Point Cloud Data missing after Point Cloud Terrain

[rjacksonNTGW2]

OK, I'm stuck here. I can't understand why this stuff is getting clipped out of my cloud model after running Point Cloud Terrain so that I can start doing some feature extraction. I've tried a number of settings in the extraction and always end up with some data clipped out.

Before PCT (Point cloud show in Intensity mode)

After PTC has run on the Point cloud

Notice that portions of the powerlines and the actual bridge itself are missing. I'm just trying to wrap my head around why this is happening. And I've tried this multiple times. Going so far as to re-importing my LAS file into Recap. Making all the necessary edits to remove data from the cloud (water points mostly). And I still get clips each time in a different location to a different extent.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. I'm at a loss as to why this is happening.

[Karsten.Saenger · Accepted solution]

Hi @rjacksonNTGW2 ,

please keep in minf that the point cloud terrain feature is designed and optimize in filters to create terrain surfaces. You are trying to create a bridge and powerlines for terrain. I'm pretty sure that won't works as you want. 

Also, a terrain in InfraWorks is ground surface where other features can be draped on. Are powerlines "terrain"?

What is the final goal? Do you want a point cloud of a bridge in your InfraWorks model as a 3D model?

If yes, have you tried the "scan to mesh" function in Recap Pro?

Regards,

Karsten.

[rl_jackson]

Thanks for the reply @Karsten.Saenger, I'd come to that deduction after multiple attempts. This is the first time I've had a bridge within the point cloud, so it was something a little new to me. The power lines are of some concern but due to their proximity to what I was really interested in, a 30" Water Main that's attached to the bridge. I'm going to look into the mesh as an option for that and the power lines, however I'm not sure we have enough from our lidar cloud to handle that even in the mesh form, but it's worth a shot.

I will say that the terrain model that I created for the north and south sides of the bridge came out very nicely using the linear feature and setting up a traverse line with sections every 25' and 5' spots along the line for the 2000' feet of roadway, and I'll probably delete the cloud points for the bridge on the next project just to remove that from the equation. So, it wasn't IW that was doing anything wrong it was the space between the mouse and the keyboard.