Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

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Matt Young
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Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

Post by Matt Young »

Does anyone know the best way to go from Cyclone data formats to Tekla?

I have a client that uses Tekla and want me to supply data to them.
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Re: Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

Post by 3DLS@WKC »

http://www.laserscanningforum.com/forum ... 103&t=3854

Would be interested to know as well, have a few clients using Tekla and we have always had to provide a model to them.
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Re: Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

Post by Oatfedgoat »

I know a guy at Tekla. I'll see if he can help.
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Re: Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

Post by Oatfedgoat »

Given that my contact has just spent the last 2 days at BIM Show Live I'm impressed at the swift reply I got 8-)
If you have a copy of Tekla Structures version 19, and are up to date with maintenance, then you can access a point cloud plug-in.

Once this has been downloaded it give the ability to bring point clouds directly into Tekla. The plug-in will accept point clouds in the following formats
Point Cloud Import File (*.xyz)
Point Cloud Import File (*.txt)
Point Cloud Import File (*.asc)
Point Cloud Import File (*.csv)
Leica PTS File (*.pts)

However the general consensus in the office is that it is then pretty hard to convert the point cloud to a model within Tekla, but do-able. My colleague suggests cleaning/filtering the point cloud in a different tool then bringing it into Tekla as a 3D dwg is a better option.
I have asked if the plug in is free or if it's part of the core product. I'll update here accordingly.
Hope this helps :)
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Re: Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

Post by Matt Young »

Thanks for that Matt - good info.

I am guessing that it's not great for large point clouds but might not have to be.
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Re: Point Cloud Format for Tekla?

Post by Oatfedgoat »

I guess it isn't too different to most point cloud use in CAD/modelling packages - reduce the cloud size first in your scanning processing software; then model in other package.

Given that Tekla is part of Trimble, it is probably worth keeping an eye on the recent announcement about Sketchup's new point cloud extraction functions that were announced (very quietly) at SPAR.

If they have a good process and piece of software, it would be logical to roll it out across all of the Trimble product line imo.
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