Hello RealityScan Community,
I am working on importing my LiDAR scan data into RealityScan for processing and texturing, but I have some questions regarding the correct workflow. I would greatly appreciate any guidance.
My data comes from two related sources, and I’m unsure of the best path forward:
-
Raw LiDAR Data:
- Device: Livox Mid360
- Data Format: A sequence of per-frame
.pcd point cloud files, along with a scans_pos.json file (which I believe contains the pose/trajectory information for each frame).
- My Question: I am unsure if RealityScan supports importing this kind of sequential, frame-based point cloud with an external pose file. What is the recommended method to merge these individual frames into a single, spatially accurate point cloud that RealityScan can use?
-
Processed Color Point Cloud:
- Processing Pipeline: I used the FAST-LIVO2 algorithm to perform a tightly-coupled LiDAR-Inertial-Visual odometry fusion on the raw data. This resulted in a complete, colorized, and globally consistent point cloud of the entire scene.
- Data Format: The final output is a single
.pcd file (this is the fused, full-scene point cloud).
- My Question: Is importing this pre-reconstructed color point cloud the more straightforward approach for RealityScan? Are there any specific settings or considerations (e.g., point density, color format) I should be aware of during import for optimal results?
To summarize my core questions:
- What is the correct preprocessing and import workflow for the raw, sequential Livox data?
- For the complete color point cloud from FAST-LIVO2, is this the recommended method for use with RealityScan? Are there any known best practices or success stories?
Thank you in advance for any advice, experience, links to tutorials, or pointers to official documentation you can share!
Hi,
it looks like this device could be used as a aerial lidar for importing into RealityScan. But for that you will need to use LAS point cloud format to be importable.
Thank you so much for your response! The pointer towards using the LAS format and potentially treating the data like an aerial LiDAR scan gives me a clear direction to work towards.
To make sure I proceed correctly, I have a few follow-up questions:
-
Regarding Point Cloud Merging: My raw data consists of multiple, sequential PCD files (individual frames) and a scans_pos.json file(this is from FAST-LIVO2) containing their pose data. Before conversion, do I first need to merge these frames into a single, complete point cloud representing the entire scanned space? If so, could you recommend any specific software or methods for this pose-based merging? For example, would tools like CloudCompare or Open3D be suitable for this task?
-
Regarding File Format: Is the LAS format strictly mandatory, or does RealityScan also support other common point cloud formats like PLY? The final colored point cloud from my FAST-LIVO2 workflow is in PCD format, and I know that PLY often handles color information well. It would be helpful to know my options.
-
Regarding Import Settings: Once I have the final point cloud file (whether LAS or PLY), are there any key settings or considerations I should be aware of when importing it into RealityScan? For instance, since this is from a ground-based Livox scanner rather than a traditional aerial survey, are there specific things I should check regarding the coordinate system, scale, or color channels?
Your guidance is incredibly valuable. Thank you again for your time and help
I’m trying to import data from a ground-based, handheld scanning system into RealityScan and have a couple of questions regarding the correct import workflow.
My situation is as follows:
- Device: A ground-based, handheld scanner.
- Primary Data: I have a point cloud file named
map.las.
- Camera Poses: I also possess known camera pose priors (the precise position and orientation for each image).
I have two main questions:
-
Importing Camera Poses: How can I import these pre-existing camera poses into my RealityScan project alongside the images? What is the required data format (e.g., a specific CSV structure, a transforms.json file), and what are the correct import steps to ensure RealityScan recognizes and uses them?
-
Importing Point Cloud without Texturing: If my primary goal for now is to view, edit the point cloud, or perform simple 3D reconstruction without急于贴上高分辨率纹理, what is the best way to import the map.las file?
- Should I simply import the point cloud by itself, without any images?
- What import settings (like
Exact Registration and Local Coordinate System) are recommended for this ground-based data to ensure it loads correctly for basic operations?
Thank you in advance for your guidance! Any clarity on the import process for camera poses or the point-cloud-only workflow would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, such datasets are not supported in current release.
You can try to import just LAS file using the settings from previous advices and setting the Use camera poses to Generate aerial poses. Then you can play with the settings to get the best result for you.
If you don’t want to use the colors, use the Intensity import option.