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How to import Point Cloud Models on the Sphere XG Viewer

Learn more about how to manually upload Point Clouds to your Sphere XG project in the viewer.

Anna-Azize Adami avatar
Written by Anna-Azize Adami
Updated over 2 months ago

After you have added a sheet, you can import and manually align a point cloud. If you import more than one point cloud into your project, you can also register point clouds with a pairwise registration.

Learn more on

  • How to import a point cloud.
    If you have already uploaded a 3D model and your point cloud has already been aligned to this 3D model outside Sphere XG, you can check this information during the import. In this case, you do not need to align the point cloud.

  • How to align the point cloud to a sheet.

  • How to import a 3D Model.

You can upload the following point cloud types.

  • .laz: Compressed version of a .las file that can be easily stored and shared.

  • .e57: Vendor-neutral format for storing 3D data. For more detailed information refer to www.libe57.org or www.astm.org/Standards/E2807.htm. Note that only the point cloud can be uploaded. Other data, such as panorama images will not be uploaded.

  • .cpe: FARO proprietary compressed format.

  • .geoslam: Connect proprietary format for datasets.


Import a Point Cloud

After you have added a sheet or grid to your project, you can upload point clouds from your computer. For information on importing a 3D model see here [article coming soon].

You can import more than one point cloud into your project and you can also mix different point cloud types and 3D models. Note however, that you can only select one point cloud or 3D model at a time, i.e. you will have to repeat the procedure described below for each point cloud or 3D model.

IMPORTANT

The maximum file size of the point cloud is 50GB.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Click button Import Data in the top right corner of the Sphere XG Viewer.

  2. In the popup, click entry Upload from your computer in the section Point Clouds.
    A file selection window is opened. You can select file types .laz, .e57, .cpe and .geoslam.

    The maximum file size of the point cloud is 50GB.

  3. Select the point cloud you want from the file system and confirm.
    The following popup is displayed.

    Pop-up for importing a new point cloud on the FARO Sphere XG Viewer

  4. If required, change the name of the point cloud.

  5. Select a date and time in field Time Point.
    You can set the date and time when the point cloud was actually captured. This is useful, if you want to use the time travel feature in the 2D, 3D or walk mode view, see for example the explanations in Tab Capture: 3D View.

  6. If the project contains more than one sheet, select the sheet you want in field Associated Shield.
    Otherwise, the sheet is only displayed in this field.

  7. Mark checkbox Point cloud is georeferenced if the point cloud has been previously aligned to a 3D model which you have already imported.
    In this case, the point cloud is imported in the same coordinate system as the 3D Model, i.e. the point cloud will already be aligned.

  8. Click button Import to start the point cloud import.


The point cloud is being uploaded and processed. The cloud icon at the top right corner of the screen indicates the progress with a blue progress wheel, for example .

Clicking this icon opens a popup showing current and recent importing and exporting procedures.

IMPORTANT

Uploading and processing may take some time. You can continue to work in the Sphere XG Viewer. Leave the browser window or tab open until the import is finished. Otherwise, all progress will be lost.

When the procedure is finished, the point cloud is displayed in the project structure view on tab Capture with an icon, indicating that the point cloud must be aligned to the sheet.

If you have uploaded a previously georeferenced point cloud, it is displayed in the project structure view with icon .


If you want to read this article in a different language currently not available in this Help Center, please refer to the Sphere XG User Manuel here under .

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