The User-Friendly Point Cloud

Now that the term point cloud has been made a part of our every day language in the AEC world, we are starting to see scanner independent applications pop up on the virtual shelves... free and not so free.

One that I like in particular because it's FREE is PointCloud by kubit.  This gives you some of the same basic functionality as software that comes with the scanner.  Nice thing about this is that you can get a point cloud from a subcontractor running practically any type of scanning device and validate it in your own AutoCAD environment.  With PointCloud, you can manage more than one point cloud in one drawing file, slice through a point cloud using any planar orientation, and create profiles by snapping to the pertinent points.  You can control point cloud density and go from kubit to AutoCAD point cloud rather easily.

As you start building your momentum working with point clouds, you will want to upgrade to more sophisticated tools since point clouds can be collected rather quickly and the resulting product is a 3-dimensional representation of the subject within a few millimeters accuracy.   Since I am on the subject, the next step in the kubit family is PointCloud Pro, not so free.  With PointCloud Pro, you can run a clash detection of a proposed structure against existing in the point cloud.  You can also use the high resolution photography picked up by the scanner to define some of the finer detail of the point cloud thereby making your resulting vector drawing more precise.  By selecting areas or points on piping in the point cloud, you can generate cylinders, fittings, and pipe runs which could represent plant piping.  And used inside AutoCAD Plant 3D, this tool will make you one of the greatest super heroes of all time.

For more information on kubit and to become involved in their beta program, email info@kubitusa.com.  

Check out the following video from YouTube if you have time:

 

kubitTV:  "November 22, 2010:  Determining routing lines from kubit PointCloud's traditional cylinder and centerline method and using these routing lines to create intelligent pipe runs. Keep your eyes open for what's next in our near future ;)."

 

*Note to Everyone:  I do not work for nor get any compensation from kubit so therefore I am posting this because I truly like this concept.