Point Layer

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Two-dimensional point cloud data, stored in an MRP file, can be displayed in an algorithm using either a Point LUT Color Layer or a Point RGB Color layer. To display point cloud data in an algorithm, you can use techniques that mirror displaying rasters, including – 

  • Drag & drop an MRP file onto the dialog
  • Select “Open>New Algorithm>Raster” and browse for an MRP file
  • Select “Open>New Algorithm>Raster Source” and select a raster source you have populated with one or more compatible MRP files
  • Select “Open>New Algorithm>Recent Point Clouds” and select an MRP file
  • Select “Add Layer>Point LUT Color Layer” then manually edit the layer properties
  • Select “Add Layer>Point RGB Color Layer” then manually edit the layer properties
  • Select “Add Layer>Layer for Raster” and browse for an MRP file
  • Select “Add Layer>Layer for Raster Source” and select a raster source you have populated with one or more compatible MRP files
  • Select “Add Layer>Layer for Recent Point Clouds” and select an MRP file 

Like contour layers, it is likely you will want your point layers at the top of the algorithm tree so that they display on top of any raster layers. Also, point layers can be displayed in 3D algorithms. 

By default, the system will always create a Point LUT Color layer. If you want to use a Point RGB Color layer you will have to add the layer and populate it manually. Point LUT Color layers are much like a LUT Color layer, where point color is determined by selecting a data band, defining a color data transform, and a color table. Point RGB Color layers allow you to define color by selecting data bands for the Red, Green, and Blue color components. Color modulation in point layers works just like raster layers, except that all color components (including the opacity component) and connected to the same MRP file (or raster source) and you can only define that MRP (or raster source) in the primary color component property page. 

To support rendering LiDAR data, several special color tables are shipped for coloring returns by classification. For most surveys select either the “LiDAR_Classification” or “LiDAR_Classification_alt” color tables which provide unique color codes for classes 0 to 18. If you have extended classifications, then the “LiDAR_Classification64” and “LiDAR_Classificatio256” provide 64 and 256 unique colors respectively. These color tables also define the data transform from classification index to color index. 

Similar to the Contour layer, a Point layer has a special “Points” property page. On this page you can define the following properties – 

  • Point size. A size of zero produces a single pixel point and any size greater than zero generates a circular point. The point size is scaled by the global “Pixel Scaling Factor” editable in the Options dialog.
  • Override point color. Turn off any color modulation and render all points using the same color. Define the color and opacity.
  • LAS Query. For an MRP containing LiDAR data, you can select a LAS Query. This will select desired returns from the pulse-return data. 

The density of points displayed at any time is related to the cell size that you defined in the MRP file when you created it. In many cases, or from time to time, this may be either less or more dense than desired. You can change the point density by modifying the “Adjust Resolution” setting on the primary color component property page (either Color or Red). The setting adjusts the resolution level targeted, so reducing the setting increases the point density, and increasing the setting decreases the point density. 

You can modulate the opacity of points by enabling the Opacity component, selecting a band to modulate by and defining an opacity data transform. You have to choose a data band from the MRP file or raster source used in the point layer. 

The Mask component works in three different ways in point layer – 

  • In the Mask component page, select the MRP file or raster source in use in the point layer (note that this is the only MRP file you can select). Choose a data band and then choose a Data Conditioning filter. The filter will determine whether points are displayed or not. For example, with a line-based survey you can use this to prevent rendering points in tie lines.
  • In the Mask component page, select a raster or raster source. Points will only be displayed when they lie within the boundaries of valid cells in the raster.
  • In the Mask component page, check “Mask by Polygon” then select a polygon table. Points will only be displayed when they lie within the boundaries of the polygon.