Converting points to 3D Solid Model

[awhall27]

I have a massive CSV file with thousands of spatial points (x,y,z), which I loaded into AutoCad. But now I have a struggle to connect these points to create a large solid 3D model. I can do these manually but it will take me hours to connect these. Is there no easy way to connect these points and convert them to a solid smooth 3D model?

The points represent an orebody and thus representing it in 3D is essential.

Below is a screenshot of the points I uploaded into AutoCad.

Thank you.

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> convert them to a solid smooth 3D model?

AutoCAD itself can't create a 3D-Solid or a surface from point clouds, you might try >>>MeshLab<<< to create a triangulated surface from your points, but that is just a surface, not a 3D-Solid. For AutoCAD it's hard to create 3D-Solids from a mass of points usually used in pointclouds.

What is the need to get a 3D-Solid from these points?

- alfred -

[awhall27]

Hi

Thanks Alfred. Typically in the mining industry you normally get massive CSV files which contain spatial points. These points represent block models obtained from exploration drilling. They also contain other information such as the grade of the ore and what type of ore. 

So when you design a mine you take these points and create a spatial demonstration of the orebody so that you can start with the layout and design of the mine. For instance where will your shaft or decline be, etc. So I maybe thought that I will be able to use AutoCad to create an orebody.

Thanks for the help.

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> Typically in the mining industry you normally get massive CSV files which contain spatial points.

>> These points represent block models obtained from exploration drilling.

I guess AutoCAD Civil 3D would then be the better choice (compared to plain AutoCAD) as this can handle different surfaces based on points plus it has a separate geotechnical module built in, which sounds usable for your request.

- alfred -

[ryan_liebscher]

So was this figured out?  I too am struggling to create a solid using points imported from a .CSV...the only way is to create a surface and than convert that surface into a solid, right?

[Anonymous]

We are facing a similar dilemma at our small process design firm.  We often retrofit and expand existing production facilities for the grain milling, mining and refining industries. To accurately capture all of the existing equipment, process ductwork, electrical, piping, platforms and other architectural and structural components inside these facilities we employ the use of point clouds. Often these scans inside the plant span several floors or cover the entire plant from end to end capturing every detail down to the logo on the equipment.

For means of completeness, accuracy, time and money...the use of scanned point clouds vs. sending 2 guys in the field for days with a tape and a camera is absolutely monumental. This is especially true when our clients are often hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles from our office.  However, being a small firm of 5 people (3 of which can proficiently create 3D solid models) you can only imagine the daunting task to MANUALLY model every single object from a point cloud. You must constantly crop the point clouds, isolate objects and change your UCS and views which makes it beyond tedious and very hard on the eyes. We do try to accurately model the existing equipment from vendor supplied 2D drawings whenever possible but it is still a long and extremely tedious process to model these objects from the cloud.  Let's just say that the complex models we produce for our clients and for internal design use are beyond impressive from our small and talented group.

Given this I often think...

IF ONLY THERE WERE A WAY TO TURN POINT CLOUDS INTO 3D SOLID OBJECTS WITH THE CLICK OF A BUTTON...IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE!!!!

Even if you had to isolate one object at a time and do minor cleanups the manual effort and time saved would be the biggest revolution to the CAD industry in my 25 year career as a designer. The great minds at Autodesk will hopefully figure this out sooner rather than later.

[martin.basa]

Hello , 

I have similar problem as  dzine14u   I work for small company - we work in papermills, until today we took measurments with tape and camer on filed  - for several days. 

And  today we decide to buy laser scener. But we  did't found  or decide  for softwear to make models ( solids ) from point clouds. 

Do you have any suggestion where to look ? 

BR Martin  

[Anonymous]

BR Martin,



We still do all of our modeling from the point cloud manually. There are a
few software companies making strides on automatic digital modeling from
point clouds but have not seen them in action. Whatever may be out there
will only get better in time.



Chuck

[metra-lee]

I am still having exactly the same problem.

Has anyone found a solution to this yet, or in fact anyway at all of getting around this.

I agree, this would be the greatest break through in Autocad since the invention of the mouse. 🤔

[ryan_liebscher]

I don't see why you couldn't create a Tin surface with the point file and then extract a solid from the surface...I know this is a feature one can perform using C3D.  

[Bennykr]

Hi guys,

This is an old conversation, but if you still struggle and need a solution - we have it.

We are a Platinum Partner of Autodesk and developed a product that can convert a point cloud into solid in plain AutoCAD.

If you need more insight, we'll be happy to discuss it further.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

please show us the product, show a video so we can see what your product is able to do.

Additional needs by default is not just a surface like used in Civil 3D, but also point-clouds from buildings, so with vertical surfaces too (which Civil 3D can't do).

- alfred -

[Bennykr]

Hi Alfred,

See the following video clip: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3us79Zrrhg

It show a conversion from Point Clouds of Corridor, Concrete base, Archaeological site, Temple to Solid in AutoCAD.

We'll be happy to set up an online meeting to discuss it further.

Benny

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

thank you for this video, am I correct that this first creates surfaces from the pointcloud and then extrudes the surfaces with a minimal amount? At least it looks like that in the last of the samples.

What I can't see (not sure if it's the video quality or it's not part of the 3D-Solid):

In the sample starting at time 1:11 there exists a tunnel in the pointcloud, but later in the 3D-Solid I can't see this tunnel any more.

In the last sample I can see windows (openings) as well as in the roof. After conversion to 3D-Solid I can't see the roof and can't see "holes" for the openings (this is why I think it's build a surface and than with just a minimal thickness a 3D-Solid).

But looks promising 😉

- alfred -

[Bennykr]

Hi Alfred,

See below a few other video clips with additional models.

I suggest an online meeting (next week?) to answer your questions and show you our capabilities.

Geo 3D - Convert Point Cloud of Land surface to Solid, 3DFaces or Points

https://youtu.be/-OTF1oC8H1s

Geo 3D – Convert Point Clouds of Corridor, Concrete base, Archaeological site, Temple to Solid

https://youtu.be/d3us79Zrrhg

Geo 3D - Projection 2D map of junction onto Point Cloud

https://youtu.be/5bWGmJzctII

Geo 3D - Projection Border stone and Points onto Point Cloud

https://youtu.be/oN64k5EsHTY

Geo 3D - Create solid of tunnel by sections

https://youtu.be/nuFvLEFsgqQ

Best regards,

Benny

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

thank you for your additional videos!

As requested above ... it looks like just the top surface is first facetted then extruded or vertically connected.

E.g. in the second video I can see this from the pointcloud:

...and this as 3D-Solid:

Which shows that 3D-Solids are created at locations where pointclouds don't have points. The vertical surface does not exist.

Anyway, it looks great.

- alfred -