Solids
Menu: Civil / Start / Solids
The Solids interface in VisionLidar’s Civil module allows users to manage point clouds as solids, rather than as surfaces. Unlike traditional surface triangulation, solids are treated as volumetric entities, meaning that only the outer faces of the solid are represented in the mesh, while internal points remain untriangulated.
This functionality is particularly useful for:
✔ Accurate 3D object modeling (e.g., buildings, quarries, underground structures).
✔ Complex shape reconstruction with tetrahedralization.
✔ Precise volume calculations for engineering and geological studies.
1. Understanding the Solids Module
✔ Solids are created from surfaces, using triangulated mesh representation.
✔ The interface mirrors the Surfaces module, with an additional Tetrahedralization tab.
✔ Surfaces can be converted to solids and vice versa.
✔ Volume calculations are performed using tetrahedrons, the 3D equivalent of triangles.
2. Key Features of the Solids Interface
Mesh Generation (Point Cloud to Surface Triangulation)
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Mesh from Point Cloud | Creates a triangular mesh from the point cloud. |
Opened Surface | If checked, the software attempts to close open regions in the surface mesh. |
Preview | Opens a 3D viewer to inspect the generated mesh. |
Draw | Displays the triangular mesh in the main window. |
Erase | Removes the triangular mesh from the main window. |
Delete All Triangles | Clears all mesh triangles from the surface. |
Tetrahedralization (3D Volume Generation)
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Tetrahedralization | Generates tetrahedrons (3D triangles) to define the solid. |
Try to Close Open Regions | Attempts to close gaps in the solid before tetrahedralization. |
Volume 3D | Calculates total volume of the generated tetrahedrons. |
Remove Selected Tetrahedrons | Deletes specific tetrahedrons selected in the main window. |
Remove Tetrahedrons by Edge Length | Removes tetrahedrons exceeding a specified maximum edge length. |
Draw | Displays the tetrahedralized solid in the main window. |
Erase | Removes the tetrahedralized representation from the main window. |
Delete All Tetrahedrons | Clears all tetrahedrons from the surface. |
Max. Edge Length | Defines the maximum allowed edge length for tetrahedrons. |
3. How to Generate a Solid from a Point Cloud
🔹 Step 1: Prepare the Point Cloud
✔ Isolate only the relevant points from the object.
✔ Remove noise, ground points, and outliers before processing.
✔ Export the cleaned point cloud as a surface to the Civil module.
🔹 Step 2: Create a Mesh from the Point Cloud
✔ Open Civil > Solids and load the surface.
✔ Click Mesh from Point Cloud to generate a triangulated surface.
✔ If the mesh has holes, check "Opened Surface" to attempt closure.
✔ Click Preview to inspect the triangular mesh.
🔹 Step 3: Perform Tetrahedralization
✔ Click Tetrahedralization to generate 3D volume elements.
✔ Use Remove Tetrahedrons to eliminate oversized elements.
✔ Set Max. Edge Length to refine solid accuracy.
✔ Click Preview to review changes.
🔹 Step 4: Save and Use the Solid
✔ If satisfied, click Save to store the final solid model.
✔ The solid can be used for volume calculations, 3D modeling, and analysis.
4. Best Practices for Solid Generation
✔ Ensure a clean point cloud – Remove unnecessary points before tetrahedralization.
✔ Use appropriate edge length limits – Prevent oversized tetrahedrons from distorting the model.
✔ Check for gaps – Use the "Try to Close Open Regions" option if required.
✔ Compare solid volumes with reference surfaces – Useful for cut & fill analysis in excavation projects.
✔ Merge multiple surfaces carefully – Avoid generating unwanted internal tetrahedrons.
🚀 Optimize 3D Modeling with High-Precision Solids in VisionLidar!
With advanced mesh triangulation, tetrahedralization, and volume calculations, the Solids module in VisionLidar allows precise 3D object reconstruction, making it an essential tool for civil engineering, mining, geospatial analysis, and BIM applications. 🌍📏🏗️