Possible help with setting point clouds in other programs

[TBodor1]

Could it be possible in ReCAP to be able to create a specific "point" or "object" on paper/sphere targets or other know items that would translate into other Autodesk programs? This would then allow us the ability to pull the coordinates from that point or object and then re translate that back to ReCAP or other point cloud software for better coordination. See below for more clarification. Kind of hard to explain.

Example of current workflow...

1. Export registered point cloud from registration software into ReCAP.

2. Import ReCAP file into Revit/Autocad.

3. Adjust point cloud location according to project needs if no survey control was provided. Rotate and move accordingly.

4. Find the known targets within Revit/Autocad project, create a custom object/family/sphere, and acquire the center point coordinates of these targets.

5. Add these coordinates back to original registration software and re export back to ReCAP.

6. Import new ReCAP file back into project and make sure it all lines up again.

I am looking for a way to make item #4 more fluid and exact. A fair amount of our projects have no need for survey coordinates but we need to establish a coordinate base that others will use for coordination and layout. With ReCAP being able to recognize targets I think it would work to have it also make something, a point or object center point, that could help in this process that can be seen by other software. I would then not need to do anything more in step #4 than acquire the point or object center point that ReCAP has made.

If someone has a better way of doing what I describe above I more than willing to listen. This was the easiest way I could find to do what I needed it to do. The process above is for projects where we can scan before modeling begins. More often than not the modeling has already begun and we need to bring the scans into some models that already have been established. 

[mdowney]

This won't address your original question because I don't know if ReCap can do what you're asking, but we've done this quite a bit. We use Scene for our scan/point cloud processing. Just export a subset of scans from Scene into ReCap so it doesn't take so long. Move the scans to where you want them, tracking how far you move them in each direction. Make same adjustment in Scene, then export full project from Scene to ReCap.

Since rotating messes up X and Y coordinate translations, we do one of two things.

1) Export subset to ReCap, adjust Z and rotation via Revit while tracking changes and ignoring X and Y, update Scene, export subset again, adjust X and Y tracking changes, update Scene, export full project.

or 2) Export subset to ReCap, adjust Z and rotation via Revit tracking changes and ignoring X and Y, reload load original point cloud, move Z adjustment, rotate clusters around X, Y of cluster in Scene, adjust X and Y tracking changes. Update cluster in Scene, export full project. When we do this, we have two copies of the point cloud so we can leave one in place once we get it where we want it so all we need to do is move the second copy to match the first -- easier than trying to line up with a model again.

Mike

[mlabell]

We have registered point clouds to 2 separate coordinate systems in the past.  Meaning we have one set of point clouds for Civil registered to state plane coordinates.  The second set of data is registered to a local building coordinate and the scans rotated to building north.  The reason for this is because the software is not not connected in coordinate systems as Autodesk promises.  Plant 3D and Revit do not work with State plane coordinate systems and rotating the point clouds in the design software leaves interpretation which can cause major coordination issues.  Civil of course needs to work in state plane with true north represented correctly.  So this strategy has worked best for us and we will unfortunately continue to have duplicate sets of point clouds but don't change what isn't broke, right?