How to setup project Coordinate System in ReCap

[rjames94]

I'm trying to project my point cloud to the correct coordinate system through Recap but it's not coming in the right spot when imported into Civil 3D. I used to use Civil 3D 2017 to import point clouds but they have since removed the point cloud function. Here's a screenshot of the coordinate system settings I used to get it project to the correct position in Civil 3D 2017. From looking at these settings, what would I plug into Recap to get it to be in the correct coordinate system? 

[rjames94]

Any suggestions for settings to use in Recap?

[anil_mistry]

Hi @rjames94,

Thank you for participating in our Community! A variety of settings can be applied before the project is indexed and finalized into the unified point cloud. These can accessed from the Settings tab at any time during the project creation process.

Coordinate System

Aligns the point cloud with a specific EPSG coordinate reference system.

To search for a specific coordinate system, click in the Coordinate System Current box under Advanced and enter a few letters of the name, description, or EPSG code.

The results for all matching categories are displayed in the list.

Select a new target coordinate system from the list and click OK.

Please, click this link to learn more about above mentions Scan Project Settings. 

Let me know if this helps.

Thank you and have a great day!

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[anil_mistry]

Hi @rjames94,

I'm just checking in again to see if you need more help with this. Did the suggestion I provided yesterday work for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[rjames94]

Thanks the link helped me understand some of the other settings. But I'm having a projection issue, I've tried multiple "current" & "target" coordinate systems and it still won't import into Civil 3D in the correct spot. The point cloud I'm importing into Recap is in the UTM84-18N (meters) coordinate system and I need it to be in the Maryland NAD83 US Foot coordinate system. The screenshot from my original post shows the setting I used in Civil 3D 2017 that projected it into the correct coordinate system. So basically I need to reflect those Civil 3D 2017 settings to Recap to import into Civil 3D 2019 but all the different coordinate systems I've tried so far have not been working. Do I need to set a coordinate system with Civil 3D as well or no? I just don't know what else to try. Interested in hearing your thoughts and suggestions.

Here's a screenshot of the coordinate system settings of the point cloud I imported.

[skerbyA6V5T]

Did you find a resolution to your problem? I recently upgraded from C3D 2017 to 2019, and I am having the same issue with Arkansas CS. 

[russ9V97S]

I am also having the same problem.

I'm trying to import NH Lidar. In recap the coordinates and elevations are numerically in feet, but the  xyz pane indicates that they are in meters.

No matter what combination I use to change current and target coordinate system, when I import into civil3d 2019 the point cloud gets moved/scaled by the 3.280833.. factor in all xyz directions.

Any ideas?

[mahung · Accepted solution]

Searching through the forum you'll see this has been a ReCap problem for a few years. Evidently, ReCap internally works in the metric system (which frankly doesn't make sense - units don't really matter unless you're working in mixed units (ft-in) or converting between units).

I just encountered this problem with LiDAR data and this is what I've found using ReCap Pro v5.x with Survey Ft coordinates:

(1) If you want to create an .rcp file that maintains the original non-metric coordinates, be sure to set both source and target system/units to the system/units used by the LiDAR file before you import the files.

(2) If you want to generate a points (.pts) file that uses the same system/units as the LiDAR file,  leave the source and target systems blank. Decimal coordinates in will be same decimal coordinates out. ReCap will display the coordinates with meter units but the coordinate values  themselves will still be correct in the context of the LiDAR data.

(3) In ReCap, the system/units set in Settings | General are only for display purposes - it does not affect import or export coordinates.

(4) Be sure to do this whether you're using .rcp or .pts: In Civil 3D, set the drawing coordinate system/units to the LiDAR system/units before attaching the .rcp or attaching/importing the .pts file. When you attach the .rcp  or .pts file, you'll tell Civil 3D its system/units. Civil 3D will transform the file to fit correctly in the drawing.

Following these steps I've been able to bring in LiDAR data correctly located along with  an image file that is in a different system/units in Civil 3D.

[mahung]

Don't know if you ever resolved your problem, but take a look at my comment a few messages down.

What I suggest you do in your case is keep your source and target coordinate systems UTM84 18N (meters), same as your input data's system and coordinates.

In Civil 3D, define drawing's coordinate system as Maryland NAD 83 SPC US foot. When you attach or import your ReCap file, you need to tell Civil 3D what system and units it is in. Civil 3D will then transform the file to your drawing.