Creating a Good Topographic Map From Point Cloud

[MadoreJacob]

Hey guys,

I'm normally a mechanical guy but I'm in the process of obtaining permits for a garage at home and I've created a point cloud of the property with my drone.

My goal with this is to create a topographic map of the current land and show how and where I plan to locate the main road, garage, parking, as well as a water drainage plan etc...

I created a surface from the point cloud and it just creates a poor topo, not clear at all what is going on. See attached photo. The second photo shows the elevations from ReCap (empty spots are trees).

Can you guys offer any insight on the best way to go about this? Ideally, I'd like nice contour lines.

[fcernst]

You need to hire a surveyor to create a topographic/boundary survey for a grading and drainage permit…LiDAR doesn’t meet industry standards for this engineering work. 

it’s ok for conceptual layout

[MadoreJacob]

Actually, I will be okay to do it myself, the city doesn't require much...

I can provide a hand sketch if I want, I'm just going into extra detail so we don't have any hiccups if they ask any questions.

Also, this isn't Lidar... It's a photo mesh.

Do you have any insight on my original question?

[fcernst]

Yes, hire a Professional Civil Engineer to create your grading and drainage plan. 

This is required in most jurisdictions by Land Use code. 

It will save you a lot of foundation and site drainage problems.. and heartache for many years going forward. 

And your wife won’t blame and hate you so much for it. 

[MadoreJacob]

Do you have a solution for my question regarding Civil 3D?

I am personally a mechanical engineer but I have civil engineers working with me and I will be consulting them for advice  on the matter, I'm trying to learn. My question is regarding the software, not what you suppose my land code will require.

Do you have an answer for the software?

[fcernst]

Scans inherently make squiggly contours due to the amount of data points used for triangulation. 

You can try decimating your Point Cloud

https://wrw.is/decimating-a-point-cloud-in-recap-for-use-in-revizto/

Your drone software may have good or bad decimating  capabilities also. 

Then once you are “comfortable” with  the data you can try Surface Smoothing on the C3D surface to try and create pretty contours. 

But now who knows what you have.. and your accuracy definitely doesn’t meet industry standards. 

[MadoreJacob]

The land is 1.5 acres and situated on a major waterway, you don't need to be a genius to know where the water will go.

Like I said; three times now, don't worry about industry standards, I need help with the software.