Access context viewer options

When accessing Point Cloud Manager projects through a computer’s internet browser, you have full access to the context viewer. This enables you to view the project with a full 3D representation of the point data, allowing movement and focusing on key points such as markups. You can also use fly-through controls on the dataset as a whole. In this section, both methods are discussed.

The context viewer supports multiple datasets and enables you to toggle points from different datasets on and off individually within the same Viewer session.

The image below shows a single dataset open in a Viewer session.

The following image shows additional datasets loaded in the same Viewer session.

To toggle points on and off within a dataset, select the [3D] symbol for that dataset item in the sidebar. When the dataset is loaded, the [3D] symbol for that dataset is highlighted in a separate color.

When you select the [3D] symbol on an annotation, measurement, or object, the associated entity for that dataset is loaded.

To access the Context Viewer, datasets must be upgraded to allow the latest functionality. This can be done through the Project Administration page. For more information refer to sections under Project Page Administration.

To access the Context Viewer, select the [3D] symbol within the user interface. If the symbol is greyed out, it shows the dataset has not been upgraded and therefore the Context Viewer is not available.

- Greyed out (Unavailable)

- Bold/Black (Available)

The ability to enter and exit Context Viewer is available through the Properties Panel, Dataset, Objects, Classifications, and BubbleView.

The Classifications tab is displayed in the sidebar with a list of available classified entities.

To view a classified entity, click on an entity. The selected entity should be displayed in the context viewer and highlighted in yellow.

When in a BubbleView, select the [3D] button from the Pill menu to switch to Context Viewer. Select the icon again to switch back to the nearest BubbleView.

You can now enter 3D mode from an object. Select the [3D] button on a loaded object. This opens the object in the context viewer in the orbit mode.

To control view orientation, use the compass in the lower corner of the view. Select a point on the compass to orientate the view to that direction. You can also double-click any point within the [3D] viewer console to position the camera around that point and seamlessly move towards that point.

Orbital mode

Orbital mode gives the user the ability to view specific measurements or 3D Markups in context of the wider 3D point data.

To open Orbital mode, a markup or measurement must exist. To learn how to add markups and measurements, refer to the Measurements and 3D Markup sections.

1. Navigate to the desired entity, and if available select the [3D] symbol. This loads Solid Point Cloud with a focus around the entity.

   

   While in Orbital mode, a user can rotate around the position of the entity selected and zoom in and out by clicking and dragging to rotate and using the mouse scroll wheel to zoom.

   The radius of the context viewer is directly proportional to the size of the 3D Markup. Editing the size of the markup will alter how large an area around the entity is shown while in Orbital mode.

To change the location of the orbit origin, double-click on any arbitrary point.

Pressing a directional key on the keyboard while in Orbital mode switches the user to Fly-through mode.

Fly-through mode

Fly-through mode enables the user to fly through a project. This can be accessed through orbital mode, or through selection of dataset from the Entity Browser.

To enter through the Entity Browser, select the [3D] symbol.

While in the fly-through mode, users can click to rotate and scroll to zoom like in orbital mode. In addition to these commands users can navigate using the directional keys on the keyboard. Ctrl moves the view down vertically and Spacebar moves upwards vertically.

While in the fly-through mode, double-clicking on any annotation like a markup, measurement or benchmark takes you towards the annotation and enters orbit mode automatically.

To increase the distance covered by these commands the user can hold Shift. The Orbit point tool on the pill menu enables the user to select a point to orbit around when in fly-through mode.

*Please note the W,A,S,D keys can be used to navigate, however when used in conjunction with the Ctrl and Shift keys this can prompt the browser to run shortcuts, such as "Save as" and "Close tab". We recommend using the directional arrow keys.

Controls

When in the Fly-through mode, you also have the option to enter walking mode. This mode enables you to navigate the 3D view while maintaining a good view of the data.

To enter this mode:

2. In the Pill menu, select the Enter walking mode option and double-click on any point. You will be able to see an area in that vicinity to a certain distance. Double-clicking the ground takes you into the floor.

   

3. To change the elevation, scroll the mouse wheel.

4. To change the elevation in the X-axis, hold the middle mouse button and move the mouse in the left or right direction.

5. To change the elevation in the Y-axis, hold the middle mouse button and move the mouse up or down.

The walking mode feature is disabled in the Orbit and Panoramic modes.