Point Cloud Unit

[dsheetsNDJUD]

I recently installed Recap Pro 2022. I have a point cloud in .las format that was collected in IN83-EF (US Survey Feet). I use Recap to convert my .las files to .rcp/.rcs format to import into Civil 3D. I set the current and target coordinate system to IN83-EF and continue the process and save the project. I open Civil 3D 2022 Imperial, have my drawing units set to feet and insertion units set to unitless. I attach my point cloud and like always my point cloud unit is set to METERS! Why? The Autodesk solution will tell me to bring the point cloud in and scale to feet! This is a unacceptable solution! This is such an issue that there is a free app in the Autodesk App Store that converts las/laz files to .rcs/.rcp format just to avoid Recap!

[yan.fu]

hi @dsheetsNDJUD ,

Thank you for your feedback. 

The project unit can be set from project setting in ReCap. By default, the project unit is in meter, you can set it to US survey feet and ReCap will remember your setting on that machine. 

For the issue you encountered, is the coordinate correct in meter? Or it is only visualization of unit or the whole project is having wrong scale? 

Best Regards,

Yan

[dsheetsNDJUD]

I understand that the project units can be set within ReCap. That is not the issue. The issue is when one takes the .rcp/.rcs file and attaches it in Civil 3D. The resulting .rcp/.rcs file that ReCAP creates is ALWAYS sets units to meters. Its not necessary a coordinate issue, its a unit of measurement issue.  I have a .las file that is in units of FEET. The only reason that I use ReCap is to change the file format to .rcp/.rcs since Civil 3D no longer accepts point clouds in .las format.  Attached is a screen shot of the .rcs file when I attempt to attach it in Civil 3D. The point cloud unit states METER! Should be US Survey Feet.

[Pointdump]

Hi David,
Do you have the latest update? I think it's v22.1.
I've recently used some Indiana point clouds (Switzerland County) and had no problem bringing them into Civil 3D. Please post your point cloud or a link to grab it.
Dave

[yan.fu]

Hi @dsheetsNDJUD ,

If you set your project unit to be US feet in Civil3D and then import .rcs/.rcp to Civil3D, it will show ReCap file is in meter unit and then apply a unit scale to the point cloud file when inserting the point cloud into Civil3D. 

The following AKN articles talks about inserting ReCap files into Civil3D / AutoCAD. Please check if it solves your problem. 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Point-Cl...

Thank you!

Yan

[Pointdump]

David,
Are you getting your LiDAR Data from >>>Here<<<?
After setting the Current and Target Coordinate Systems, ReCap now embraces the US Feet Units. (It didn't use to)
Before Attaching the Point Cloud to Civil 3D set UNITS to "US Survey Feet".
Dave

[dsheetsNDJUD]

Dave,

I appreciate your assistance! Regarding your first post, I do pull the majority of lidar from the site that you linked. 

Regarding your second post, my workflow within ReCap is exactly the same as your screenshots. The issue is when I attach the point cloud in C3D (referring to your 4th screenshot). If you click the 'Show Details' you will find that the Point cloud unit is set to Meters. Then based on whatever INSUNITS variable is set to, C3D scales the point cloud to that AutoCAD unit. That is the issue several users on several other post are trying to get at! If my raw point cloud is in US Survey Foot why is recap forcing a output unit is meters, then C3D is scaling from meters back to US Survey Foot. This scaling process adds a increased potential of user error.

Thanks,

Dave

[Pointdump]

Dave,
OK, I see your point. Kinda makes you wonder how many times ReCap and Civil 3D are converting between Feet and Meters, and what round-off errors are introduced past the first conversion.
Dave

[dsheetsNDJUD]

@yan.fu,

Please read the additional comments that @Pointdump and I had regarding the ReCap .rcp/.rcs file export always being in metric units.

Dave

[justinpickens]

Any current update on this issue? When I first encountered this problem I thought there was an issue with my point cloud.

[Pointdump]

Hi Justin,
ReCap is now up to v.25.1. I haven't checked this latest version. Have you?
Dave

[justinpickens]

I just downloaded the latest version of ReCap and re-imported my las file. ReCap detected the units correctly as international feet. Not sure about the export from ReCap and Import into Civil 3d yet.

Edit: Looks like it read the point cloud as meters and scaled up all the coordinates to feet so still not right.

[Pointdump]

Hi Justin,
Yup, and if you don't change UNITS in Civil 3D from "Unitless" to "US Survey Feet" before importing the cloud, it doesn't do the math. But at least the cloud will get plopped down in the right spot with correct elevations.
Have you started a support ticket?
Dave

[justinpickens]

No I have not started a support ticket. I have checked the coordinate system of my point cloud and it is correct for my region. We use International Feet. I don't see anywhere in ReCap the option to set units before importing a point cloud and it is imported as Meters, and then exported as Meters. What I did see happen is after I set my ReCap project to use International Feet, it applied the conversion factor to my coordinates within the ReCap project. What's up with that? Is ReCap incapable of using feet as a unit? Does it not read the coordinate system information contained in the point cloud? Obviously not.