Point cloud/dense mesh conversion into CAD objects

Wawi
Wawi
in Point Clouds

Hi!

Together with My two colleagues are looking for solution to quickly convert photogrammetry derived point cloud (or mesh) into entities accepted by BricsCAD plugin - Autoturn. Previously we used other CAD software, but company decided to migrate the process to BricsCAD hoping we can elevate it from 2D into 3D.

We run analyses of routes for big and heavy loads and until now we used only drone derived orthomosaics as a base for our 2D jobs. But - as said earlier - company sees the future in full 3d so we neet to figure out how to use 3d data to detect collisions in tight, urban spaces.

Autoturn support told us that there are two types of entities that analysis requires to run properly but moving from raw mesh/cloud to those entities requires tedious redrawing everything and then feeding it into analysis. Since we do not have dedicated team for this operation (and for sure we will have to manage the whole process with same resources as today), we are looking for a way to optimize the process.

This is why we are looking for answers for following questions:

  • is there a function in the BricsCAD that would allow us to convert dense mesh into road and terrain accepted by Autoturn? Since we do not need extremely detailed models of the buildings or fully developed models of the trees, we believe that primitives mirroring dimensions and shape of buildings, guardrails, trees, etc + surface serving as a road will do the trick. Is there a function that would allow us to do that?
  • since we run point cloud classification anyways, can we use class atribute to create both entities (road and other stuff) in one go, or maybe it is required to split the cloud on two categories and
    "build" the entities separately and then merge it angain? We want to avoid the risk of misallignment of the entities after joining both segments...

Will appreciate any suggestions!

Comments

  • ALANH
    ALANH

    May not help but Autoturn draws path lines in 2d for the vehicle edges etc. In Civil Site Design it has a 3d sight checker, which shows obstructions it is normally used for crest checking etc, it has a similar module for driveway checking but it is limtied to a fixed cross section shape ie a car/truck, not a semi which bends in middle.

    I wrote my own vehicle checker which draws the vehicle along a path, you can see where it hits a surface, the secondary option to that would be add just that a second block that takes hitch point and center of rear wheels, ie a semi.

    It has been some time since I used Autoturn so don't know about 3D object support in checking.

    Veh check.png

    Oh yeah its a visual check which was adequate for us.