This article explains how to process projects acquired with PIX4Dcatch in PIX4Dmatic.

PIX4Dcatch is a powerful tool for terrestrial data acquisition that combines the following to get the most out of your mobile device:

• Image acquisition.
• LiDAR acquisition*.
• RTK geolocation with viDoc RTK rover*.

How to import a PIX4Dcatch dataset into PIX4Dmatic

Plan your project and acquire the data in PIX4Dcatch. For more information: PIX4Dcatch Getting Started.

After acquiring the data, export the data for processing. For more information: Export PIX4Dcatch Data (iOS/Android).

After the data is in the desired directory, create a new project. For more information: Create a New Project in PIX4Dmatic.

How to process a PIX4Dcatch dataset in PIX4Dmatic

Images acquired with PIX4Dcatch can be seamlessly imported into PIX4Dmatic and processed with minimal adjustments to processing options. In most cases, the default processing options in PIX4Dmatic should be used for processing PIX4Dcatch data.

Calibrate

A good starting point is to apply the Oblique processing template and the PIX4Dcatch calibrate template. The Densify - Noise filter and Orthomosaic - oblique processing options are enabled by default.

PIX4Dmatic automatically imports all available information and recognizes the LiDAR information (depth map images) or if the images have precise geolocation acquired with the viDoc RTK rover. 

Densify

In case datasets acquired with PIX4Dcatch contain sky, we recommend enabling the Sky filter processing option.

 

Note: The Sky filter processing option is disabled by default as it significantly increases the processing time. We recommend only using it with smaller datasets that contain a lot of sky in images.

Depth point cloud

The depth point cloud is generated from LiDAR depth maps and is only available when capturing with a capable device in PIX4Dcatch. For more information, see the Depth point cloud article.

Depth dense fusion

The depth and dense fusion option is only available with PIX4Dcatch projects that contain a LiDAR depth map.

It combines the point cloud generated from images with the one generated from LiDAR depth maps. The fusion point cloud is often denser and more complete in areas where traditional photogrammetry may struggle to reconstruct complex geometries or homogeneous textures fully. For more information, see the Dense and Depth fusion article.

Mesh

When processing with PIX4Dcatch data that contains LiDAR depth maps, the mesh can be generated with one of the following point clouds:

• Dense point cloud.
• Depth point cloud.
• Depth and dense fusion point cloud.

These settings are outlined in the Processing options - Mesh article. Depending on the scene being mapped, select the option that provides the most accurate reconstruction.