Gaussian Splats Explained: The Future of 3D Visualization for AEC and Real Estate

Remember when YouTube made it possible to share video without emailing massive files? When Google Maps let anyone explore the world without installing GIS software? When Dropbox made "which version is this?" a problem of the past?

That moment just arrived for 3D visualization.

Gaussian splats are turning your drone footage, LiDAR scans, and 360° photos into interactive experiences that load instantly in any browser. No software to install. No file size negotiations. No ten-minute explanations to clients about how to "rotate the viewport."

Just share a link. They click. They're inside your 3D space—on a phone, tablet, or laptop. Exploring. Measuring. Understanding.

While major players like Zillow, DJI, and Matterport have already made the switch, most professionals are still asking: "Wait, what exactly are Gaussian splats? And why should I care?"

Here's everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

What Are Gaussian Splats?

Imagine recreating a room in 3D. Traditional methods either stitch together thousands of triangular polygons (like in video games) or scatter laser-measured points that look like digital dust clouds. Meshes need extensive processing and struggle with reflective surfaces. Point clouds deliver precision but stay sparse—just dots floating in space, never quite connecting.

Gaussian splatting takes a completely different approach. Instead of polygons or point dots, it represents your scene as a collection of 3D ellipsoids—think of them as soft, glowing orbs that blend together seamlessly. Each "splat" has properties like position, color, size, rotation, and opacity.

When these splats are projected onto your screen from any viewing angle, they create highly realistic visualizations that you can explore in real-time. Unlike point clouds where you see individual dots, or polygon meshes that can look artificial, Gaussian splats produce smooth, photorealistic results.

Why does it look so good? Traditional methods can struggle with reflective surfaces, texture seams, or areas with poor photo overlap. Gaussian splatting "blends through" these challenging spots, creating smooth, continuous surfaces even when the underlying data is incomplete. This visual forgiveness—combined with how it handles light and color transitions—is why Gaussian splat demos often look so cinematic and polished.

The technology emerged in 2023 and is quickly becoming "the JPEG of 3D"—a standardized way to represent three-dimensional space that anyone can view without specialized software.

Why Professionals Are Switching:

• Real-time rendering at 90+ frames per second (smooth as watching video)
• Zero software required — share a link, clients view in any browser
• Mobile-friendly — works perfectly on smartphones and tablets
• Photorealistic quality — captures complex lighting, reflections, and materials
• Fast processing — minutes to hours vs. days for traditional methods
• Universal compatibility — works with drones, 360° cameras, LiDAR, smartphones

File Sizes and Performance

One common question: "How big are these files?" Here's what to expect in real-world scenarios:

Typical file sizes (compressed with SPZ format):

• Small room (500 sq ft): 25-50MB
• Standard office (2,000 sq ft): 80-150MB
• Large property (5,000 sq ft): 150-300MB
• Construction site (50,000 sq ft): 300-600MB
• City block scale: 1-3GB

The key advantage: Gaussian splat files stream progressively. Viewers don't download the entire file—they stream only what's visible from their current viewpoint, similar to how YouTube streams video. This means a 300MB Gaussian splat starts displaying in 2-3 seconds, even on mobile connections.

Point Clouds vs. Photogrammetry vs. Gaussian Splats

Not sure which 3D reconstruction method fits your needs? Here's a clear comparison of the three main approaches:

Point Clouds: Precision Through Discrete Points

Point clouds are collections of millions of individual data points captured by LiDAR scanners, each representing a precise XYZ coordinate in 3D space with color information.

Photogrammetry: Building 3D from Photographs

Photogrammetry reconstructs 3D geometry by analyzing overlapping photographs, triangulating points to build textured mesh models with real-world scale and accuracy.

Gaussian Splatting: Real-Time Interactive Visualization

Gaussian splatting represents scenes as millions of semi-transparent ellipsoids optimized for visual realism, rendering instantly in browsers at 90+ frames per second.

When to Stick with Point Clouds or Photogrammetry

Gaussian splats excel at visualization and client presentations, but they aren't always the right choice for every project. Here's when traditional methods still make more sense:

Choose Point Clouds When:

• Survey-grade accuracy required (±1-5mm precision)
• Creating BIM models for Revit/AutoCAD
• Conducting volumetric analysis or working with linear infrastructure

Choose Photogrammetry When:

• You need lightweight textured meshes for game engines or Unity/Unreal workflows
• Creating assets for architectural renderings (3ds Max, Blender, V-Ray)
• Exporting to CAD/BIM workflows requiring dimensional accuracy

Choose Gaussian Splats When:

• Client presentations are the priority—immersive visualization beats technical accuracy
• Browser-based accessibility is essential—zero software installation, works on any device
• Mobile viewing and real-time interaction are required

For many professionals, the answer isn't choosing one method—it's using the right tool for each deliverable. Capture once with LiDAR or photogrammetry, then export to multiple formats: point clouds for engineering, meshes for design, and Gaussian splats for client visualization.

Why Gaussian Splats Are Taking Over in 2026

The rapid adoption isn't hype—it's backed by real industry momentum and major technological milestones:

Major Industry Players Are All In

Companies actively adopting Gaussian splatting:

• Real Estate: Zillow, Matterport
• Drone Mapping: DJI, Pix4D
• AEC & Surveying: Bentley Systems, Esri
• Entertainment & Automotive: Hollywood studios, Tesla (autonomous vehicles)

Official Standardization

In August 2025, the Khronos Group and Open Geospatial Consortium announced that 3D Gaussian splats would be integrated into the glTF ecosystem with the SPZ compression format.

This marks the official shift from experimental demos to production-ready, interoperable tools with industry-wide standards—similar to how JPEG became the universal image format.

Accessibility Revolution

Unlike complex neural network methods (NeRFs) that require specialized computing infrastructure, Gaussian splats render on standard GPUs and work instantly in web browsers without plugins.

This means clients, stakeholders, and team members can explore 3D captures immediately—no software installation, no technical expertise, no barriers.

Why Use Splat Labs for Gaussian Splatting?

While you can create and view Gaussian splats with various tools, Splat Labs is purpose-built for professional AEC and real estate workflows with features that generic viewers lack.

Real-World Use Cases

Here are two examples of how professionals are using Gaussian splats across different industries:

Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC)

Challenge: Remote stakeholders struggle to understand construction progress from photos alone, leading to expensive site visits and time-consuming status reports.

Solution: Gaussian splats transform weekly drone flights into interactive progress documentation. Teams track progress with 4D timelines overlaying multiple temporal scans. Interactive measurement tools let stakeholders verify dimensions remotely, while AI-generated floor plans provide instant spatial context. Markup and annotation capabilities enable remote collaboration with notes and documents pinned to 3D coordinates.

Real-World Numbers:

• Typical office construction scan (50,000 sq ft): 15-minute drone flight, 45-minute processing, 80MB compressed file
• Weekly scans aligned automatically into 4D timeline
• Measurements accurate to ±5cm—sufficient for progress verification

Results:

• 40-60% reduction in site visits
• Complete as-built documentation for handoff

Real Estate

Challenge: Static photos don't convey spatial relationships, and traditional 3D tours require apps that create friction, leading to abandoned viewings.

Solution: Gaussian splats create immersive property walkthroughs that work instantly in any browser. Platforms combine interior scans with exterior drone captures using seamless portals. Auto-generated floor plans show viewer location, while interactive measurement tools let buyers verify room dimensions before scheduling showings.

Real-World Numbers:

• Typical 2,500 sq ft home: 360° camera capture (20 minutes), processing (60 minutes), 95MB streamed file
• Works on any smartphone browser, no app required
• Average buyer engagement: 4-7 minutes vs. 45 seconds for photo galleries

Results:

• 3x increase in buyer engagement time compared to static photos
• Faster sales cycles for premium properties ($1M+)

Getting Started with Gaussian Splatting

Getting started is straightforward, even if you're new to 3D reconstruction:

1. Capture Your Scene

Use equipment you likely already own:

• Drones: DJI Mavic, Phantom, Skydio
• 360° cameras: Ricoh Theta, Insta360
• LiDAR scanners: Leica, Faro, iPhone Pro
• Smartphones: Any recent model with good camera quality

2. Process Your Data

Convert your captures into Gaussian splat format using processing software. Processing typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on scene complexity.

3. Share and View

Share a link—viewers explore in any browser with no software installation required. Files stream progressively, displaying in seconds even on mobile connections.

Note: While you can process and host Gaussian splats yourself using various tools, platforms like Splat Labs provide professional features designed specifically for AEC and real estate workflows—including measurement tools, 4D timelines, AI-generated floor plans, and collaborative markup—streamlining the entire process from capture to client delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Gaussian splatting represents a fundamental shift in how we capture, share, and experience three-dimensional space. The technology is moving from experimental demos to production-ready tools with industry-wide standards.

The shift is happening now. Point clouds excel at precision measurements and surveying. Photogrammetry creates detailed static models and documentation. Gaussian splats enable real-time interactive experiences that make 3D visualization accessible to everyone.

Major players from Zillow to DJI have already adopted Gaussian splatting. The question isn't whether it will become the industry standard—it's how quickly professionals will leverage this technology to improve their workflows and deliver better value to clients.

Related Resources

Continue learning about 3D visualization workflows:

• Best Practices for 3D Reality Capture — Optimal workflows for capturing high-quality scans across different environments
• Virtual Tours for Real Estate — Techniques for creating effective property presentations
• Construction Progress Tracking with 4D Timelines — Time-based visualization for AEC projects

Ready to explore Gaussian splatting with professional tools? Learn more about Splat Labs features and capabilities.

Have questions about implementing Gaussian splats in your workflow? Contact our team for guidance.