Autodesk ReCap is point cloud registration and viewing software that feeds reality capture data into the Autodesk design ecosystem. SkyeBrowse is a cloud-based videogrammetry platform that turns any video into a measured 3D model. Both produce 3D spatial data, but the capture method, processing speed, cost structure, and audience could not be more different.
Contents
- Capture and Input
- Processing Speed
- Ecosystem Lock-in
- Operator Requirements
- Pricing and Total Cost
- Compliance and Security
- Output Formats and Sharing
- Head-to-Head Comparison
- The Bottom Line
- Related Comparisons
- Get a SkyeBrowse Recommendation
Capture and Input
ReCap requires data from external hardware: laser scanners, structured-light sensors, or drone photos captured through a photogrammetry flight plan. None of these instruments are included with the software. A team must own or rent a laser scanner ($20,000+), plan a structured capture, and import the resulting scan files or photo sets into ReCap for processing. Cloud photogrammetry through ReCap Photo consumes Autodesk cloud credits on top of the subscription.
SkyeBrowse accepts video from any device that records .MP4 or .MOV. DJI drones, iPhones, Android phones, GoPros, body-worn cameras, and 360-degree cameras all work through the same upload pipeline. No flight planning software, no scan targets, no specialized hardware. One operator records video and uploads it. That is the entire capture workflow.
Processing Speed
ReCap Pro processes laser scan data on the desktop. Registering a multi-station scan project typically takes one to several hours depending on station count and dataset size. ReCap Photo offloads drone photogrammetry to the Autodesk cloud, where queue depth and project size push turnaround to hours or even days. Neither path delivers same-session results for field teams.
SkyeBrowse processes video through patented videogrammetry at approximately a 1:1 ratio. A 10-minute video returns a finished 3D model in about 10 minutes. Cloud processing runs on AWS infrastructure with no desktop hardware dependency, no queue waiting, and no credit consumption. Field teams get results before leaving the scene.
Ecosystem Lock-in
ReCap's native output formats, RCS and RCP, are optimized for Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D. They are poorly supported outside the Autodesk ecosystem. If your downstream tools are Bentley, Trimble, QGIS, or any open-source platform, you need format conversion, which adds time and introduces data loss risk. ReCap exists to keep data flowing through Autodesk products.
SkyeBrowse outputs LAZ point clouds, GLB meshes, and GeoTIFF orthomosaics. These are open, vendor-neutral formats readable by virtually any GIS, CAD, or 3D viewing platform. LAZ loads into CloudCompare, QGIS, and forensic reconstruction tools. GLB opens in any web browser. GeoTIFF drops into ArcGIS, Google Earth Pro, and Civil 3D. No vendor lock-in, no conversion step.
Operator Requirements
ReCap assumes operators who understand scan registration workflows: target placement, cloud-to-cloud matching, coordinate systems, and quality control of alignment residuals. ReCap Photo requires drone flight planning expertise and familiarity with photogrammetry project setup. Both paths assume familiarity with the Autodesk interface and AEC terminology.
SkyeBrowse requires an operator who can record video. A patrol officer with a drone, a construction superintendent with a smartphone, or an insurance adjuster with a GoPro can capture a scene and upload it through a web browser. No registration training, no CAD experience, no Autodesk certification. The platform was built for field personnel, not BIM managers.
Pricing and Total Cost
ReCap Pro costs approximately $400 per year as a standalone subscription. Most organizations access it through the Autodesk AEC Collection at roughly $3,825 per year, bundling Revit, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and other tools. Cloud photogrammetry burns additional Autodesk cloud credits at variable rates. Add the cost of a laser scanner ($20,000 to $100,000+) or a photogrammetry-capable drone, and the total investment for a single production seat reaches five to six figures.
SkyeBrowse pricing scales by accuracy tier. Premium Advanced delivers 0.1-inch accuracy at 16K resolution with AI moving object removal. Premium achieves approximately 0.25-inch accuracy at 8K resolution. Lite delivers 2-6 inch accuracy for quick reference. When paired with an RTK-equipped drone, results are georeferenced without ground control points. No hardware purchase required. No per-project credits. No desktop software to install or maintain. A single subscription covers capture, processing, storage, and sharing. Operational cost drops from $360 per scene with traditional methods to roughly $25 with SkyeBrowse.
Compliance and Security
ReCap and ReCap Photo run on standard Autodesk cloud infrastructure. Autodesk does not offer CJIS-compliant hosting, FedRAMP authorization, or GovCloud deployment. For public safety agencies handling criminal evidence, crash reconstruction data, or sensitive infrastructure documentation, this is a disqualifying gap.
SkyeBrowse runs on AWS GovCloud (US) with FedRAMP Moderate alignment and CJIS-compliant workflows. Audit trails, controlled sharing, and 5-year guaranteed data retention on Premium and Premium Advanced tiers meet the chain-of-custody requirements that law enforcement and prosecutors demand. Evidence processed through SkyeBrowse is court-ready from the moment it uploads.
Output Formats and Sharing
ReCap exports RCS/RCP point clouds for Autodesk products, OBJ meshes, and orthomosaics. Sharing a model outside the Autodesk ecosystem requires the recipient to install an Autodesk viewer or perform format conversion. Collaboration defaults to the Autodesk platform, limiting access for stakeholders who do not have Autodesk subscriptions.
SkyeBrowse exports LAZ point clouds for forensic reconstruction and CAD tools, GLB meshes for interactive 3D walkthroughs in any web browser, and GeoTIFF orthomosaics for GIS integration. Models are shareable through browser links with no software installation on the receiving end. Prosecutors, adjusters, commanders, and clients open the same model in a browser tab.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Dimension | Autodesk ReCap | SkyeBrowse |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Laser scans, drone photos, cloud credits | Any .MP4/.MOV video |
| Processing Speed | Hours (desktop scans), hours-to-days (cloud photos) | ~1:1 with video duration |
| Ecosystem | Locked to Autodesk (RCS/RCP formats) | Open formats (LAZ, GLB, GeoTIFF) |
| Operator Skill | Scan registration, CAD, flight planning | Record video, upload |
| Cost | $400-$3,825/yr + credits + hardware | Subscription only, no hardware |
| Compliance | Standard commercial cloud | CJIS, FedRAMP Moderate, AWS GovCloud |
| Sharing | Autodesk viewer or format conversion | Browser link, no install |
| Accuracy | Scanner-dependent; requires $20K-$100K+ hardware and expert setup | Consistent 0.1-inch to 6-inch across three tiers, no GCPs needed |
| Data Retention | Autodesk cloud terms | 5-year guaranteed (Premium/Advanced) |
The Bottom Line
SkyeBrowse replaces the entire multi-step pipeline — capture, process, deliver, and share — in one workflow. ReCap, by contrast, is a processing layer for organizations already invested in Autodesk AEC software and laser scanning hardware. It does not capture data, it does not work outside the Autodesk ecosystem without conversion, and it does not meet public safety compliance standards.
SkyeBrowse works with any camera, any operator, any browser. Any camera, any operator, any browser. Processing completes in minutes instead of hours. Output formats are open and vendor-neutral. Compliance meets CJIS and FedRAMP standards. Scene documentation drops from 3 hours with 4 officers to 10 minutes with 1 operator. For field teams that need 3D models without the overhead of desktop CAD software, scanner hardware, and cloud credit budgets, SkyeBrowse is the faster, simpler, and more cost-effective path.
Get a SkyeBrowse Recommendation
If your team needs 3D documentation without the overhead of desktop CAD software, laser scanners, or cloud credit budgets, SkyeBrowse can compress the entire workflow into a single video upload. Public safety, construction, and inspection teams use it to get from capture to deliverable in minutes.
