Orthophotos

Orthophotos are the images that arise from the projection of the points onto a plane. This means that the projection is distortion-free. The size of the area determines the size of the orthophoto. The thickness of the disk determines how many points in depth are projected onto a plane.

The point cloud in 3D is only displayed in the free construction. The orthophotos from this are available in the individual model areas. This allows the orthophotos to be used to work in focus in an adjustable range.

Orthophotos in the work plane

Each work plane can contain an orthophoto, which can be activated via the raster settings. The size of the clip box thus determines the size of the orthophoto.

• Using the 1-7-1 display circuit, check that the images of the work plane are turned on

• 1-2-07 "Hide point cloud"

This means that the point cloud is now hidden and only the orthophoto is visible.

To better see the difference between the point cloud and the orthophoto, we change the color of the points of the orthophoto.

• 1-02-6 "Point Cloud Settings"

• Color of the dots from the orthophoto to "red"

Orthophotos in the floor plan

Modellbereich Grundriss

The "Point Cloud Settings" function is also available in the "Floor Plan" model area. To do this, we first create a floor ground floor at UK 0.00m.

• 2-1 "floor"

• Create floor ground floor with UK 0.00m

• 1-2-04 "Point Cloud Settings"

In the 2D model area, only the settings for orthophoto generation are required; Point size and color apply to all floors, the clipbox size is set separately for each floor.

As boundaries for the clip box, we use a value of 0.5m upwards and downwards, starting from the UK floor. This gives us a total layer thickness of 1m.

• "From below UK floor" = 0.5

• "From below UK floor" = 0.5

The lateral boundaries in the X and Y directions can, but do not have to, be used to create an orthophoto.

The visibility of the orthophoto in the display circuit can be found in the building elements of the current floor. Here with the pictures of the floor.

Orthophotos in the ceiling

No orthophotos are taken in the ceiling itself. Here, the orthophotos from the floor plan are also displayed if they are to be worked with.

Orthophotos in the roof system

In the "Roof Alignment" model area, the "Point Cloud Settings" function is available at the same location

• 1-2-04 "Point Cloud Settings"

Since we are also in 2D mode here, the settings are similar to those in the floor plan area.

All parameters are defined uniformly for the entire roof.

Orthophotos in the wall

We switch to the ground floor plan model area and enter two walls as examples. The wall design does not play a role here, but the thickness should be chosen so that it covers the relevant points of the point cloud.

We then switch to the "Wall Construction" model area of the wall that runs parallel to the Y-axis of the structure.

Modellbereich Wandkonstruktion – Wand parallel Y global

The "Point Cloud Settings" function is also available in the "Wall Construction" model area. We reach them via:

• 1-2-04 "Point Cloud Settings"

To get a clearer orthophoto, we choose an orthophoto point size of 2 pixels in original color.

• Dot Size 2 - Original Color

• Check the box next to "Create orthophoto"

• Confirm with OK

The point size and color settings apply uniformly to all walls. The size of the clipbox, on the other hand, is defined individually for each wall.

By reducing the point cloud, the orthophoto is also reduced accordingly.

• Unreduce in DICAM (all values to 0) and back into the wall

The orthophoto has already recalculated itself accordingly and now shows the entire cut area.

If we leave all the values of the clipbox at 0.000, we get an orthophoto with the size of the wall body and all points within the wall. However, if there is a point cloud on the right side outside the wall, for example, it is not included in the orthophoto.

By increasing the value "Area behind / below building element", points outside the wall can also be included in the orthophoto.

In the wall along the X-axis of the structure, we also open the "Point Cloud Settings" function and enter the following values:

• Area around building element in view: 3,000 m

• Area in front of / above building element: -0.100 m

• Area behind / below building element: 0.000 m

Pay attention to the visible side of the wall.

The orthophoto now covers an area of 3 m around the wall body in the view – for example, the area of the basement is also visible in the orthophoto. Due to the negative value in front of the building element, 10 cm of the points within the wall (e.g. part of the door leaves) are not included in the orthophoto.

Orthophotos in the views/sections

Of course, the "Point Cloud Settings" function is also available in the "Views / Sections" model areas.

• 1-2-04 "Point Cloud Settings"

In the 2D model area, only the settings for orthophoto generation are required; Point size and color apply to all views and sections, the clip box size is set separately for each view or section.

Storage of orthophotos

The generated orthophotos are stored directly in the building model. This means that they remain visible even without an active connection to the point cloud – regardless of whether an e57 file is available.

This means: Even users without the point cloud module can continue working with the orthophotos and continue the project without any problems.

In this case, it is not possible to recalculate the orthophotos, but the visualization and use are completely preserved.

Resolution of orthophotos

Since the orthophotos are stored with the structure, the resolution has an impact on the file size and storage speed. Higher resolution means correspondingly more accurate details if the point cloud is connected appropriately filtered. The standard resolution is 300 pixels / m, which is also used for the orthophotos on plans.