Trouble importing files (Txt.,LAS,CSV..)

[AMBlair]

So this is my first time using CloudCompare and I'm having trouble with what should be the easiest part of the process, opening a compatible file. I've used these files with numerous other point cloud viewers and have done much analysis on them but am having trouble seeing these files when I upload them into CloudCompare.

I'm simply navigating to "Open" and selecting either a LAS file, TXT file, or CSV file (I've tried all three), and all I get in the viewer is a straight line of what looks to be a "smushed" linear point cloud. I get this result from everything I try to import.

Anyone have any insight here?

Thank you,
Aaron

[daniel]

That's odd indeed. Can you post the first lines of an ASCII cloud here?

Isn't there simply a scale issue along one of the axis? It looks like the Z values are much bigger than the others.

[AMBlair]

Thanks for the quick reply Daniel, I've attached an image of a text file that I've been having trouble importing. Also, the properties of the file which look strange to me...the XY box dimensions look small compare to Z..is this what you were thinking?

[daniel]

How strange. The X and Y dimensions are indeed squeezed once loaded. Does CC complains about big coordinates or something like that?

What version are you using exactly? (it should appear as the main window title)

[AMBlair]

I believe I am using the latest version (2.5.4 64bit). I have noticed the following alerts in the console window. See image.

[daniel]

Nothing strange here... can you send me the file?

[AMBlair]

The smallest file I have to give is about 17,000KB, which seems to be too large to post on the forum. Is there another way I could send you a file or two?

[daniel]

If its size is < 10 Mo once zipped you can send it by email (cloudcompare [at] danielgm.net).

Otherwise you can share the file with google drive, dropbox, yousendit, etc. I can also open a ftp folder for you on CC's server if you prefer.

[daniel]

Ok, so I confirm that after looking at the file you sent me, the X and Y coordinates are about 10,000 times smaller than the Z dimension. The attached image is what I see if I multiply by 10,000 the coordinates before loading the cloud.

Not sure how they were generated (do you the respective units of each dimension?). I wonder also how other software manage to display this correctly?

You can rescale the X and Y dimension in CloudCompare after the file has been loaded (with 'Edit > Multiply/Scale') but it will be too late (you'll lose a lot of numerical precision).

[AMBlair]

This file was generated by a terrestrial laser scanner (ground based lidar) with XY coordinates in decimal degrees and the Z dimension in meters. So perhaps this Z dimension in meters is causing the problems?

One software that I used without any problems was QuickTerrain reader, just for a quick visualization of the point cloud.