Recap 2024 ground classification & integrating with Civil3d

[chiragYYKN4]

We have been trialling out the new ground classfication feature in Recap and have found that it can achieve 90% of what we do manually.

As powerful as it is, there are some issues that make the feature fairly difficult to work with.

1) Classification within RCP is not recognised in Civil3D 2024. Makes classification pointless as the whole reason we are separating out the ground points is so that we can generate a TIN. It's not enough for it to be colourised by classification, as we actually need unwanted points to be unloaded, so the 3Dosnap doesn't catch them.

2) As an alternative, we tried selecting points within a classification and moving them into a custom region. As it turns out, even if you have a classification hidden, it's still selecting points from the hidden classification! So we can't select just the ground classified points (???). 

3) The only option it seems, is to export the data out to an RCS, after hiding each individual classification. However this can take a bit of time and also creates multiple RCS/RCP project files. 

Can anyone comment further on their workflow using this feature? 

It's a great feature but it's currently not formatted to be useful with other software suites.

[barmanr]

Hi @chiragYYKN4 ,

As you have mentioned in your pointers, this is exactly how the integration works at the moment and is limited by the same as you have mentioned.

Point 1 is something that Civil3D will need to work on using the ReCap SDK, it's more of a feature request for that application. For non-structured LiDAR scans, if you just Save/Save-As the RCP in ReCap, the classifications will exist in Civil. This is not supported for terrestrial structured scans with Real Views, however. For Lidar scans, you will be able to select color mapping in Civil and then turn On/Off defined classification categories from the dialog:

Point 2 is a known limitation since the first ground classification 23.1 update release for Lidar scans. We have this in our backlog. Also to note: Manual Classifications are also in our roadmap moving ahead. The ability to select outlier points and assign them to other classification categories or remove them. But how Civil3D reads this info will require work on the Civil3D side.

Point 3 is the only way yes at the moment to get the ground points into Civil3D for Terrestrial scans. After running AGC, you can remove/hide the unclassified classification in Project Navigator and the export unify only the Ground. Also if you have existing classifications and do not run ground classification, then you can right-click and select Hide-All and then unhide only the one to export.

May I know what you mean by many RCS files? Do you mean as regions or with existing classifications and not running Automatic Ground Classification? Because when you run Automatic Ground Classification, all other classifications in the scene will be replaced by only ground and unclassified (non-ground).

Thanking You.

Warmest Regards,

[LyleHardin]

I, too, am frustrated by the classification in ReCap not working in the filtering of Civil 3D. HOWEVER, you can use it to make a DEM in Civil 3D (Map 3d) then use that DEM as a surface. Here's a quick and clear article from Seiler. I used 50% Level of detail on my drone flight point cloud and it took a while, but it worked. You can probably go down to 10 to 20% depending on what you're working on.

https://www.seiler-ds.com/blog/using-point-clouds-classification-autodesk-recap-and-civil-3d/

The key commands are: 

1. MAPCREATEPCSURFACE to create the DEM file from your attached ReCap Classifications.

2. CREATESURFACEDRIDFROMDEM to create the surface from the DEM tif image created in step 1.

[ramesh_sridharan]

That article was old. Now we have auto-classification capability (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEAourVBGF4) in ReCap that users can use to generate surface and take surface only to C3D. The user can apply an additional filter in Civil 3D, if needed (as shown in the article).

Recap is also gearing up with better classification, a manual cleanup tool, and intelligent decimation (all planned to come out in the next release) to take concise but accurate surface points to generate C3D terrain to design.

[ceethreedee.com]

@ramesh_sridharan This is a very convoluted process in my opinion. But it does work with out having to do something terrible like making a DEM. (By the way please don't do that). I wish you could just say you only want ground point in civil 3D while making the surface, but hey.

Let me break it down in a few screen shots.

Firstly read in the point cloud with pre classified ground point or use the new "Automated Ground Classification" tools. 

Switch to Classiciation view then turn off all the point except ground from the classiciations section (Bottom right).

Now this is the clunky part, export a seperate "Unified RCP" to a new file. This is the file you will need to read in to make your surface in Civil 3D

Now make your Civil 3D surface how you usually make it. Attach point cloud run wizard.. Trees are gone.