Trouble create point cloud, convert .rcs to .las

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I'm having trouble creating a point cloud in Civil 3D. I got a whole bunch of .RCS files from which I like to create a surface. By my knowledge there are 2 ways of doing this:

- In Recap use the function create mesh, however this won't do because the maximum size can be no more than 30 meters. My project is a large multitude of that distance.

- In Civil 3D, create a point cloud and add these points to a surface. However the delivered files are .RCS, which can be attached with "Pointcloudattach" but can not be added to a Point cloud in the prospecter, and thus can not be added to a surface. 

Does anyone know how to export the .rcs files to a format which Civil3D can create a pointcloud with (Preferably a .LAS file)? A method or (free) program would be much appreciated. 

Tried solutions: Recap export has one file format which can be attached to a point cloud in Civil3D, this is a .PTS file, I have tried this, but almost all points are lost when exporting to this format, and loading it in in Civil 3D. 

I'm hoping you guys can help me.

Regards,

Peter

[Pointdump]

Peter,

I haven't used ReCap much, but can't it make a Point Cloud DataBase usable in C3D?

Please post some of your RCS files. (You might need to Zippola them to post.)

Dave

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply, For as far I can tell the workable formats in C3D are: LAS, XYB, FLS, FWS, XYZ, TXT, ASC, PTG, PTS, PTX, CLR, and CL3. The only common denominator between Recap and C3D is PTS, but I've tried this and almost all points are lost in the transition of exporting to .PTS and importing .PTS in C3D, so it's no soluation. 

I have attached one RCS file, please let me know if you manage to convert it.

Regards,

Peter

[Pointdump · Accepted solution]

Peter,

C3D is chewing on things as we speak.

Dave

[Pointdump · Accepted solution]

Creating a Surface from this RCS file might (will) be problematic because of vertical faces. And to speed things up you should specify a Point Cloud Style and Surface Style of "Border Only". (I forgot to do that, so C3D is spinning right now.

Dave

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your elaboration. I had missed that function in total. This should get me further, thank you!

[Pointdump]

Peter,

I don't think that RCS file will be useful for creating a surface. With a LAS file you can filter ground points, but I don't know how to do that with this RCS file.

My drawing size is 119.7 MB, so I can't post it here. (Forum limit is 75 MB.) So here's a temporary link to <<<DropCanvas>>>.

Dave

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to convert a .rcs file to a .las file?

[Pointdump]

Peter,

"Is there a way to convert a .rcs file to a .las file?"

Possibly in ReCap, but I never warmed up to that program, so I don't know. I've been nosing around for a third party program, but I haven't found anything that will accept the RCS format.

Dave

[Anonymous]

Dave,

Unfortunately I have not found this option in Recap. And have not found a third party progam either. Thanks for your time.

[dgorsman]

Given that an RCS file is only created from a scan data source, rather than trying to double-convert (original format to RCS, RCS to LAS) it would be better all 'round to get the original scan data and try to work with it directly or convert it once to something that can be used.

[Anonymous]

It is better to convert from the original files, but sometimes you just have the .rcs and nees to convert to another file. 

It would be great to be able to convert from .rcs to .las, but as I have read here it is not possible. I was wondering then if someone knows a way to convert from .fls to .las or what intermidate step I should do?

Thank you in advance

[geert_drijfhout]

I used Recap -> export to e57 -> import in CloudCompare -> Export to las. Where CloudCompare is free as far as I know.

[Anonymous]

hi,

i'm doing the same as you were. I've already exported the e57 file and imported it into Cloudcompare.

But i cannot convert it into .las file, the export file formats dont include .las, like the photo below.

Do you know why? Could you pleae tell me how to convert to .las in Cloudcompare. Thanks in advance!

[geert_drijfhout]

Maybe you used a different version of CC? I'm using 2.12 alpha and here is my exportsetting (only applicable to clouds in CC).

[toantrungthach]

Recap -> export to e57 -> import in CloudCompare -> Export to las. Where CloudCompare is free as far as I know.
↑↑↑
excuse me.
When converting like that, the coordinates are still guaranteed to be the same.

[toantrungthach]

Recap -> export to e57 -> import in CloudCompare -> Export to las.

↑↑↑

excuse me.
When converting like that, the coordinates are still guaranteed to be the same.