Create Mesh or Solids From Point Cloud Video Tutorials

Question

OpenBuildings designer CONNECT - Version 10.07.00.105 
 
 Hi All, 
 Happy new year 
 I have just received point cloud data from surveyors for a complex rail infrastructure. I need to urgently convert this point cloud to AEC solids in its entirety 
 I specifically need video tutorials links from the learn server or SIG demonstrating how to simply create AEC/AECOsim solids from point cloud. 
 I would really appreciate these links if you have stumbled on anyone in the past 
 Thank you

dominic SEAH · Accepted Answer

Hi Henry, 
 Interesting question! I am not sure any of the AI solutions are ready at this point. Probably soon. A lot of AI etc has been thrown at getting driverless cars to work. 3d mapping also a big driver. 
 As mentioned, Bentley has also hooked up some AI as part of ContextCapture Insights . But this is based on photographic data. Apparently AI works better with pictures compared to point clouds. 
 I think that most Scan2BIM packages use a user-guided workflow where the user gives the app some hints by identifiying what the base shape or feature is and tries to fit a geometric shape to the local volume of the point cloud. I think this Korean firm PointShape has some great tools where the user identifies some windows and the facade plane and the app tries to find the rest. Similarly, stanchions on a bridge. Pipng . Etc. They have an addin for Mstn V8i. German firm Phidias takes a simiar approach. It would be good to throw some Mstn custom their way. 
 If that's too expensive, I think that Descartes is available as a companion to OBD, and should give you some basic feature vectorisation / sectioning tools. 
 Most people doing Scan2BIM also convert their PCs to meshes or the new reality meshes as soon as they can to keep things speedy. PCs look great in the animations but are a pain to work with even on 64bit. You will need to chop them up in to a lot of small chunks if you are modeling with them Ref attached. 
 I think that solids as a final deliverable will also be a challenge without some As-builts drawings or CAD info. Surfaces or meshes are more common. 
 Mstn is a great platform for Scan2BIM. But Bentley seems to be focused on the large scale, aerial, inspections, digital twin markets. This has brought a lot of tools like media fusion (photos, point clouds, meshes, reality meshes, vector, raster... all on one platform and available on all kinds of devices). OTOH, all this tech does not seem to be present or connected very well to Mstn modeling or modeler's world.... yet? 
 
 HTH

Marc Thomas · Answer

contextcapture point cloud - YouTube has a few potentially useful results.

Create Mesh or Solids From Point Cloud Video Tutorials

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