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*.

PIX4Dmatic is well suited to process these datasets and has incorporated many features to combine and take advantage of the unique qualities of these sources.

How to import a PIX4Dcatch dataset into PIX4Dmatic

With a completed PIX4Dcatch project on a mobile device, it is ready to be exported and processed using PIX4Dmatic.

1. In the PIX4Dcatch app open the project whose files need to be processed in PIX4Dmatic.
2. Export the project from the mobile device by tapping Export all data to save to a local folder.

   

   Tap the menu iconto access the export dialog screen.

   For more information: Export PIX4Dcatch Data (iOS/Android).

3. Open PIX4Dmatic .
4. To create a new project, import the project data. The _inputs folder contains all of the data from the capture and is aptly named projectname_inputs. Depending on the device used for capture, different files will be visible in this folder.

   Projects captured with LiDAR capable devices.

   

   When importing projects taken with LiDAR capable devices, import all Confidence.tiffs, DepthMap.tiffs, and Image.jpgs. The Confidence.tiff and DepthMap.tiff files represent the LiDAR depth data, while the Image.jpg files represent the image content.

   Projects without LiDAR data

   

   When importing projects captured without a LiDAR capable device, the _inputs folder contains the Image.jpgs reflecting the image content.

   

   New projects can be easily created by dragging and dropping the necessary files or the _inputs folder directly onto the PIX4Dmatic home page. PIX4Dmatic will import all of the necessary files.

How to process a PIX4Dcatch dataset in PIX4Dmatic

With a new project opened and all the data imported, PIX4Dmatic is ready for processing. In most cases, the default processing options should be used for processing PIX4Dcatch projects.

Calibrate

Calibrate is the first step in processing. A good starting point is to select the PIX4Dcatch template with the Trusted location and orientation pipeline.

PIX4Dmatic Calibrate options dialog.

Use depth maps is available and activated by default for projects captured with LiDAR depth data. This can be toggled off if desired. When enabled, the depth maps generated with PIX4Dcatch are used for better calibration.

Depth point cloud

PIX4Dmatic Depth point cloud checkbox

The Depth point cloud is generated from LiDAR depth maps. This option is only available for PIX4Dcatch projects captured with a LiDAR-capable device.

Densify

PIX4Dmatic Densify options dialog

The Densify step generates a dense point cloud from the images. Besides the default settings, there are two optional selections to make that can directly benefit PIX4Dcatch projects. They are the Noise and Sky filters.

• Noise Filter

• Sky Filter

Depth & dense fusion

The Depth & dense fusion option combines the point cloud generated from images with the one generated from LiDAR depth maps.

PIX4Dmatic Depth & dense fusion option dialog

The fused point cloud is often denser and more complete in areas where traditional photogrammetry may struggle to reconstruct complex geometries or homogeneous textures.

Mesh

Select to generate and export a 3D mesh. The Input and Template fields have PIX4Dcatch-specific selections to make. 

PIX4Dmatic Mesh options dialog

• Input

  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 & dense fusion point cloud.

• Template

  Select the PIX4Dcatch template as this is optimized for terrestrial projects.

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