How to Use Surface by Section

Menu: BIM / Surface by Section

The Surface by Sections tool in VisionLidar allows users to vectorize buildings and structures by creating sectional views of a point cloud. The workflow involves defining a bounding box, extracting sections, applying a vectorization template, and exporting the results.

1. Setting Up the Bounding Box

Upon opening Surface by Sections, the first step is to:
✔ Enter a name for the surface.
✔ Define the bounding box, which determines the area of interest.
✔ Adjust the bounding box’s size, position, and orientation as needed.

💡 Important: Once sections are created, the bounding box cannot be modified. Ensure it encompasses all elements that need to be vectorized.

2. Creating Sections

At first, the section list will be empty. To generate sections:
✔ Create all sections – Inserts stations at specified Step intervals.
✔ Pick new section – Manually add sections at specific elevations.
✔ Enter an elevation value – Insert a section at an exact height.

3. Defining the Template

A template represents the vectorized shape of a section.

Creating a Template

✔ Click on the Edit icon for a section.
✔ A secondary window will appear, showing the sectional view.
✔ Use:

• Pick and add – Adds new template points.

• Pick and insert – Inserts points between existing ones.
  ✔ If the shape should be closed, check the Closed option.
  ✔ Load an existing CSV file to apply a saved template.

Applying a Template Across Sections

✔ Next Section (Ctrl + 2) – Copies the previous template to the new section.
✔ Adjust as needed – Modify points slightly to fit new elevations.

💡 Templates speed up the vectorization process by allowing minor edits instead of redrawing every section.

4. Editing Templates

To edit a section:
✔ Click the Edit icon in the section list.
✔ Activate Edit points.
✔ Adjust points in the secondary window:

• CTRL + Click + Drag – Moves a single point.

• CTRL + Select multiple points – Moves multiple points at once.
  ✔ Use Rectangular Selection to select multiple points at once.
  ✔ CTRL + Click on a line – Moves the entire template.

💡 Note: The secondary view cannot be rotated while editing points. If needed, reset it perpendicular to the alignment using the designated icon.

5. Navigating Between Sections

✔ Previous/Next Section – Click on the buttons or use Ctrl + 1 and Ctrl + 2.
✔ Empty sections – The template is applied automatically to empty sections, requiring only small adjustments.

6. Generating & Exporting the Surface

✔ Create surface – Generates the final surface and adds it to the Explorer (Objects tab).
✔ Erase surface – Removes the surface from both the screen and Explorer.
✔ Export – Saves the surface as DXF, SHP, GeoJSON, KML, or MapInfo format.

7. Summary of Key Features

✔ Automated & Manual Section Creation – Supports automated detection and manual adjustments.
✔ Template-Based Vectorization – Reduces time spent tracing sections manually.
✔ Easy Editing & Refinement – Modify individual points or entire templates.
✔ Flexible Section Navigation – Move between previous/next sections seamlessly.
✔ CAD & GIS Compatibility – Export in DXF, SHP, GeoJSON, and other formats.

🚀 Convert Point Clouds into CAD-Ready Vector Data!

By following this process, users can efficiently extract, vectorize, and export accurate building outlines and sectional views, streamlining BIM, CAD, and GIS workflows. 🏗️✨