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Import Point cloud (url)

  • 1.  Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-20-2020 07:01

    Do you have a procedure for importing a point cloud via a URL in Trimble Connect Desktop?



  • 2.  Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 03-05-2020 12:23

    The process requires the point cloud to be potree converted and then uploaded to a host server. After this you can view the point cloud via URL (also in webviewer!!). It's a bit hacky but the potential is huge. I saw a post on the forum where the process was described in more detail. I'm sure you can find it =)



  • 3.  Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 09-01-2020 01:20

    Is there anyone who can help me with this?



  • 4.  Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 09-01-2020 01:49

    How does adding point cloud via URL work in Trimble Connect desktop? Where does point cloud need to be hosted? 

    This is the post I was talking about. I can't find the way to add an attachment in which the process would be described in detail. I'll try to send it directly to you Alexandre.



  • 5.  Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 09-01-2020 01:54

    Sorry, I can't find a way to send the attachment or post it... =/

     

    Shoutout to Trimble: improve your forum perhaps? =)



  • 6.  Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 09-02-2020 23:32

    Hello Frans,
    You can send me the attachment directly by mail : alexandre.collin@trimble.com.



  • 7.  RE: Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 01-18-2022 17:30

    Hi Alexandre,

    Did you manage to get this working? I cannot seem to add Point Clouds via a URL in either Tekla or Trimble Connect. If you received any information directly with regards to this thread, would you mind sharing? My email is mark.andrews@dbmvircon.com.

    Thanks,
    Mark



    ------------------------------
    Mark Andrews
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  • 8.  RE: Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 01-19-2022 05:45
    Mark, 
    No, I didn't manage to use a url for import point cloud.

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    Alex.
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  • 9.  RE: Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 01-19-2022 15:14
    Here is how this is described in the user manual:
    https://docs.windows.connect.trimble.com/point-clouds/adding-removing-point-clouds 

    I suppose you have tried to follow these steps, but anyway, just to be sure :-)

    ------------------------------
    Ole Christian Eidhammer
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  • 10.  RE: Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 01-19-2022 15:20

    Hi there,

    Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes, I have tried these steps but still cannot get the Point Clouds added with a URL. I am good with all other aspects of  converting/adding/sharing Point Clouds, but just cannot get the URL option working!

    Cheers,
    Mark



    ------------------------------
    Mark Andrews
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  • 11.  RE: Re: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 01-20-2022 08:25
    Hi,

    I achieved it, but its quite a hassle and Trimble seems to be very secretive about it. 

    You have to set up an Apache Server https://apache.org/ and add the folder you get after the potree conversion on to the server. https://github.com/potree/potree/
    Afaik the server needs to be set up for https and there was something about setting CORS stuff: https://community.trimble.com/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MessageKey=a7838a20-09a5-4e41-ae84-2104775dabde&CommunityKey=48f38a6e-5abb-4ba1-8880-972ff53882ff&tab=digestviewer&bm=a7838a20-09a5-4e41-ae84-2104775dabde#bma7838a20-09a5-4e41-ae84-2104775dabde

    Then you add the link to the cloud.js file to TC Desktop and voila, its accessible in TC web also. Major downside is that for TC to be able to access the Cloud the web server cant be protected by password or any authentication as far as i know. So its accessible by anyone in the world, which isnt really suitable in our case. May be usable if you do this just in your company network, but as id need it to accessible outside our network i gave up.
    If you find a non public solution please let me know.

    Cheers,
    Tobias

    ------------------------------
    Tobias Steinhardt
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 01-27-2022 19:40
    Edited by Vyshak Valsalan 01-27-2022 19:42


  • 13.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 02:13
    Hi all,

    I have an url to the pointcloud and it works fine in TC. Unfortunately in TC 3D Viewer (on the web) i can see the purl, but it is not possible to show the pointcloud. After selecting this pointcloud it seems that the pointcloud starts loading but that's it. Only the turning cicle around the eye is visible.

    When i tried to use the url in the browser the pointcloud is shown, so what can be the problem?

    Regards

    ------------------------------
    Nico Schaefers
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  • 14.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 03:02
    Is your link https? And have you set up the CORS stuff? See my comment before

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    Tobias Steinhardt
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  • 15.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 03:17
    Yes, it's https and we have set the CORS stuff

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    Nico Schaefers
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  • 16.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 03:43
    Is the server publicly accessible on the internet?

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    Tobias Steinhardt
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  • 17.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 03:50
    Sure: https://webviewer.geonext.nl/TrimbleConnect/GeoNext2/puntenwolk1

    ------------------------------
    Nico Schaefers
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  • 18.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 03:59
    And if you use this link you can see the pointcloud in the browser:  https://webviewer.geonext.nl/TrimbleConnect/GeoNext2/puntenwolk1.html

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    Nico Schaefers
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  • 19.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 04:01
    Alright, its been quite a while since i tried all that stuff and i don't remember it all that good. 
    It seems you used the newer version of the converter which puts out a different format. Try it again with the older version (1.7) and give it another shot, i think that solved the problem for me. I think you have to have the link point to the cloud.js file for it to work

    ------------------------------
    Tobias Steinhardt
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  • 20.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 05:10
    Thanx for your answer. I have used PotreeConverter_1.7. but unfortunately i get the same result...:-(.
    Do you have any suggestions?

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    Nico Schaefers
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 11:30

    Hi Nico/Tobias,

    I have been trying to get these Point Clouds with URL's working since late last year (on and off), but have still not found a resolution. 

    For Point Clouds I have converted in-house and uploaded to a web server, I can add/view these in Tekla Structures and Trimble Connect Desktop, but not within the web version of Trimble Connect.
    For the web version I get the same results as mentioned above (endless spinning circle).

    I did receive a Point Cloud URL from @Johan Waldemar, and this works within Trimble Connect for Windows and also the web version, but not within Tekla Structures. (If you read this @Johan Waldemar, I have tried replying to your message from my Trimble Community Inbox but cannot appear to do so - This has been with Trimble Support for over a month now!!!).

    The latest advice I had from Tekla Support was that the URL needs to be https rather than http. I am currently waiting for our IT department to assist me with this as we had used http.

    Some observations I have made regarding converting the Point Cloud files. I believe this can be do with either the Potree1.6 Converter or by the Point Cloud Manager (available from the Tekla Warehouse). When converting using Point Cloud Manager the file needs to  be converted to a Directory Structure rather than a Database file. The URL's I did get to work within Tekla Structures and Trimble Connect Desktop had been converted using both of these methods.

    As mentioned above, you need to point to the cloud.js file for your URL.

    I hope the above is of some use. I am willing to share URL's to test etc. For me the whole process is very frustrating with no real direction from Tekla/Trimble Connect.

    ​​

    ------------------------------
    Mark Andrews
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  • 22.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 17:14
    I got it working in TC Desktop and Web, but am not sure what the final breakthrough was. I remember the CORS and https stuff, also that the version of the Potree converter mattered and there had to be an output with a cloud.js and lots of additional files.

    The lack of feedback from Trimble and the lack of knowledge from the local support in that matter is really frustrating, feels like either it doesn't really exist (the forums here seem to be rather dead actually) or they are going to launch a paid product which does more or less what we are trying to achieve, hence no support. 
    And as they scratched support for obj files and the likes there's not really a workaround except for a grayscale landxml mesh as far as i can see.

    ------------------------------
    Tobias Steinhardt
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  • 23.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-22-2022 20:59

    Hi Tobias,

    Out of interest did you get a Point Cloud working via a URL within Tekla Structures as well as TC Desktop and Web. I am still waiting to achieve the elusive hat-trick!!!

    I think the conversion using Point Cloud Manager to a Directory Structure rather than a Database file gave me the same result as with the PotreeConverter1.6, so I was all good with that.

    Finally, I am in complete agreement with regards to the direction/feedback/help files regarding this. It has made me quite determined to make it work (if that is possible), but it will have been a long, hard road! 

    Appreciate your replies, cheers.



    ------------------------------
    Mark Andrews
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  • 24.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-23-2022 00:01
    Yes! I got it done! Thanx to Tobias and Mark for pointing me in the right direction!

    This is the workaround: According to Tobias you have to use https and the CORS-stuff.
    You have to use the PotreeConvertor1.6! Then the result is a folder with 2 subfolders : 'data' and 'temp'. Besides that there are two files in this rootfolder: 'cloud.js' and  'sources.json'. In TC for Windows you have to create an url to that rootfolder.  E voila: the pointcloud is visible in TC for Web!

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    Nico Schaefers
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  • 25.  RE: Import Point cloud (url)

    Posted 02-23-2022 04:49
    Ah so it was 1.6, not 1.7. Glad you could work it out!
    @Mark Andrews never tried it in Tekla.​

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    Tobias Steinhardt
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