Workflow for Drawing from Point Clouds in BricsCAD | 6 Steps from Preparation and Import to TIN Generation
Hello! This is the ABKSS note editorial department.
To utilize point cloud data for design and construction planning, it is important to proceed in an orderly fashion, not just by importing it into CAD, but also by verifying units and coordinates, narrowing down the work area, checking cross-sections, and performing final checks.
In this article, we will provide a digest of the workflow for drawing from point clouds in BricsCAD, focusing on the procedures you want to master for practical work.
What you will learn in this article
Preparation items to check before handling point clouds in BricsCAD
Basic flow of importing point clouds and narrowing down to the work area
Concepts for drawing and modeling using point clouds as an underlay
Checkpoints before and after TIN surface generation
Information that should be clearly stated when saving as a deliverable
▼ Please also see this (Basics of point cloud utilization in BricsCAD)
STEP 1: Check units, coordinates, and templates before importing
Before handling point clouds in BricsCAD, the first things to check are units and coordinates.
If you proceed with work while units or coordinates are misaligned, the basis for the drawings and models created in later processes will become unstable.
The main items you should check in advance are the following three:
Units: m/mm, etc.
Coordinate system: Site standard/public coordinates, etc.
Measurement date: Which point in time the current status data represents
In manufacturing, mm is often used, while in surveying and construction, m is common; it is important to match the units of the point cloud data with the drawing template.
In BricsCAD, you use different templates corresponding to meter units, millimeter units, inch units, etc..
Also, performing pre-processing with the Point Cloud Cache Manager before attaching the point cloud to a DWG makes it easier to improve the stability of display and operations.
STEP 2: Attach the point cloud and first grasp the overall picture
Point cloud files are handled by attaching them as references in BricsCAD.
Load them from the Attach function on the Point Cloud tab, or the POINTCLOUDATTACH command, and manage them using the Structure Browser or Properties panel.
After importing, do not start drawing immediately; first, check the state of the entire point cloud. By understanding how much has been captured, whether there are areas with significant data loss, and where the work area is, you can make better decisions for subsequent processes.
Using BricsCAD's Bubble Viewer allows you to check the state of the point cloud from the scan position. It is reassuring to confirm at this stage whether the floor or ground has been captured continuously and whether the range required for your work is visible.
STEP 3: Crop the necessary range and adjust the display for easier design
If you continue to use the point cloud with everything displayed, operations will become sluggish, and it will be difficult to make decisions while drawing. In BricsCAD, use POINTCLOUDCROP to crop only the necessary range and lighten the point cloud to match your work target.
Display settings also affect ease of drawing. Adjusting point size, reflecting color data, or displaying colors based on height makes it easier to identify floor level differences, unevenness, and slope trends.
At this stage, the point is not to make the point cloud look pretty, but to organize the range and view required for drawing decisions.
STEP 4: Use the point cloud as an underlay to create lines, surfaces, and solids
Once the point cloud work area is organized, proceed with drawing and modeling using the existing conditions as an underlay. In BricsCAD, you can link to creating lines, surfaces, and solids while referencing the point cloud on the DWG.
For equipment updates or renovation studies, it is practical to prioritize creating shapes that affect interference or areas that require verification, rather than modeling everything in detail from the start.
Point Cloud Projection and Point Cloud Section allow you to slice the point cloud in any direction and draw while checking cross-sectional shapes. This is useful for checking floor heights, beam positions, and equipment heights, as well as for creating cross-sectional drawings.
STEP 5: Generate a TIN surface as needed
If you want to treat floors or terrain as surfaces, generate a TIN surface from the point cloud. A TIN surface is a feature that creates a triangular mesh from the point cloud to treat floors or terrain as surfaces.
Before generation, you must organize the display so that only the target point cloud for the TIN is visible. If points other than those for the floor or terrain remain, unintended surfaces may be generated or unnatural triangles may occur.
After TIN generation, visually check for the following:
Surface spikes
Holes
Unnatural triangles
If there are problems, review the point cloud cropping or noise removal. It is more realistic to think of improving the quality of the TIN by repeating point cloud adjustments and generation rather than trying to complete it in one go.
TIN generation is a process of refining quality through repeated adjustments and regeneration rather than a one-time task.
STEP 6: Finish to a state usable as a deliverable
Finally, clarify which format—2D drawings, 3D models, or cross-section sets—will be the final deliverable. It is important to check for deviations from the point cloud and ensure there are no issues with the design basis.
To ensure conditions can be traced later, keep the following information with your deliverables.
Units
Coordinate system
Reference points
Measurement date
Version of the point cloud used
When drawing with point clouds, documenting "which point cloud was used as a reference and under what conditions it was created" is useful for verification in later processes and for sharing among stakeholders.
Conclusion
When drawing from point clouds in BricsCAD, it is important to proceed in an orderly fashion: import, clipping, cross-section verification, TIN generation, and final confirmation. More specific details on operations and how to proceed screen-by-screen are introduced in our official blog.
As an IT trading company for the manufacturing and construction industries, ABKSS supports everything from the introduction to the operation of BricsCAD.
Our official blog provides detailed explanations of specific operation screens, commands, and configuration concepts when handling point clouds in BricsCAD. Please use it to check the procedures when actually performing the work.