Process Scans Options

Structured Workflow Options

Point Database

Fig 1: Creating Point Database

Scanner Range – EdgeWise uses this parameter to determine the distance from the scanner location at which points are included in the database. This setting is locked to the maximum value for the Unstructured Workflow.

Point Spacing – the minimum spacing between points saved in the database. The larger the number, the sparser the point cloud will be. Denser point clouds may look slightly better, but they take considerably more disk space and time to create.

Create ClearView Databases – [Structured Workflow Only] Option to create a point database used for viewing the project using the ClearView setting—see ClearView Mode. Note: Creating this additional database can potentially increase processing time for certain scans upwards of two- or three-fold.

Automated Extractions

Piping

Fig 2: Creating a Piping Model

Extraction Mode determines which automated piping algorithm EdgeWise uses for extracting a pipe model.

• Minimize False Positives - attempts to filter out more non-cylindrical items and other false positives.
• Maximize Number of Extractions - will not filter out as many false positives, resulting in more pipe extractions, but possibly more false positive extractions.

If your scanner has a low noise level and you there was good scan coverage of your project, you should choose Minimize False Positives. If your scanner has a high noise level or you have poor scan coverage of your project, you should instead choose Maximize Number of Extractions.

Filter Short Pipe Segments allows you to remove pipes that are automatically extracted if their length would be shorter than a percentage of their diameter size.

Remove Pipes outside of Diameter Range – This setting allows users to set a minimum and maximum value for the pipes Edgewise extracts. Pipes that fall outside this range will be automatically removed as part of the Process Scans workflow.

Automatically Merge Pipes automatically merge the .c3pipes files and load the model into the scene. If you select this option and you are NOT creating a point database, a prompt will appear for a Point Database file. This Point Database file should contain at least all of the scans in the present process scans run. We recommend leaving this box checked. c3pipes files, on their own, cannot be loaded into EdgeWise; their merged counterpart, c3m files, can. It is best to let the algorithm do this up front.

Building

Fig 3: Creating a Building Model

EdgeWise will automatically extract walls and levels in this automated process. In addition, support is available for this process for the Structured, Unstructured and Database workflows, and supports all available file types. Check Automatically Extract Wall Model and EdgeWise will automatically create a wall model during process scans. If you do not wish to extract walls, simply un-check the box.

Wall Extraction Distance Tolerance – When EdgeWise is attempting to automatically detect a wall, this tolerance controls the maximum distance a point can be from the surface of the wall while still being used for the extraction process. The algorithm will not use Points outside of this distance from the surface of a wall in the extraction process for that wall.

Minimum Distance Between Levels – During Automatic Level detection, this parameter will limit the creation of levels within the specified distance of an already detected level, essentially reducing the number of duplicate or superfluous levels.

Use Legacy: Available only in the Structured Workflow, checking this option switches to the Legacy Building Extraction Algorithm.

See the Legacy Building Workflow page for more information on this set of tools.

Ground

Fig 4: Creating Ground Models

EdgeWise provides an automatic ground-seeking algorithm that starts at the lowest point within the scan and grows out to nearby ground points, following any moderately sloping surfaces upward (and downward). Three different parameters are adjustable within the Ground Surface module.

Maximum Slope – The steepest angle that the growing algorithm will use to be able to climb up while looking for ground points.

Max Z-Jump Between Points – The highest distance in the z-direction that the program can climb above existing ground points in order to find a new ground point.

Approximate Ground Sample Distance – The setting that determines the approximate ground sampling distance used to build a triangulated surface (TIN).