A point cloud typically contains information from multiple scan or image files. After the imported files have been indexed (or exported, for photo projects), you are working with the aggregate point cloud, not the individual files. For example, Scan Regions, which are used to organize and filter the content of the point cloud, often extend across the boundaries of the original scan files.
A point cloud project file (RCP) is a relatively small file that references the point cloud laser scan files, but does not contain them. In order to use a project file in scan projects, the RCS files must be available.
You can also export scan files in the project as a single RCP/RCS, E57, PTS, or PCG file. Because this process packages all of the information in the project, these files can be quite large.
| File type | Description | Use | Create |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCP/RCS | A project file that points to indexed point clouds, and includes information such as Scan Regions that you have defined and other settings that you have used to analyze the data. | Create a new project that acts as an access point to the point cloud. The file folders that contain the individual indexed files must also be accessible. | Save a group of files that have been imported. |
| E57, PTS, PCG | A single scan file that combines information from the files in the project | Open a package file that can be shared with products that cannot read RCS or RCP formats | Export a group of files that have been imported. |
| OBJ | Simple, common format that plainly illustrates all 3D geometrical data. | Wide application usages; common for 3D applications, printing, common modeling programs, etc. | Upload a group of JPEGs, stitch with the cloud data service, and export. |
| RCM | Mesh file | Import into Autodesk ReMake™. | Upload a group of JPEGs, stitch with the cloud data service, and export. |
| FBX | 3D model file with widely used universal exchange capabilities. | Import mainly into other Autodesk applications (Maya ®). | Upload a group of JPEGs, stitch with the cloud data service, and export. |
| RCS | A project file that points to exported point clouds, and includes information such as target regions that you have defined and other settings that you have used to analyze or define the data. | Create a new photo project that acts as an access point to the point cloud. The file folders that contain the individual imported files must also be accessible. | Upload a group of JPEGs, stitch with the cloud data service, and export. |
| ortho | Generally .tif (GeoTIFF) files; these minimally include embedded georeferencing information | Import into and interpreted mainly by Autodesk InfraWorks™. | Upload a group of JPEGs, stitch with the cloud data service, and export. |
See also Supported File Formats.
The ultimate result of laser scan or photogrammetry file imports is the capability to register (stitch) files either automatically, manually, or a combination of both, into projects with limitless mapping, texturing, and geometrical precision, all in panoramic, real-world context (scan projects with structured data also allow for RealView. Scan and photo projects can also be combined as exported point clouds (eg, RCS files) using commonly defined survey points.