The Section View feature enables accurate vertical and horizontal project sections, ensuring vectorization on a single plane. Easily adjust the section box parameters to define and control section content for enhanced precision and customization.
Section view in PIX4Dmatic.
Note: This feature is available from PIX4Dmatic version 1.63 and above
IN THIS ARTICLE
Access
To access the Section view:
- From the bottom panel, navigate to
Section View - From the Content Panel on the left side, navigate to
Sections
How to create a section
There are two methods available (in 3D view), depending on the use case:
- Draw Section: A line is drawn to indicate the desired location for the vertical section. This method is ideal for scenarios where sections are not interconnected.
- Select Polyline: A polyline is selected to serve as a guide for multiple sections. This method is primarily used in terrain and road workflows, where a polyline (e.g., the axis of a road) is selected to maintain sectioning over an extended distance.
Tip: To create multiple parallel sections, define an interval at the top of the panel and use the < > arrows to step through the sections.
Tip: It is possible to start drawing a profile anytime using the Ctrl+D key combination.
Adjusting the section box
The section box defines the visible area in the bottom panel. The half-transparent face represents the section plane, which faces the interior of the box. Ensure the plane is oriented towards the region intended for vectorization.
To adjust the section box, there are two options:
- From the 3D view: Provides a quick and rough box adjustment.
- From the bottom panel: Allows for precise adjustments of the box's height, width, depth and rotation on the X, Y, and Z axes. The depth determines the visible area in the bottom panel, and this method offers greater control over rotation angles.
To adjust the section plane:
- Use the mouse scroll wheel or pinch zoom on the trackpad to zoom into the section.
Click and drag with the mouse cursor to pan within the section. - To hide/display the grid click enable or disable the Display grid
button. The grid in the section can be used to have an estimation of the scale. There are major and minor lines. The distance between the lines can be seen in the bottom right corner. This value is automatically updated when zooming in or out. - To snap the section plane to the point cloud, click on the Snap to point cloud
button - The invert section direction icon
in the bottom panel. - To rotate the section between horizontal and vertical, click on the Rotate section 90°
button. - To reset the view, click on the Reset view button
. This will reset the section view focusing on the profile box. - For more information click on the Info button
.
Vectorize
After creating the section box, the next step is to vectorize it manually or by using the Draping function.
The Draping function automatically locates the best-fitting polyline for the terrain and applies this polyline to both the Section view and the 3D view.
To use this feature:
- Select a section box from the 3D view
- Navigate to Draping
- Click on Drape in section
A polyline will automatically be created in the section view and the 3D view. When using Drape in section, adjust the polyline's complexity once it is visible in the scene.
Each section is listed in the Content panel under "Sections," aiding in navigation, toggling, deletion, and export selection.
Geometries (i.e. polylines) are stored in the vector layers along with other elements. All geometries created, manually or via the Drape in section function, are constrained to the section plane and can only be edited in the Section View bottom panel. Geometries cannot be moved out of the section plane. To break this link:
- Delete the section from the Content Panel, which will then enable the geometries or
- Right-click the geometry in the Section view panel and select Detach [geometry] from section
Tip: For sections created from a polyline (select polyline), offset the section box by the desired amount, place it in the preferred location, or fill in the information in the pop-up and confirm.
Orthoplane
The Orthoplane feature generates orthomosaics for vertical and horizontal surfaces, such as building facades or floor plans. It provides accurate, scaled 2D representations. Orthoplane is ideal for architectural surveys, inspections, and preservation projects, offering precise measurements and detailed visual information without distortion. It integrates seamlessly with existing georeferencing and photogrammetry techniques to ensure accurate mapping of vertical structures.
Note: The Orthoplane feature is available for PIX4Dmatic version 1.66 or newer.
To create an Orthoplane in PIX4Dmatic:
- Create a Section by clicking the Draw section.
- Navigate to the Orthoplane tab.
- The following settings can be set:
| Point cloud |
This processing option defines which point cloud is used for the DSM generation. The following options are available:
|
| Algorithm | Allows switching between the orthomosaic creation algorithms.
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| Resolution | Defines the spatial resolution used to generate the orthoplane. The orthoplane resolution is the same as the resolution of the DSM. For example, if the DSM resolution is set to 5 cm then the orthoplane resolution is also 5 cm. |
| Surface smoothing |
This setting is applied to the generated DSM. When using Low values, the final DSM contains sharper features and edges. When using High values, the DSM is smoothed out.
|
| Interpolation |
Affects the completeness of the generated DSM:
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| Deghosting | By default disabled: Removes objects that move during the flight when generating the orthomosaic. For example, a moving animal in the images will not appear on the generated orthoplane, when the Deghosting option is enabled. |
- After selecting the desired settings, click on Generate orthoplane.
Tip: Generating a new orthoplane will not replace the existing orthoplanes.
Export
After creating the Section view and/or the Orthoplane and modifying the settings, click on Export to export the Section view or the Orthoplane to the location identified in the Destination setting. The status bar will be updated with the progress of the export.
Section view
After the export is complete, a .dxf file will be created in the desired location for further use. The .dxf file will contain the polyline(s) created within each Section view.
Orthoplane
After the export is complete, a .jpg file will be created in the desired location for further use. A complimentary .jgw file is also created in the same folder to georeference the Orthoplane.