Point Cloud
This document explains how to view point cloud data in the viewport.
A Point Cloud is 3D point data acquired from 3D scanners or LiDAR.
It records the shape of building interiors and exteriors with precision and is used as reference material when drawing shapes based on real spaces.
Finding Point Cloud Data
In AMapper For ARC eye, point cloud data is already loaded for each Location. You can view it immediately without any additional setup.
You can find point cloud items in the provided Reference Stage.
- Find the Reference Stage in the left Hierarchy Panel.
- Check the PointCloud underneath.
- Toggle visibility with the Visibility Toggle icon.
Checking Point Cloud Information
You can check the current point cloud status in the bottom status bar.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Depth | Current depth level limit applied |
| Points | Number of points currently being rendered |
| Nodes | Loaded nodes / Marked nodes |
Detailed View (Increasing Depth Level)
Point clouds are displayed at a low depth level by default (default: 2).
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Z | Increase depth level limit by 1 (max 6) |
- Increasing the depth level loads more detailed points, allowing you to see finer shapes.
- When moving or zooming the viewport, it automatically switches to a lower depth level.
Point cloud data consists of millions to hundreds of millions of points. Rendering all points simultaneously would cause:
- Performance degradation - GPU memory and rendering performance would be strained.
- Network load - Loading large amounts of data takes time.
Therefore, press Z only when needed for detailed viewing, and the system automatically switches to a simplified view during viewport operations.
Adjusting Point Cloud Properties
Select the PointCloud to adjust various display options in the right Properties Panel.
Adjusting settings to match your work environment enables more accurate reference when drawing shapes.
Transform
Configure the point cloud's coordinate system.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Coordinate System | Specify the coordinate system of the point cloud data. |
Coordinate System
AMapper's default coordinate system is Right-handed, Y-Up. If the point cloud data's original coordinate system differs, you can select the correct coordinate system to convert it.
| Coordinate System Example | Description |
|---|---|
| Left-handed, Y-Up | Unity coordinate system |
| Left-handed, Z-Up | Unreal Engine coordinate system |
| Right-handed, Y-Up | AMapper default, Maya, Houdini coordinate system |
| Right-handed, Z-Up | 3DS Max, Blender, AutoCAD, SketchUp coordinate system |
In AMapper For ARC eye, the point cloud coordinate system is already aligned at conversion time, so no adjustment is needed.
However, if the point cloud appears flipped or rotated, the original data's coordinate system may be different, so check this setting.
Material
| Property | Description | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Adjust point size. | 1 ~ 4 |
| Opacity | Adjust point opacity. | 0 ~ 1 |
| Color | Specify point color. | - |
| Vertex Colors | Enable/disable original point cloud colors. | On / Off |
| Depth Test | Enable/disable depth testing. | On / Off |
| Depth Write | Enable/disable depth buffer writing. | On / Off |
Size
Adjust the display size of points on screen. (1 ~ 4)
- Small setting (1~2) - Useful for viewing fine outlines like walls and pillars. You can draw shape boundaries more accurately.
- Large setting (3~4) - Useful for understanding overall spatial shapes. Appears as a continuous surface without gaps.
For precise shape drawing, set Size low. The spacing between points becomes visible, allowing you to more accurately identify wall positions.
Opacity
Adjust point opacity. (0 ~ 1)
- Low setting - Point cloud appears transparent, making shapes being drawn more visible.
- High setting - Point cloud appears clearly, useful for checking spatial details.
When drawing shapes, lower the Opacity to view both the shape being drawn and the point cloud simultaneously. Increase it again when you need to check the shape.
Vertex Colors
Enable/disable the original RGB colors included in the point cloud data.
- On - Displays in actual colors captured during scanning. Useful for checking spatial materials and colors.
- Off - Displays in a single color specified in the Color property. Useful when distinction from shapes is needed.
Depth Test / Depth Write
Configure 3D rendering depth processing.
- Depth Test - Handles occlusion through depth comparison with other objects.
- Depth Write - Records point cloud depth information to the buffer.
For typical work, keeping the default values is recommended. Adjust if shapes are occluded by the point cloud.
Layer Type Toggle
Quickly toggle point cloud layer visibility using the toggle button on the right side of the status bar.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Point Cloud Layer Visibility (1) toggle |