Point cloud has moved

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I've been modelling from a point cloud (rcp) file for the last 2 weeks, and it has stopped displaying in Revit 2018. The link is still present, but the cloud will not display (in all views). Reloading the existing link does not work, so I have to delete and add the link again. Any one know why it suddenly stops displaying?

The biggest problem is when I add it back in, the cloud has moved (about 60mm). The model hasn't moved, as confirmed by a check with an older revision. When I double check a point in Recap vs a point on this 'moved' cloud, they are indeed different cooridnates. Any ideas as to why this has happened?

Kind regards,

Duncan

[barthbradley]

A better workflow would be to bring the cloud into another Revit Project and Link that Project into your current Project, and then establish Shared Coordinates.  

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply,

I've given this a go but it just produces the same results (because the point cloud doesn't import into the right place, even in a new project).

[barthbradley]

I don't understand what you mean by "the point cloud doesn't import into the right place".  The PC should land at the Origin.  When you Link the Project containing the PC into another Project initially, you need to manually move the PC Link to the correct location in the Host Project and then Publish Coordinates of Host to the Link. Now both the Host and Link are Sharing the same Coordinates.  

[RECArchi]

I think I have exactly the same issue than yours.

Did you manage to solve this problem? 

@barthbradley  I can't use a "buffer file" where I link the points cloud, because linking "Origin to Origin" in that file make the points cloud "shifting" when zooming in and out, because points cloud is too faraway from the Internal Origin of Revit.

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely.

[RECArchi]

For those who have the same issue, here is a solution.

As explained by BarthBradley, the idea is to :

- Use an empty buffer file, georeferenced with the project

- Link the points cloud "at shared coordinates" in this buffer file (not "origin to origin")

- Link the buffer file with the project Revit file "at shared coordinates"

[pputte.stenqvist]

Hi!

I have the same problem, and i don´t know what you mean with a "buffer file".

I´m working with a project that have a "Georeffed" Pointcloud and DWG. I have worked with my model a time now and i did import a new "strippped down" poincloud because the first one was too big and lagged.

When i imported the new file the old one got relocated. The new one is off quite a bit from my model. i removed both pointcloud and reloaded the first pointcloud to get it back too the original spot i thought.

Now i got two pointcloud that are not at the same place and no one off them is located as my Revit model. the DWG is at the same place as before.

Can someone please tell my why this is happening? and how too solve this? (i imported the pointcloud and DWG with shared coordinates)

[pputte.stenqvist]

I closed the file without saving and opened a older version. Now the pointcloud gets located like my revit model. Strange.. It feels like it was some problem with revit?

[RECArchi]

Hi,

I do not use buffer file anymore. I used to use it because I thought these problems could impact my project, and I decided to manage my points cloud separately, in another Revit file (in fact, it did not impact my project at all). Today, I link my points cloud directly in my project file without any problem.

Anyway, if you face the same issue than mine, here is what I found with th help of Autodesk support:

An issue occurs in Revit if you reload a points cloud several times in "Manage links". Something occurs in temporary files (don't ask me what exactly, I don't know!) and Revit is not able to link any points cloud properly. You can see that your Points Cloud is not linked properly because you are not able to "pick" points anymore. And as you said, the points clouds are "shifted" :S

To solve your problem, I would advise you to:

1. Remove Point Cloud
2. Save and Exit Revit
3. Clear %Temp% directory
4. Launch Revit and Open the model
5. Insert Same Point Cloud File

Here is the case that was created when I asked Autodesk support for help for this problem:

Points cloud 

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

AN INDEXED .RCP FILE TRIMMED AND CLEANED SOME SPRAYS IN RECAP LATER IT IS SAVED IN A NEW LOCATION. 

FROM THAT LOCATION .RCP FILE LINKED INTO PROJECT "A'.RVT . THEN THIS "A".RVT LINKED INTO B AND CAME PROPERLY EVERYTHING , AFTER 2 DAYS WHEN I CHECK LOCATION MOVED . CLEARED THE TEMP FILES , REMOVED POINT CLOUD AND ADD AGAIN , RELOAD FROM AGAIN DID EVERYTHING BUT STILL LOCATION NOT CHANGING …

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM

[steve_adams]

While placing a pc into another revit file sounds great. It still does not address the initial issue.  If at any point you reload a point cloud then it moves.

[Anonymous]

I never did resolve what happened back then - but suffice to say that Revit cannot handle a point cloud in OS coordinates (i.e. with eastings and northings of above 200,000m). It's really not advisable to bring it in with shared coords, as although it may work initially, you're putting yourself at the mercy of untold misfortune - i've been there!

My advice would be create an Autocad dwg with an annotated a coordinate like 400000, 200000, or wherever your PC is. Bring it in centre to centre. Once imported, Manage, Coordinates, Specify Coordinate at Point. This allows you to change the incorrect centre to centre coords into your OS coords.

This is the way I currently work, and have had no issues with the pointcloud moving.

[steve_adams]

I will have to keep that method in mind.  Usually I either reposition the pc in the linked file, or load the pc directly into the file I am working in so I can modify the visibility of the point cloud and deal with it possibly moving or not reload the file.