FARO RevEng vs TopoDOT

FARO RevEng is Windows software for creating and editing meshes and CAD surfaces from 3D point clouds. It supports reverse-engineering, further design and 3D-printing workflows. RevEng connects with FARO ScanArms and the 8-Axis Quantum ScanArm, including real-time capture, and imports point-cloud data from PC, ASC, XYZ, PTS, E57, NPTS, VTX, PCS and PWN files. Mesh inputs include STL, PLY, OBJ, OFF, OM, GLTF and GLB. Tools provide automatic mesh fixing, repair, adjustment, smoothing and fitting. The Sketch Tool can produce editable NURBS surfaces from point clouds. Hole filling, simplification, offsets and shell operations help prepare watertight meshes for printing. Exports include the listed point-cloud and mesh formats plus STEP. The recommended system is Windows 10/11 64-bit with an Intel Core i7 or equivalent sixth-generation processor or later, at least 16 GB RAM and 1 GB free disk space. Virtual-machine installation and remote desktop access are supported. Pricing is on request, with no free plan; FARO offers a fully functional 30-day trial. A license is complimentary with new CAM2 Scan Professional or Expert purchases.

TopoDOT is Windows point-cloud processing software for modeling, analysis, and production deliverables. It runs as a desktop application inside Bentley MicroStation, requiring a compatible MicroStation environment. Road and DOT workflows include template extraction, pavement extraction, and intensity-based extraction for topographic and GIS outputs. Rail tools handle rail, overhead catenary, and corridor inspection geometry. Utility workflows extract towers, poles, wires, and clearances, while structural tools turn dense point clouds into 3D meshes for bridges, pier caps, and complex buildings. Automatic Asset ID applies machine learning to identify and extract assets and attributes. The software supports point-cloud registration, classification, geospatial analysis, E57 and LAS/LAZ files, and point-cloud-to-mesh work. TopoDOT describes automation, AI, and machine learning as retaining technician visibility, control, and judgment. Organization licenses allow unlimited users and workstations, with annual maintenance based on tracked workstation user-days. Enterprise 300 costs $12,000 once, with maintenance at $26.00 per user-day.