With mobile mapping technology readily available, anyone can effortlessly map the environment around them, whether it’s a cave, 10 storey building or a construction site. For newcomers to surveying, this tech breakthrough removes the dependency on trained experts – but it does require the mapper to have a basic understanding of a point cloud. What is it, how is it created and how is it used? In our latest education article, we look at the top point cloud questions and provide all the information you need to get started.
Point clouds are now faster, easier and more accessible than ever before. If you’re interested in mapping but aren’t trained in point cloud software – this guide is for you.
1. What is a point cloud? What measurements are included in a point cloud?
A point cloud is essentially a huge collection of tiny individual points plotted in 3D space. It’s made up of a multitude of points captured using a 3D laser scanner. If you’re scanning a building, for example, each virtual point would represent a real point on the wall, window, stairway, metalwork or any surface the laser beam comes into contact with.
The scanner automatically combines the vertical and horizontal angles created by the laser beam to calculate a 3D X, Y, Z coordinate position for each point to produce a set of 3D coordinate measurements which often includes its colour value stored in RGB (more on that in question 6) and intensity. These details can then be transformed into a digital 3D model that gives you an accurate detailed picture of your object.
The denser the points, the more detailed the representation, which allows smaller features and texture details to be more clearly and precisely defined. So, if you were to zoom in on a point cloud of The Tower Bridge in London, you’d see tiny points creating the whole point cloud.
What is Point Cloud Scanning?
Point cloud scanning is the process of using a 3D laser scanner to capture different points, measuring an area. You can quickly generate a point cloud with mobile mapping devices to capture dimensions, size and layout data.
What is Point Cloud Data?
Point cloud data is the term used to refer to the data points collected for a given geographical area, terrain, building or space. A LiDAR point cloud dataset is created when an area is scanned using light detection and ranging.
What is Point Cloud Processing?
Point cloud processing is a means of turning point cloud data into 3D models of the space in question. This data processing is made possible with processing software such as GeoSLAM Connect.
3. How long does it take to create a point cloud?
It all depends on how many scans are needed and what exactly needs scanning. Or whether you’re using traditional stationary scanning equipment or mobile laser scanning technology which would considerably reduce scanning time. For example, a 130-scan point cloud dataset (which is a lot of point cloud data) of an office building including all the individual rooms, corridors and service areas could take nearly 25 hours to process with a traditional, static laser scanner.
Those scans may have only taken a day to collect with a mobile scanner, but manual involvement in processing means that the registration of that point cloud dataset can take around 3 days to carry out, and potentially longer if manual correction is necessary. Smaller datasets can be processed in hours.
With a device like the ZEB Revo RT a slam point cloud is created in real-time and you can see the live visualisation progress with the attached tablet or phone. It requires no processing other than extracting data from the device, so you can have a full point cloud in a matter of minutes – depending on what’s being scanned.
4. Do you need to be trained in point cloud software to create a point cloud?
GeoSLAM’s Connect software is specifically designed for ease-of-use. With minimum training on the software, you will be able to process raw point cloud data by directly transforming it into BIM (Building Information Modelling).
Its menu is easy to understand and the tools and functions let you navigate your way through the cloud easily and efficiently. With GeoSLAM Connect you can create clean, georeferenced point clouds automatically.
5. What is the perspective on a point cloud?
Since a point cloud is a fully 3D format, you can view it from any perspective, no matter what device was used to capture it. You can capture a point cloud on foot using a handheld 3D laser scanner such as a ZEB Horizon, and then view it from the top-down as if you’re seeing the scanned environment from a drone. In fact, you can view any part of the point cloud, including objects and rooms, from any angle as required.
6. Can a point cloud be created in colour – how?
When you look at a colourised point cloud of a room, you’re seeing both the dimensional measurements and the RGB value. This data is taken at each point the scanner measured. The effect is that users (both new and experienced) can understand quickly and easily what they’re looking at because the point cloud looks more like a 3D photograph. When using a GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon, colourised point clouds can be created by using the ZEB Vision accessory and workflow within the GeoSLAM Connect software. Learn more about how to colourise a point cloud here.
7. How do you put multiple point clouds together?
Handheld 3D laser scanners are efficient enough that many spaces can be captured in a single scan. However, larger projects such as a large sports arena or campus may require more scans for complete coverage, which means you’ll have a number of point clouds that you’ll need to merge into one final point cloud for the whole asset. A variety of software applications enable you to do this. However, if you use a GeoSLAM laser scanner, it makes good sense to use GeoSLAM’s complimentary Connect software.
Within GeoSLAM Connect you have the stop-and-go alignment feature where common static points are captured during several scans meaning that these datasets can be automatically aligned. A single point cloud is then exported as if the data was captured in a single scan.
8. What are the best point cloud formats to use?
Different scanners produce raw data in multiple formats, and each piece of software has different exporting capabilities. Output formats are also determined by what data is required and who needs it. If you wanted to store the data away for a long period, you’ll probably be best storing the point cloud as an ASCII file. Other popular formats are LAS, PTS, PTX, XYZ and Fast Binary.
GeoSLAM data is compatible with software that works for you with universal file formats (LAZ/LAS/PLY/TXT/e57) and can be imported into many different third party software’s such as Deswick, Esri, Micromine and Floorplanner.
9. What is a point cloud used for?
It’s a non-intrusive way to accurately measure object properties in 3D. For example, sites such as care homes, stadiums and museums don’t have to be shut down in order to be measured. The measurements are also far more detailed than anything traditional survey equipment can produce.
In the architecture industry, which uses As-Built models; point cloud software eliminates time-consuming and costly revisits to the site and allows an architect to visualise and convey new concepts. Point cloud has become the new standard for all design industries as it provides an instant virtual model to test ideas with. They are also used to create 3D CAD (computer-aided design) models for manufactured parts, for metrology and quality inspection, and for a multitude of visualisation, animation, rendering and mass customisation applications.
Here’s an example of the GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon data being used to create a BIM model for a large hotel using Revit.
We hope this gets you out of the blocks and you quickly become a point cloud enthusiast. Creating point clouds is both easy and simple – and anyone can do it.
Looking for some inspiration on taking your point cloud to new places, check this out. You can also visit the Point Cloud Library here.
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