leica cloudworx 4.0 for microstation - section i - basic commands

Leica CloudWorx 4.0 Tutorial-Section I High-Definition Surveying

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Leica Geosystems HDS

Welcome to CloudWorx 4.0 Tutorials CloudWorx is the high-performance point cloud solution that enables you to load, render, analyze and extract information from high-definition surveying (HDS) ‘point cloud’ data in MicroStation ®. The enhanced functions allow you to:

View millions of points within your MicroStation environment

View proposed construction over existing conditions

Model proposed construction over existing conditions to meet and exceed clearances and specifications

Create maps with the functionality of your MicroStation commands

For in-depth explanations and definitions on High Definition Surveying terms, please refer to the CloudWorx Online Help files and user manuals. These CloudWorx Tutorials assume you are familiar with MicroStation software.

Section I - Using Leica CloudWorx Basic Commands The database I30_I45.imp, located on the CD, is provided for use with this Section. All Tutorial files and databases can also be downloaded from the Leica HDS web site. This Section describes the basic loading and viewing point cloud tools offered in Leica CloudWorx 4.0. More specifically, this Section shows how to:

Initialize CloudWorx

Configure a database

Load a ModelSpace (3D point cloud)

Hide Regions

Create section views

Create slices


Leica Geosystems HDS of 6


Initializing Leica CloudWorx 4.0 1. Select Utilities | MDL Applications

2. In the Available Application window, highlight CloudWorx (CloudWorx.ma) and click Load

CloudWorx is now loaded, providing you with an extra menu bar and pullouts.

Configure Database Databases to be configured exist on disk as files, with names ending in the .imp extension. Before beginning, ensure that you have write permission for this database (that it is not read-only). Configuring a database establishes a connection with the Cyclone database and point cloud engine.

1. Save file I30_I45.imp located on the Cyclone CD to your hard drive under C:\Program Files\Leica Geosystems\Cyclone\Databases.

2. Check that the local copy of the database file is not read-only.

3. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Configure Database

4. Expand the Servers folder and highlight the existing server (by default this is your computer).

5. Click the Databases… button in the Configure Databases dialog

6. Click the Add… button in the Configure Databases on [Server Name] dialog

7. Click the “…” button next to the Database Filename field

8. Browse to the location of the I30_I45.imp database file

9. Click Open when the file I30_I45.imp file has been located and highlighted

10. Click OK in the Add Database dialog

11. Click Close in the Configure Databases on [Server Name] dialog

12. Click Close in the Configure Databases dialog




Load ModelSpace View Once a database is configured, the point cloud data in the database is available for loading.

1. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Open ModelSpace View…

2. In Open ModelSpace View Dialog, click the “…” button

3. In Select ModelSpace View dialog, expand the Project hierarchy by clicking the plus signs next to the appropriate objects as shown in Figure 1.

4. Once ModelSpace 1 View 1 is highlighted, click Open

5. In the Open ModelSpace View dialog, make sure the unit is meters (or select the units that match the working units in the MicroStation design file).

6. The data has been stored in a different ACS, which is UCS1. Double click UCS1 to load the data. A status window will appear and show the loading process.

7. Using the navigation tools under each view window, zoom into the central part of the scans representing the roadways.

8. Select CloudWorx | Regenerate Point Clouds. Your screen should resemble Figure 2.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.




Hide Regions Hide Regions are defined through the fence object. CloudWorx commands are then invoked to hide points that are outside or inside the specified areas.

1. Using the MicroStation Place Fence command, create a box fence in the Top View encompassing the east part of the Interchange.

2. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Hide/Restore Point Cloud | Hide Outside

3. The extraneous data is now hidden from view. Your screen should resemble Figure 3.

4. Select the Right View to define another area of the interchange. Hide everything except for the southern part. Use the MicroStation Fence command together with Applications | CloudWorx | Hide/Restore Point Cloud | Hide Outside. Your screen should now resemble Figure 4.

5. In the Right Viewport, zoom closer to the overpass. Draw a shaped fence around the street level. Use the Hide/Restore Point Cloud | Hide Outside command.

Figure 4. Figure 3.




Clipping Point Cloud Data Leica CloudWorx 4.0 also supports various ways of cutting through the cloud of points based on ACS or View axes. This feature enables you to view only sections or slices of the whole cloud. Clipping operations are managed in the Cutplane Manager.

Section Views The Clip Point Cloud | Section View command allows you to define a plane in 3D and then only display points to one side of this view. Use these commands to clip the two upper Overpasses (out of the three) from view.

1. Set up your views so that you are viewing your scene in Top and in Right View

2. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Clip Point Cloud | Section View

3. In the Define Section View window, define the alignment as “Align to ACS” and the direction as “-Z”

4. Working in the Right View, define the section cut by placing the cursor just above the lowest overpass

5. You can view all the clipped points again using the command Applications | CloudWorx | Clip Point Cloud | Reset Clipping

Slices The Clip Point Cloud | Slice command allows you to define two parallel planes in 3D and then clip the points outside these planes, resulting in a controlled cross-section view of the point cloud. Use these commands to create a slice representing a part of the Highway. First, use the Hide Regions Manager and the Cutplane Manager to turn on all your previously created hidden regions and sections.

1. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Hide/Restor Point Cloud | Hide regions Manager…

2. Uncheck the check marks under State

3. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Clip Point Cloud | Cutplane Manager…

4. Uncheck the check mark under State. All Points should be visible now

5. Select Applications | CloudWorx | Clip Point Cloud | Slice

6. In the Define Section View window, define the alignment as “Align to View” and the direction as “X axis”

7. The last settings made in this interface is stored. Working in the Top View, try to set the Indicator lines similar to those shown in Figure 5.

8. Once the plane is locked in place, another line is now attached to your cursor, representing the second Cutplane. Place this at a small interval above the first plane

5. Use the Slice Forward command to move the slice up along the positive direction of the axis, or the Slice Backward to move the slice along the negative direction of the axis.

6. The Cutplane is saved in the Cutplane Manager




Figure 5.

These are some of the viewing and point cloud manipulation tools available in CloudWorx 4.0 Section I. In Sections II and III of these Tutorials, further point cloud viewing techniques as well as instructions on advanced Commands/Cyclone interaction are addressed.

First indicator line

Second indicator line

leica cloudworx 4.0 for microstation - section i - basic commands

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