Chris Ahern, Marketing Manager - DotProduct Boston

SketchUp is a powerful and user-friendly software solution for 3D design projects, from home renovation to industrial design and more. While we may not be able to import DotProduct point cloud data directly into SketchUp today, we have developed three powerful partner workflows for getting DotProduct data into SketchUp. Each has its own unique pluses and minuses. Please see below for more information and videos on each of these workflows:

1. InfiPoints DP - Import CAD surfaces and cylinders in IGES format:

This video shows the process of bringing DP data into SketchUp as CAD surfaces/cylinders via InfiPoints DP (Android) and SimLab IGES Importer for SketchUp (Windows/Mac).

2. Pointfuse for DP - Import full color 3D meshes in SKP format:

This video shows the process of converting .DP point cloud data to .SKP mesh files in Pointfuse for DP. SKP is a native SketchUp file format that will open directly in SketchUp.

3. Undet for SketchUp - Import color point cloud data via the Undet plugin:

This video demonstrates the full workflow to bring DotProduct point cloud data into SketchUp via the Undet for SketchUp plugin. Undet will read .DP point cloud files directly. Please stay tuned for more on this workflow and the process of modeling from DP data in SketchUp.

Chris Ahern, Marketing Manager - DotProduct Boston

We got spooky with the DPI-8X this past Halloween at the IAFSM's 4th Annual Educational Conference in Atlanta, GA! That afternoon, we took a field trip offsite for a live scanning workshop with the DPI-8X, DPI-8X SR, and a wide variety of terrestrial and airborne 3D scanners. This was a great opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of rapid handheld capture for small to medium sized areas. Both the DPI-8X and DPI-8X SR performed very well on site, with the latter providing the highest level of detail and also slightly better results in daylight.

We were faced with a sunny Atlanta day without a cloud in sky, which of course creates significant challenges for handheld 3D scanning. However, we were glad to see a very practical approach taken for one of the grave sites. A simple tailgate-style popup tent shielded the grave from direct sunlight, allowing for excellent data capture in all conditions. While the additional graves could not initially be captured in sunlight, we waited about an hour until the sun dipped just below the treeline and were able to capture them all successfully in that afternoon. Shade and afternoon/evening scanning are two of the best methods to avoid the sunlight limitations of the DPI-8X/DPI-8X SR. Mornings or cloudy days also do the trick.

The resulting data is shown in the images above and in the presentation below. Despite the sunlight challenges, we found the results of handheld scanning were well worth the effort. While speed of capture and convenient form factor were obvious benefits in this scenario, the quality and color detail of the results were also among the best obtained. This was due to the unique ability to move in close to the body from various angles, especially with the DPI-8X SR, which allows for the closest range of capture and thus the densest results.

We would like to thank the IAFSM for involving us in this project and look forward to similar scanning sessions at future conferences. Please click below to download the DP data for viewing in Dot3D Edit, CloudCompare, and other programs. Click here to download Dot3D Edit.

The MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) deployed the DPI-8X handheld 3D scanner in Italy this summer as part of the Materials in Art, Architecture and Archaeology (ONE-MA3) curriculum. The video above provides an excellent overview of the many projects covered on the trip, with footage of the DPI-8X highlighted in the first minute.

On site at the archaeological ruins in Priverno, students used the DPI-8X to document interior architectural details of ancient Roman thermal baths, capturing degrading structures in high resolution full color 3D detail to be combined with larger scale aerial drone footage of the site. Please see below for some of the point cloud data, both from the drones and DPI-8X:

Using the DPI-8X, students were able to document the interior structures of these Roman thermal baths in full color 3D, including impressive stone arches that have stood the test of time. Analyzing this data can shed light onto the design decisions made centuries ago that have held these rooms together over all the years. Please see below for some images of the capture session and resulting data, shown in Dot3D Edit:

Back in the museum, students also took the opportunity to scan a mosaic that had been excavated and restored from the dig site for display. Combining technologies and concepts, the idea behind this project was to create an accurate digital representation of the preserved mosaic that could be viewed back in the original archaeological location using augmented reality technology. AR could very well be the future of museum experiences and handheld 3D scan data can readily bring real-world color content into this platform. Please see below for several more images from the project, including the resulting data of the mosaic:

Additional scanning projects from the trip included 3D capture of a sarcophagus in a restoration workshop, scanning of stone sculptures in a museum, and documentation of other structurally and historically relevant sites. Below are some great images of those sessions:

We are glad to partner with MIT on such exciting coursework. The overlap of various disciplines is especially relevant to the DPI-8X and its many applications. From structural engineering to archaeology and heritage preservation, the ONE-MA3 curriculum encompasses a great mix of use cases for handheld 3D data capture. I look forward to seeing further exploration of these technologies and overlapping applications from MIT in the future.

For more on ONE-MA3 and the trip to Italy, please click here for an article from MIT News.

Chris Ahern, Marketing Manager - DotProduct Boston

We often get asked about options to covert the color point cloud data captured with the DPI-8X into the traditional PDF file format for easy sharing, both within organizations and outside to third parties. In today's blog I'm glad to share several case studies on conversion of the data into 3D PDFs using PDF3D and some of our other point cloud partners. Below we look at the data in PDF format from electrical utility, automotive, and heritage scan project, while also examining the full workflows through CloudCompare, Pointfuse, and PDF3D. Thank you to PDF3D for preparing these case studies and sharing with us for use here:

For more information on PDF3D, please visit www.pdf3d.com. For more information on CloudCompare, please visit www.cloudcompare.net. For more information on Pointfuse, please visit www.pointfuse.com.

Tom Greaves, Chief Marketing Officer - DotProduct Boston

Last month I traveled to Florida Marine Transportation’s (FMT) shipyard just outside of New Orleans. Ship Architect’s Josh Trippi arranged for us to visit a new 120 foot pushboat under construction so we could capture the grating geometry prior to installation of deck material.  FMT has a contract to build five of these workboats and the goal is to make them all the same.

We got some excellent data which we subsequently registered with the Ship Constructor model which had been created from the measurements previously collected by hand.  We got the data into ship coordinates by picking a common point and then using a bulkhead plane and level section of a stringer on both the CAD model and the point cloud.  We exported the registered data sets to the Bloom Cloud Engine.

Chris Ahern, Marketing Manager - DotProduct Boston

​The DotProduct DPI-8X is a highly accurate standalone 3D scanner. However, for larger scan jobs and/or jobs with the strictest tolerances, we often recommend implementing targets for the absolute best results. This helps to reduce potential drift within the scan and provides a scale verification within the data. However, this typically means a lot of additional effort before and after the scan session. Mounting targets, taking measurements, calculating control points, preparing targeting files, and post-processing the targets into the data can be a very time-consuming and laborious process for each scan. Even worse, if one measurement or control point is even slightly off, this can create results worse than if no targets had been used at all.

Enter the AccuScale-DP from Brunson Instrument Company This revolutionary scale bar kit, paired with the intelligence of Phi.3D 2.1 & up, achieves all of the benefits of scale bar targeting, without any of the challenges and risks of traditional targeting mentioned above. This scale bar targeting workflow is impressively simple:

1. Set up the scale bars at maximum distances within your scene along each axis.
2. Capture each target at least once during scanning (turning green, red, & blue).
3. Specify the environment temperature in Phi.3D (with the included digital thermometer).
4. Optimize with the target locations and exact distances automatically used a a reference.

Please see below for a full video tutorial on the workflow:

These kits come in a set of six 1-meter bars and can be assembled in any configurations from there. For example, if you are scanning a room in all three dimensions, you would likely want to set up three 2-meter bars on on each axis. However, if you are scanning a stretch of piping along a wall, you may want to set up one 2-meter bar on the z-axis and one 4-meter bar along the pipe, or maybe even one 6-meter bar for maximum distance on one axis. You have complete flexibility here, and only need to make sure each bar has the same colored targets on each end. Please see below for the full components of the kit:

While the kit can add value to almost any scan, there are certain jobs that are a perfect fit for this technology. One such application is crime scene mapping and forensic reconstruction. With a need for highly accurate data and a hard reference to scale within the scene, the AccuScale-DP is a perfect fit. In a recent webinar from the IAFSM (International Association of Forensic and Security Metrology), we see the kit put to the test for ISO 17020 Accreditation. Tested against the results of a Leica ScanStation C10 tripod laser scanner, the measurements were within 2-3 mm of each other, with both devices achieving similar accuracies of about 99.75%. Please see below for the full webinar on use of the DPI-8X and the AccuScale-DP for forensic mapping, with the validation procedure and results starting about 23 minutes in:

For more information on the AccuScale-DP, please click here. To purchase directly from one of our local resellers, please click here.

Chris Ahern, Marketing Manager - DotProduct Boston

Last week on the showroom floor at Siemens PLM Connection 2017 in Indianapolis, I found myself exploring some of the best workflows for import of DotProduct data into Siemens PLM applications, such as NX 11. These traditionally solid-based applications are widely used for product lifecycle management and design engineering, but haven't traditionally paired as well with laser scan point cloud data. While I found some simple ascii point cloud import functionality available in NX, it is very limited in terms of the number of points and is not designed for use with high density color scan data. This is also the case for many other solid-based mechanical design applications. This led me to InfiPoints DP and Bentley Pointools.

InfiPoints DP offers the most rapid and direct workflow into NX for DotProduct scan data. Operating on Android with Phi.3D and Dot3D, InfiPoints DP rapidly reads DP scan data and exports IGES or DWG solids in a matter of minutes. The application recognizes all surfaces and cylinders in the DP data and converts them into solid features during this process. All these solids can then be exported into a single IGES file, which imports directly into NX. The best part? By avoiding the point cloud data, these solid features are very lightweight and fast to work with in NX, and no additional conversion is necessary on the PC. Please see below for some images of DP data in Dot3D on Android and IGES data in Siemens NX on Windows 10, converted automatically on Android using InfiPoints DP.

While InfiPoints DP is a great workflow for many applications, it can sometimes still be beneficial to utilize the full color point cloud data as a reference, especially in more complex environments. It is for this reason that Siemens has partnered directly with Bentley Pointools. In Pointools or the free Pointools PODcreator, users can import DotProduct data in PTX, PTS, or XYZ format, and export POD point cloud files. POD data will now import directly into Siemens NX 11 as reference point cloud data. Please click here for more on what is new in NX 11 and see below for a brief video on the workflow.

With a growing list of workflows and partners, we aim to make working with DotProduct data rapid and easy in a wide variety of 3D environments. Programs like InfiPoints DP and Bentley Pointools are also helping to bridge some of the gaps. For more information on InfiPoints DP and to download a free 30-day trial, please click here. for more information on Bentley Pointools and to download the free Pointools PODcreator, please click here. 

Chris Ahern
Marketing Manager
​DotProduct Boston

Chris Ahern, Marketing Manager - DotProduct Boston

How can I merge my DPI-8X data with my tripod scan data? This is one of the most common questions from DPI-8X customers, and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. 

In today's video blog, I'm excited to highlight the workflow to register DPI-8X data with tripod scan data wirelessly in the field. With the DPI-8 or DPI-8X handheld scanner, Z+F 5010X or 5016 Imager, and Z+F LaserControl Scout scanning software, users are now able to add handheld data directly into their tripod data set in the field at the time of capture. LaserControl Scout is Z+F's solution to in-field registration and remote scanner control. Operating on a Surface Pro on site, this allows DotProduct and Z+F customers to align and register handheld and tripod data, all on a touchscreen tablet in the field with no need for wired transfer or moving data on USB drives.

As shown in the video below, the DPI-8X is great for capturing hard-to-reach or occluded areas, while the 5010X is one of the best scanners on the market for accurate capture of larger areas. This video tutorial walks through the full process of leveraging both technologies in the field with LaserControl Scout. The process begins with launching the tripod scan from the tablet, continues to capturing an occluded area with the DPI-8X, and concludes with the wireless data transfer and on-tablet registration procedure. The full video is available below or here.

Of course there are other ways to register DotProduct data with tripod-captured data. Within Phi.3D, setting a coordinate system or implementing survey control points allows you to georeference the data right on the tablet. Outside of Phi.3D, options range from using software such as Trimble Realworks or Leica Cyclone, Gexcel 3D Reconstructor, Autodesk ReCap or Bloom CE, or open-source programs such as CloudCompare. However, all of these options require post-processing of the data on a computer.

Step 1: Large area laser scan with the Z+F 5010X (00:37)
Step 2: Scan occluded area with the DotProduct DPI-8X (01:51)
Step 3: Register the two scans together with Z+F LaserControl Scout on the tablet (04:02)

Tom Greaves, Chief Marketing Officer - DotProduct Boston

​How seductive?  The clean lines, crisp angles and photorealistic textures of a well executed Revit model catch your eye and make you wish the real world was half as pretty. However, beware the treachery that sometimes lurks within. 

A couple of weeks ago we scanned a training room at Modena’s facility in Cape Town, South Africa with a new DPI-8X handheld.  Just to check, we brought the scan data into Revit to compare the as-built with the Revit model of the building.  The scanning part took about 15 minutes, which included putting up and measuring a few targets with a Leica S910 Disto – more about that later. Then we pulled up the Revit model and extracted the northing, easting and elevation of one of the windows.  We used this to set the coordinate system on the point cloud.  All of this took another 5 minutes. Then we took the point cloud into Autodesk ReCap and from there exported it to the Revit model for comparison and editing.

What we found:

• The length of the training room was off by 700mm (28 inches).  We verified the point cloud using the Leica disto.
• The window we used to register the point cloud to the revit model was off about 300 mm (12 inches) from the correct location. 

 
Mitch Parsonage who delivers Revit training courses for Modena updated the Revit model on the spot. See the video – this part was very fast.  From a cold start, we had an updated Revit model in less than 30 minutes and this included some on-the-job training.
 
What did we learn?

• Trust but verify.  If your Revit model looks good, you ought to check it anyway.  This example is not isolated and there are often very good reasons for the as-built to be different than the design model.
• Checking and updating a Revit model is fast and cost effective and can be done by non-specialists.  It used to be that you would schedule a laser scanning crew, get them to come to your site, have them scan your project and then have them send you the model 2 days later (or 2 weeks).  Today we can execute this for small projects in minutes.  The DPI-8X scanner costs about the same as mobilizing a laser scanning crew for one small project.
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It’s all about the workflow.  Scanning, registration, bringing the data into Revit and then fixing it can be done quickly once you’ve had a little training and some practice.