Importing Large Digitization Files

You can import and work with large terrain files (huge clouds of points).

Huge clouds of points are obtained after a photographic scanning recorded by a plane or a drone. The denser it is, the larger the file to import will be.

Only one representation reference for point cloud can be instantiated under a PLM Reference (product or part). When missing, the Import command handles the creation of this representation.

  1. In the Source area, select the file Format from the list (Ascii, XYZ, Lidar, PTX, PTS, E57).

    The batch import supports all these formats.

  2. In the Source box, choose whether a single file (File on disk) or all the files from a directory are to be imported (Directory on disk).
  3. Choose the Location and Filename of the file to be imported.

    You can select:

    • A single file by clicking File on disk.
    • Several files by clicking Directory on disk and all the clouds of points of this directory will be imported. The directory can contain files with different source Coordinate Reference System (CRS: coordinate system in which the points are defined. CRS must be a cartesian projection system).

    A preview displays information about the point coordinates, with the lower and upper point, and the span between points. A message in red may appear indicating that the point cloud is geolocated but the Coordinate Reference System reference is missing.

  4. In the Target area, if the Context (level in which the point cloud will be inserted) is not displayed, select it.
  5. To manage geolocation in destination structure, in the Referential box do either of the following:
    • Select Local: The Part in which the import is done is not geolocated. Then define the length Unit (meter, kilometer, etc.) in which the data are stored in the file.
    • Select the Coordinates Reference System (coordinate types) in which source data are expressed, from the list of the CRS saved in the database. It is automatically chosen when defined in the source file.

      You can provide a Coordinate Reference System in which the coordinates in the originating file are expressed (Source) as well as the Coordinate Reference System in which the coordinates will be converted in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform (Target). The Part object in which the import is done must be geolocated. The Unit is predefined.

      Note: When a CRS is selected for the source file but not for the target file (set as Local), a message may appear at the bottom of the import window, specifying that the selected file/directory (source) is geolocated, but not the product (target). In this case, select the same CRS in the Target Referential. Then another message explains that the parent product (context) will also be geolocated.
  6. Optional: Click to display the CRS information.
  7. Click Import.

    The conversion process starts and can take some time.

    When the conversion process ends:

    • A new representation reference for point cloud is added in the tree, at the same level as the 3D Shape. It contains the necessary information to retrieve the data stored in the directory or in the database after conversion. It cannot be UI Activated.

      When there is no parent product, the import command aborts and a message is displayed.

      When a read-only representation reference for point cloud already exists, you need to create a new revision and restart the import command.

      When a writable representation reference for point cloud already exists, it is replaced with the new one.

    • The point cloud is displayed in the 3D area. You cannot modify or activate it by double-clicking it, but you can navigate on the model by moving, rotating and zooming the viewpoint at the desired location as for any CAD model. In this case, the representation is part of a complete CAD structure, the large point cloud is visualized simultaneously with other CAD representations.
    • You can also measure the distance between two entities.

  8. Save your product.
    Several files have been generated on the local file system and act as a cache. When the save operation is triggered, all those files are sent to the database (if this option has been chosen). When data are opened next time, they are directly read from the cache (if present) and displayed without any additional action.
  9. To update a point cloud, relaunch the Import command in the context that already contains the PLM representation.

    When validating the import, a message prompts you to validate the replacement. The existing content of the representation is deleted and replaced by the result of the conversion of the newly selected point cloud. The previous content will be lost.

    If you want to keep track of previous content, create a new version of the representation and update the content of this new version. Two versions of the point cloud will coexist; choose the one you need in a given context.