Point cloud reducing methods

Point cloud reducing (or downsampling) methods are data processing techniques that decrease the number of points in a 3D dataset. They are used to lower file sizes, ease rendering loads, and speed up BIM processing without losing the core geometric shape and details of the scanned object or environment.

Reduction Techniques
1. Random Sampling
You specify a certain number of points (or a percentage of the entire cloud).
The algorithm randomly selects and keeps exactly that many points or a specified percentage of the original cloud (e.g. 20%).
Best for cases where uniform density is not strictly required during scanning.

2. Spatial Decimation:
A tool used to reduce the density of a point cloud by enforcing a minimum 3D distance between points.
You specify a given distance threshold as the minimum distance.
The result is a downsampled point cloud where no two points are closer together than the specified value.
Best for cases where uniform density is required. Laser scanners naturally collect too many points near the sensor and fewer points further away. Spatial decimation removes this oversaturation, transforming an irregular data set into a homogeneous, regularly spaced point cloud.

Splitting a Point Cloud and Deleting a Part

Splitting a point cloud and deleting a part means dividing a point cloud into two parts and removing the unwanted data points.

Steps:
1. Select point cloud
2. Draw a 3D line through the target area.
3. Direction to view the remaining area. The software deletes points on the other side of the line.

Further Edit commands 

Rotate to Face

Automatically rotates the selected surface to the X direction.
This greatly simplifies the alignment and orientation of scanned buildings.

 Condensation of Points in a Selected Area

Increases the density of displayed points within a selected area in the floor plan or section view.

Result:

• more point cloud points become visible in the floor plan or section view,
• contours are easier to recognize,

• wall and object detection becomes more accurate.

   

Create Filters Assigned to Floors

The  Create Filters Assigned to Floors function automatically creates horizontal clipping filters for building levels.

After assigning building stories:

• each floor receives its own clipping plane,
• the clipping height is automatically calculated,
• the clipping thickness is also assigned automatically.

This feature:

• accelerates floor plan creation from point clouds,
• clearly separates building levels,
• improves the workflow of BIM modeling from scan data.

Point Cloud Recoloring

The appearance of the point cloud can be modified using several recoloring algorithms.

Available options include:

• restoring original colors,
• single-color display,
• intensity-based visualization,
• grayscale visualization,
• scalar field coloring.

These visualization methods:

• improve geometric readability,
• enhance visual clarity,
• support more accurate editing and analysis.

Point Cloud Properties in the Dashboard Panel

The Dashboard panel provides quick access to the most important point cloud properties and editing settings.

After selecting a point cloud, the Dashboard panel displays detailed information about the object.

Displayed properties include:

General

• visibility settings,
• display options on building floors.

Data

• file path,
• number of points,
• active filters,
• clipping plane visibility,
• filter region management.

Filter

• assigned floor filter,
• color mode selection,
• enlarged point size display.

Box Dimensions

• bounding box dimensions in X/Y/Z directions.

Global Box Center

• global center coordinates of the point cloud.