2D/3D output is missing / functionality is not available - PIX4Dcloud

This article serves as a troubleshooter for cases when an output is missing from the 2D/3D view or when a functionality is not enabled on PIX4Dcloud / PIX4Dcloud Advanced.

Orthomosaic and/or DSM

• Error description 1: The Orthomosaic and/or DSM are not displayed in the 2D view. The Orthomosaic layer has a warning message "This layer can't be displayed". In the Files & Reports > Results section, the Orthomosaic and/or DSM show the PROCESSED status. The files have been imported and are available for download, but cannot be displayed.
  • Cause: 

    This error is expected for outputs having a significant size and/or a complex geometry. In this case, the tiling process failed, meaning that the generated 2D output could not be split into smaller web maps (tiles) for several zoom levels and, for this reason, the output cannot be displayed. The output has been generated, and indeed it can be downloaded from the Results page, but the file is too big to be displayed on the 2D view of PIX4Dcloud.

    So far, these are the variables that seem to be impacting the tile generation speed:

    • The significant size of the file (large surface and/or high resolution, a large number of points).
    • Corridor projects are usually harder to tile.
• Error description 2: After uploading from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud for processing, the Orthomosaic and/or DSM are not displayed in the 2D view. In the Files & Reports > Results section the DSM and/or Orthomosaic show the EMPTY status.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The correct output format was not selected before uploading.

    1. In PIX4Dmapper, re-open the project. On the menu bar, click Process > Processing Options...
    2. Select the processing step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index.
    3. Mark the checkbox corresponding to Step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index.
    4. Select the tab DSM and Orthomosaic.
    5. Check the GeoTIFF box for the desired output. The Merge Tiles box does not matter.
    For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index > DSM and Orthomosaic.
    6. Re-upload the project to PIX4Dcloud.

Index Map (NDVI)

• Error description 1: After uploading from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud for processing, the NDVI is not displayed in the 2D view. In the  Files & Reports > Results section the NDVI shows the EMPTY status.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The correct output format was not selected before uploading.

    1. In PIX4Dmapper, re-open the project. On the menu bar, click Process > Processing Options...
    2. Select the processing step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index.
    3. Mark the checkbox corresponding to Step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index.
    4. Select the tab Index Calculator.
    5. Under Reflectance Map, check the GeoTIFF box to generate the Reflectance Maps. The Merge Tiles box does not matter.
    6. Check the box of the NDVI formula to generate the NDVI Index Map.
    For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index > Index Calculator.
    7. Re-upload the project to PIX4Dcloud.

• Error description 2: After an NDVI file is uploaded directly to PIX4Dcloud, it is not visible in the project.
  • Cause / How to solve:
    The NDVI is too large to be supported by PIX4Dcloud.
    
    Downsample the file with third-party software and then re-import the simplified version into the PIX4Dcloud project.

Point cloud

• Error description 1: After running a process in PIX4Dcloud, the Point Cloud is not displayed. 

  • Cause / how to solve

    The generated point cloud is too large to be supported by PIX4Dcloud.

    Unfortunately, the only solution would be to reduce the number of images (if possible) and process again (it will consume credits again) or fly again a bit higher so that the same area is covered with a bigger pixel size and the point cloud will have fewer points or Downsample the file with third-party software and then re-import the simplified version into the PIX4Dcloud project.
• Error description 2: After a point cloud is uploaded directly to PIX4Dcloud, it is not visible in the project or it is partially visible.
  • Cause / How to solve:
    The point cloud is too large to be supported by PIX4Dcloud.
    
    Downsample the file with third-party software and then re-import the simplified version into the PIX4Dcloud project.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    Only one LAS/LAZ file can be uploaded as a result to PIX4Dcloud.

    What is happening is that PIX4Dcloud is only able to load one file at a time, so it's displaying the last one imported.

• Error description 3: After uploading from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud for processing, the Point Cloud is not displayed in the 3D view. In the Files & Reports > Results section the Point Cloud shows the EMPTY status.
   
  • Cause / How to solve:
    The correct output format was not selected before uploading.
    1. In PIX4Dmapper, re-open the project. On the menu bar, click Process > Processing Options...
    2. Select the processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
    3. Mark the checkbox corresponding to Step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
    4. Select the tab Point Cloud.
    5. Check the LAS box and merge tiles into one file. For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > Point Cloud.
    6. Re-upload the project to PIX4Dcloud. Be aware that reprocessing will consume credits again.

3D Textured Mesh

• Error description 1: After a 3D mesh is uploaded directly to PIX4Dcloud, it is not visible in the project.
  • Cause / How to solve: PIX4Dcloud supports visualizing OBJ Mesh files that are smaller than 1 GB. Ensure that the OBJ 3D Textured Mesh is smaller than 1 GB before uploading it to PIX4Dcloud.

• • Cause / How to solve:  PIX4Dcloud supports 3D Textured Mesh files having a JPG texture file that is at maximum 16384 x 16384 pixels. Please ensure that your JPG Texture file is smaller than this size before uploading it to PIX4Dcloud.
• Error description 3: After uploading from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud for processing, the 3D Textured Mesh is not displayed in the 3D view. In the Files & Reports > Results section the Mesh OBJ shows the EMPTY status.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The correct output format was not selected before uploading.

    1. In PIX4Dmapper, re-open the project. On the menu bar, click Process > Processing Options...
    2. Select the processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
    3. Mark the checkbox corresponding to Step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
    4. Select the tab 3D Textured Mesh.
    5. Check the box Generate 3D Textured Mesh.
    6. Check the OBJ box.
    For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > 3D Textured Mesh.
    7. Re-upload the project to PIX4Dcloud.

3D view

• Error description 1: The Point Cloud and 3D Textured Mesh are uploaded as results and they are not aligned.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The mesh (.obj, .jpg and .mtl) uploaded as a result to the Cloud is indeed not georeferenced. In all of the PIX4D processes, a file called offset.xyz is always generated together with the mesh files and is used to place it in the right location

    if the 3Dmesh is not coming from a PIX4D process, that file has to be created manually, otherwise, PIX4Dcloud will not be able to locate the 3Dmesh in the right position.

• Error description 2: The 3D view doesn't render.
  • Cause / How ti solve: It is necessary that the web browser application supports optimized WebGL for rendering 3D graphics. This is a known issue for some iOS devices. For more information: ArcGIS help, Sketchfab help.

Virtual inspector

• Error description 1: When selecting the Inspect tool, the following message appears on the right panel: "The Virtual Inspector is not available. Make sure the project was processed in the cloud".
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The Virtual Inspector is only available under these conditions:

    • The project has been processed on PIX4Dcloud (that excludes projects created by uploading results).
    • The project has been computed with PIX4Dmatic and the results have been uploaded to the cloud, and the original images have also been uploaded.
    • The project has been created with PIX4Dmatic and it has been uploaded to cloud for processing.

• • • The project images were not captured using a fisheye lens camera (e.g. Bebop 2, GoPro).
    • For projects uploaded from PIX4Dmapper for processing, ensure the box Camera Internals and Externals, AAT, BBA is checked (default) in Process > Processing Options... > 1. Initial Processing > Calibration.

Elevation profile

• Error description 1: The elevation profile is missing / doesn't work.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The project does not have a DSM.

Volume calculation

• Error description 1: The volume computation is not available.
  • Cause / How to solve: 
    The project does not have a DSM.

Timeline / Cannot add a dataset to a site

• Error description 1: The timeline is not displayed at the top of the project / I cannot add a CAD overlay / I cannot add a dataset from inside my project.
  • Cause / How to solve: 

    The dataset is not assigned to a site yet.

    Assign the dataset to a site first. Then, the timeline, the overlay layer and the Add dataset option will appear in the project view.

Design overlay

• Error description 1:  DXF is not visible in 2D viewer.
  • Cause / How to solve:
    One of these might be the reason:
    • DXF shifted with respect to the orthomosaic in the 2D viewer because the project and the DXF are in different coordinate systems.
    • DXF with incorrect scale.
    • DXF with incorrect rotation.
    Possible solutions are described in How to georeference, scale and rotate a DXF file using AutoCAD - PIX4Dcloud.