towards the very top.