A Processing Area can be used to define a specific area for processing a reconstruction, restricting the point cloud data displayed and the outputs' extent generated for a project to that region. This enables the removal of unnecessary content and faster processing times, with cleaner, more focused results. This article provides step-by-step instructions on drawing, importing, and editing a processing area in the Map View and the rayCloud.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Effects of a Processing Area
How to draw a processing area in the Map View
How to import a processing area in the Map View
How to edit a processing area in the Map View
How to draw a processing area in the rayCloud
How to edit a processing area in the rayCloud
Important:
- Only one processing area can be drawn or imported per project.
- It is recommended to exclude areas of low overlap that could affect the results.
- In Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > Advanced, the box next to Use Processing Area has to be checked for the processing area to affect the display in the rayCloud view and to have an effect during the processing of step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
Effects of a Processing Area
The effects of a processing area includes increasing the processing speed and the results and their display.
Processing speed
Including a Processing Area in a project can help increase the processing speed of step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh and step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index. Processing of these steps is focused inside the area while ignoring regions outside. In certain cases, wrapping the entire area in a Processing Area can speed up processing, in particular, long corridor projects.
Tip: If you want to include the whole project extent to generate results, consider drawing a processing area that is larger than the project area.
Results and their Display
If there is a Processing Area drawn before processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh:
- Results of step 1. Initial processing will remain, and not require reprocessing.
- The display of the automatic tie points will conform to the Processing Area.
- Results of step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh and step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index will process with consideration to the Processing Area.
Tip: In Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > Advanced, the box next to Use Processing Area has to be checked for the processing area to:
- Affect the display in the rayCloud view.
- Have an effect during the processing of step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
If there is a processing area after processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh:
- Results of step 1. Initial processing and step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh will remain, and not require reprocessing.
- The display of the automatic tie points and the dense point cloud will conform to the Processing Area.
- The dense point cloud exported through the list of layers will conform to the Processing Area. For more information about how to export the point cloud: How to export the point cloud.
- A 3D textured mesh generated after step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh will conform to the Processing Area.
- Future results of step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index will conform to the Processing Area.
If there is a processing area after processing step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index:
- Results of step 1. Initial processing, step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh, and step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index will remain, and not require reprocessing.
- The display of the automatic tie points and the dense point cloud will conform to the Processing Area.
- The dense point cloud exported through the list of layers will conform to the Processing Area. For more information about how to export the point cloud: How to export the point cloud.
- The 3D textured mesh generated after step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh will not conform to the Processing area and will require reprocessing of the Mesh.
- The digital terrain model (DTM) and the contour lines generated after step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index will not be affected.
How to draw a processing area in the Map View
Access: A processing area can be drawn in the Map View:
- As soon as a project is created.
- If the project has geolocation information, either image geotags or ground control points (GCPs).
- If the output coordinate system is not arbitrary.
- On the menu bar, click View > Map View.
- On the menu bar, click Map View > Processing Area > Draw.
- On the pop-up window, click OK.
- Left-click to place the first vertex then release the mouse button.
- Move your mouse and left-click to place the next vertices then release the mouse button.
- Right-click for the last vertex to close the polygon.
- Click Project > Save Project to save the processing area in the project.
How to import a processing area in the Map View
Access: A processing area can be imported in the Map View:
- As soon as a project is created.
- If the project has geolocation information, either image geotags or ground control points (GCPs).
- If the output coordinate system is not arbitrary.
- On the menu bar, click View > Map View.
- On the menu bar, click Map View > Processing Area > Import...
- Select a file in the SHP or KML format.
- Click Project > Save Project to save the processing area in the project.
How to edit a processing area in the Map View
- On the menu bar, click View > Map View.
- On the menu bar, click Map View > Processing Area > Edit...
- Double-click a cell to edit a vertex coordinate.
- Click Project > Save Project to save the processing area in the project.
Tip: You can consider removing the processing area by clicking Map View > Processing Area > Remove then drawing it again from scratch or importing it.
How to draw a processing area in the rayCloud
Access: A processing area can be drawn in the rayCloud:
- After step 1. Initial processing is completed.
- Whether the project has geolocation information, such as image geotags or ground control points (GCPs), or not.
- Whether an output coordinate system is defined or arbitrary.
- On the menu bar, click View > rayCloud.
- On the menu bar, click rayCloud > New Processing Area.
- Left-click to place the first vertex then release the mouse button.
- Move your mouse and left-click to place the next vertices then release the mouse button.
- Right-click for the last vertex to close the polygon.
Tip: Objects as well as ground control points (GCPs) and manual tie points (MTPs) are displayed even if they lie outside the area.
- Click Project > Save Project to save the processing area in the project.
How to edit a processing area in the rayCloud
Access: A processing area can be edited in the rayCloud after step 1. Initial processing is completed.
- On the menu bar, click View > rayCloud.
- Under Layers, check the box next to Processing Area to show the layer in the rayCloud.
- Under Layers, click Processing area to select the layer.
- In the rayCloud view, left-click the vertex you would like to edit then release the mouse button.
- Click the vertex again, drag it to its new position then release the mouse button.
- If necessary, in the right sidebar, change the Maximum altitude and/or the Minimum altitude to edit the thickness of the processing area. For more information: Menu View > rayCloud > Right sidebar > Processing Area.
- Click Project > Save Project to save the processing area in the project.
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