Lidar and DTM / Tin's / in v14

Walter Ellem
Walter Ellem
in Other
This is a question that when you look around is asked a lot but the reply's are several years old...
What would people recommend for the following tasks;
  1. Importing CSV, XML files
  2. Creating a Digital terrain model
  3. Lidar Data, thinning contours etc
  4. Draping an image over a surface / model

I have found these and am looking at testing them some work a lot don't, i am after low cost solutions as we are nigh high volume users of the application yet. 

The other thing is we are running Windows 8


Comments

  • Rakesh Rao
    Rakesh Rao

    Hello Walter,

    If you are looking at importing CSV files into BricsCAD, you may want to consider using GeoTools.

    GT_IMPEX is the tool you would be looking for:

    http://www.4d-technologies.com/geotools/manual/export_tools.htm#IMPEX

    We have also recently created a tool to import GML files into BricsCAD with which we have been testing import of Netherlands GML data and it has worked pretty well until now.

    Import points and lines from ASCII to dwg, with attributes

    I would be very keen to talk to any users here who use XML/GML geographic data and create import tools to create CAD entities with attached attribute info out of them. All our GML tools create attributes as extended data which is capable of further converting into other data forms like attribute / object data etc.

    Best Regards
    Rakesh Rao
    Smarter .dwg CAD
  • Rakesh Rao
    Rakesh Rao


    Hello Walter,

    If you are looking at importing CSV files into BricsCAD, you may want to consider using GeoTools.

    GT_IMPEX is the tool you would be looking for:

    http://www.4d-technologies.com/geotools/manual/export_tools.htm#IMPEX

    We have also recently created a tool to import GML files into BricsCAD with which we have been testing import of Netherlands GML data and it has worked pretty well until now.

    Import GML data into dwg, with attributes

    I would be very keen to talk to any users here who use XML/GML geographic data and create import tools to create CAD entities with attached attribute info out of them. All our GML tools create attributes as extended data which is capable of further converting into other data forms like attribute / object data etc.

    Best Regards
    Rakesh Rao
    Smarter .dwg CAD
  • Richard Sands
    Richard Sands
    I have B'cad 14 but use a dedicated surveying program for any processing of survey/GIS data, and I have not used any of the applications you name.
    But Lidar can be extremely heavy on the program.
    It takes a lot of computer grunt to manipulate the files I had.
    Once I just gave up.
    There is such an intensity of data.
    Not wanting to put you off, but like most programming, some handle extreme files with ease whilst others bog down at the slightest wiff of the same file, if you get my drift.

    If you have large data sets and want to work with them it may pay to shop around and may even mean a lot more dollars than you want to consider.
    However Manifold GIS is a cheap but powerful program, but it hasn't been developed for a few years but they are still selling their product.
    May be worth looking there.

    here's one link to a post a couple of years back, I'd guess there's more.
    Manfold Lidar query

    regards
    Richard
  • Walter Ellem
    Walter Ellem
    Thanks for the tip, i run a performance machine now, for CAD and Graphics

    OS Name    Microsoft Windows 8.1 Enterprise
    Processor    Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-1620 0 @ 3.60GHz, 3600 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
    System Type    x64-based PC
    Installed Physical Memory (RAM)    16.0 GB
    Adapter Description    NVIDIA Quadro K2000

  • Brian Oberdorf
    Brian Oberdorf
    You could try QGIS for processing lidar data to creat DEM's and contours.  It can also be used to manipulate aerial imagery.


    I think you would need a speciailised program to create DEM/TIN from survey data - advanced road design in the applications tab looks good.


  • Terry Dotson
    Terry Dotson
    Take a look at our MapWorks Surfaces module.  It does everything you mention (and more) except the image drape currently only works in WellKnownCAD. Perhaps with some help from Bricsys we can revisit that code and get it working.
This discussion has been closed.