Importing a point cloud object
|
Command |
Path |
|
Import Point Cloud |
File > Import |
A point cloud object comprises a set of 3D data points captured from the surface of the real world using a 3D scanner. The object can be viewed interactively and transformed geometrically (including the zoom, scale, pan, rotate, flyover, and walkthrough functions), clipped into horizontal or vertical sections using the Clip Cube command, snapped to, measured and referenced for data, and placed into viewports. It provides an efficient and effective way to bring existing conditions into the design workflow. Georeferenced information from the point cloud object can be used to automatically georeference the Vectorworks file and import the geometry correctly into it.
If you use Vectorworks Cloud Services, the Import Reality Capture command is a quick, easy way to import files directly from your cloud storage.
Use the Clip Cube command to isolate points for selection and snapping.
Vectorworks Design Suite products import registered point cloud data in the .laz, .las, .pts, .e57, .xyz, and .ply file formats.
To import point cloud data:
Select the command.
Select the file to import.
Alternatively, click the file to import and drag it into an open Vectorworks file.
The Import Point Cloud Options dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
|
Parameter |
Description |
|
Layer name |
Select an existing layer, or select New Design Layer to create a new layer for the imported object |
|
Class name |
Select an existing class, or select New Class to create a new class for the imported object |
|
Number of Points |
|
|
Total in Source File |
Static display of the total number of points in the point cloud object |
|
Percentage to Import |
Indicate what percentage of the total points in the source file to import; for percentages less than 100, a random sample of the available points is imported |
|
Number to Import |
Static display of the number of points to import, calculated from the Total in Source File and Percentage to Import. The maximum number of points that can be imported for any one point cloud object is 100 million. For more points, multiple point cloud objects can be imported. |
|
Units |
Specify the units of the points to be imported |
|
Georeferencing |
When the point cloud file to import contains georeferenced geometry, specify how to import it; see Specifying georeferencing and geolocation. The Coordinate Reference System (CRS) from the imported geometry or from the file's settings, if any, displays. |
|
Georeference the document |
Uses the coordinate reference system from the imported file (this can only be selected if the Vectorworks file was not already georeferenced) |
|
Align with document georeferencing |
Imports the file and projects the geometry using the coordinate system that was already set for the Vectorworks file; if the existing Vectorworks file was already georeferenced, this option must be used |
|
Ignore georeferencing |
Does not georeference the Vectorworks file at import; ignores all georeferencing from the imported file |
|
Placement (Neither the existing file nor the imported point cloud have GIS data) |
When the file is not georeferenced, select how to import the point cloud - either centered on the internal origin or aligned with the user origin. Point clouds with many data points should be centered on the internal origin to avoid issues. |
The import process automatically switches to a 3D view. The point cloud object's Color Scale can be edited from the Object Info palette.
Because the Top/Plan view and render modes other than Shaded or Wireframe are unlikely to be used in a point cloud workflow, a low-resolution image displays for Top/Plan, and a simple wire box displays for the other render modes.
