Working with LiDAR Data

This section covers how to show, navigate to, and remove LiDAR data from the terrain and your project.

Showing a LiDAR Point Cloud on the Terrain

A LiDAR can be shown on the terrain to see if it fits with the project's photos, other LiDAR, ground control points, etc.

Note:    The LiDAR data's proper alignment with the project's photos can be verified and corrected using ground control points and through projection of the photos on the LiDARs. See "Projecting a Photo on the Terrain" in the "Preparing the Project" chapter and "Creating Ground Control Points from Identifiable Locations on the Terrain" in the "Control Points" chapter for more information.

To show a LiDAR on the terrain:

1.      In the Project Panel select the LiDARs group, and then in the LiDARs list, select the Point Cloud check box for each of the LiDARs you want to display. The LiDAR (contextual) tab is displayed.

Note:       If a particular LiDAR wasn’t converted previously to CPT, PhotoMesh’s internal format, it will first be converted and then shown on the terrain.

Note:       If you want to show more than one LiDAR point cloud on the terrain, it is generally recommended to build the project, performing only the Data Preparation step since the conversion to CPT performed via View > Point Cloud may take a long time.

2.      If you want to show a LiDAR's trajectory data, select the LiDAR and then on the LiDAR tab, in the View group, toggle on Trajectory.

3.      If you want to hide a LiDAR’s bounding box, select the LiDAR and then on the LiDAR tab, in the View group, toggle off Bounding Box.

Navigating to a LiDAR

To fly or jump to a LiDAR:

1.      In the Project Panel select the LiDARs group, and then in the LiDARs list, select the required LiDAR.

2.      On the LiDAR tab, in the Navigation group, select Fly to/ Jump to.

Excluding a LiDAR File

To exclude a LiDAR file from the project:

1.      In the Project Panel select the LiDARs group, and then in the LiDARs list, select the required LiDAR.

2.      On the LiDAR tab, in the Selection group, click Exclude. You can also exclude a LiDAR by selecting its Excluded check box in the LiDARs list.

Deleting a LiDAR File

To delete a LiDAR from the project:

1.      In the Project Panel select the LiDARs group, and then in the LiDARs list, select the required LiDAR.

2.      On the LiDAR tab, in the Selection group, click Delete. The LiDAR is deleted from the LiDARs list.