Slide 13D Models with Cyclone
More efficiency for certain Architectural and Building Surveys
New markets emerging based on the latest Leica Geosystems HDS tools
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Plowman Craven Associates
Conducted tests of conventional survey to scanning
Mollenhauer Group
Provided comparisons of the HDS2500 to the HDS3000
While at my previous company, Cullinan Engineering Co., Inc., I had the opportunity to be the HDS division Manger for the company. During my 10 years there, I had the chance to work on over 70 HDS project. Greater than 50 of these projects involved a building in some shape or form. The most popular was the full 3D model which was delivered to architects in as-built form.
Plowman Craven Associates (PCA) in the UK, is another company that has championed HDS and its use on buildings. They had done several studies involving the head-to-head comparisons of conventional building survey to laser scanning.
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Building/Architectural Case Study and Workflow
Working With HDS to Provide Geometrically Accurate, Complete and Cost Effective Building “As-Build” Surveys and 3D Models
PCA has a dedicated group “3D Team” which focuses exclusively on laser scanning projects. 3D Team leader is Mr. Duncan Lees, with numerous years
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Company Profile
Founded in 1964, PCA is one of the most respected Geomatics companies in Europe.
Over 90 employees in UK, with clients throughout Europe with diverse projects in geomatics
Uses a variety of advanced electronic instrumentation to provide printed and digital data management, photogrammetry, aerial surveys, land surveys, advanced 3-dimensional modeling, CAD, GPS and other crucial services.
1St European company to purchase the Leica HDS 2500 in February 2001
Revenues > £ 5.5 million
Recent projects we have been involved with include:
Heritage (recording of a site in Turkey from a past civilization)
Entertainment Industry (scanning and modeling of sets and locations)
Rail (scanning of tunnel networks for maintenance and planning)
Architectural (deformation analysis and planning)
Forensic (object comparison and verification).
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Why HDS?
Building surveys (> 60%) is core area for PCA (floor plans, elevations, and site surveys, 3D modeling)
Most work focused in heavily populated urban areas
Time and money saved using HDS keeps PCA bids competitive
Provide service in printed and digital data management, photogrammetry, aerial surveys, land surveys, advanced 3-dimensional modeling,
CAD, GPS and other crucial services
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“3D Visualization Service” - Geometrically accurate AutoCAD 3D Model of existing conditions to allow showing proposed 3D scheme
Products Used
Cyclone 5.2
AutoCAD, Microstation, 3D Studio
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Building heights > 20 m
Scan worlds collected = 126
Based on an Internal study by PCA:
“The results show an accurate match between conventional methods and the scan data and a possible productivity saving of 50-60% in field and CAD time.”
EFFORT
Perform Field Scanning using many scanners to expedite
Process Data in field and check for accuracy and completeness
Perform weekly registrations to keep project moving, data sets small, and allow multiple people to work on project
Put each scan world on a different layer in the same project
PCA uses flat and hemispherical targets for the most part
Rarely utilize cloud-to-cloud registration as sole method to register (since cloud to cloud does not follow least-squares method,
the confidence to reproduce and test the results is low.
Client usually wants everything – including error reports
Rhino 3D is utilized sometimes to model curves surfaces (NURBS) – Rhino 3D is a cheap, powerful, and reliable product that PCA uses
Data out of Cyclone is taken into Geomagic, and then into Rhino 3D
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Clean up each scan world (layer) separately
Break project into separate projects to allow more people on different segments
Open individual projects in ACAD and Microstation CloudWorx (final deliverable was ACAD, but using Microstation followed by converting to ACAD expedites the project)
Finally, create "2.5D" ACAD drawings by extracting horizontal and vertical geometry from point cloud using AutoCAD and CloudWorx tools
Most clients have also been asking for ASCII points (PTS, PTX) data in “manageable chunks”
PCA uses flat and hemispherical targets for the most part
Rarely utilize cloud-to-cloud registration as sole method to register (since cloud to cloud does not follow least-squares method,
the confidence to reproduce and test the results is low.
Client usually wants everything – including error reports
Rhino 3D is utilized sometimes to model curves surfaces (NURBS) – Rhino 3D is a cheap, powerful, and reliable product that PCA uses
Data out of Cyclone is taken into Geomagic, and then into Rhino 3D
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Scope:
Locate the centerline of every window mullion for a distance calculation to a known column line. A new planar prefab façade is replacing the decaying irregular granite façade.
Deliverables:
2D elevation plans with offset distances shown to the nearest parallel column line. Plumbness measurements at a later date.
Field (Actual):
Office (Actual):
7 weeks
22%
Notes
Job would not have gone forward if this method was used
1 scan crew + 1 conventional crew for control
Data was revisited for building plumbness measurements
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Scope
60’H x 150’W face
Deliverables
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HDS3000 advantages
60% fewer targets
Full FOV allowed setup in alley (160° H x 135° V scan)
Avoided need to try to access roof of adjacent building
Able to put target behind scanner
3000 (actual)
2500 (est.)
Field time
4 hrs
8 hrs
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Workflow Assumptions
The user of these workflows will need to be somewhat proficient in AutoCAD
All basic functions of the Cyclone software are known to the user
Cyclone and AutoCAD MUST ‘live’ on the same computer
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High Definition Surveying
So many workflows to pick from… Which one is right for me?
Today, there really is no one ‘cook book’ style of tackling a building project.
There must be a scope of work clearly defined, since this will drive the amount of scanning done and the type of post processing.
We will look at two types of deliverables.
The full 3D model. (Done in Cyclone)
The 2D elevation view (Done with CloudWorx)
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Registration
Data Cleanup
a. Scanning
c. Scanning
Basic work process:
Unification of PointCloud
Clean up unnecessary data that has no bearing on the building face(s).
Unify the remaining PointCloud
Creation of Lines/Patches/Cylinders/etc.
Copy small pieces of the cloud into a separate ModelSpace and create lines. Merge them back into the parent ModelSpace when done with each section.
Polygonal Fence Copy to New ModelSpace Orthographic Mode Create Patches Create Lines from Patch Intersections
Create Patches between the lines
Create Object From Curves Patch
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3D Model – Cyclone/AutoCAD Steps:
Once all of the model has been created in Cyclone, you are ready to export them into the AutoCAD environment.
In Cyclone, be sure that nothing is selected, and that you are working in the default coordinate system that was defined during the registration process. Now: File Export
Name the file and choose the .coe extension for the file.
Export visible.
COE Import
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2D Elevation View – Cyclone Steps
Very similar to the 3D initial steps. You will still clean and unify the PointCloud.
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2D Elevation View – AutoCAD / CloudWorx Steps
Start a new drawing, set the appropriate drawing settings and then SAVE!
AutoCAD does not have the nice function of automatically saving everything.
Go to the CloudWorx pull down and Open MadelSpace View. A box that looks the example below, will appear. Navigate to the ModelSpace View where you had set up the X & Y axis.
Be sure to correctly set the units.
Select the coordinate system that you saved.
Then hit OK.
2D Elevation View – AutoCAD / CloudWorx Steps
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Finished plan.
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Latest HDS solutions are compelling for large building elevation views
Field and office efficiencies are primary drivers
Other key benefits: no re-visits and improved safety