2025.1.0 | Cyclone 3DR Release Notes

Cyclone 3DR 2025.1.0

What’s New

Cyclone 3DR 2025.1.0 is a major release that includes new features and improvements to the product.

The main changes and new functions are summarized here:

• New features within Scan to Pipe [Plant Edition]

  • New extraction capacities:

    • Pipe Run extraction tool

    • Dimension locker

    • New fitting technology

    • Point cloud classification filter

  • Additional type of asset with flanges

  • New export options for IFC:

    • Support of parametric solids

    • Better structure of IFC models

  • UI improvements

• New Smart Object Segmentation Experience

  • Point Cloud | Clean / Separate [Standard Edition]

  • Point Cloud | Manual Classification [Survey, AEC and Plant Editions]

  • Mesh | Clean / Separate [Standard Edition]

  • Texture | Edit mask [Survey Edition]

• New Alignment object with stations [Standard Edition]

• New Survey features within Points on Grid [Survey Edition]

• Clone LGSx projects [Standard Edition]

• Import COE models [AEC and Plant Editions]

Operability with maintained Cyclone MODEL and SURVEY licenses

With the release of Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, the product can now be activated by Cyclone MODEL and SURVEY licenses as detailed below. This change allows users of those legacy products to operate Cyclone 3DR to become accustomed to the product and transition their workflows. Both Cyclone MODEL and SURVEY will be fully phased out in 2025.

All users with valid CCP or CCP which was valid as of 01 Jan 2025 for Cyclone SURVEY, can run this new version of Cyclone 3DR (Standard and Survey Edition features only).

All users with valid CCP or CCP which was valid as of 01 Jan 2025 for Cyclone MODEL, can run this new version of Cyclone 3DR (Standard and Plant Edition features only). 

Scan to Pipe updates

With Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, the scan to pipe workflow has been improved. New features help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the scan to pipe workflow allowing users to quickly achieve high quality results.

• New extraction capacities:

  • Pipe Run extraction tool

  • Dimension locker

  • New fitting technology

  • Point cloud classification filter

• Additional type of asset with flanges

• New export options for IFC:

  • Support of parametric solids

  • Better structure of IFC models

• UI improvements

This feature is available to users with the Plant or PRO licenses.

New extraction capacities

Pipe Run extraction tool

One of the major new feature within Scan to Pipe is the “Pipe Run” tool through the Auto-Extraction mode. This new feature is added into the creation/extension of a trace. The main objective of this new feature is to reduce the required clicks to create the pipe models.

To extract a trace with this new tool, start a new trace through the toolbar.

• The Pipe Run or “Auto-Extraction” mode is enabled by default.

• Click on a straight part of a trace:

  • The pipe run algorithm identifies all the points related to the trace in the two directions and goes as far as possible.

  • When it stops, the pipe trace can be extended with other clicks as many times as necessary.

  • When the auto-extraction is not satisfying, it is possible to click on DELETE to cancel the latest click.

  • The types of assets that can be extracted with the pipe run tool are: straight segments, elbows and reducers.

  • Some options can be forced prior to executing the pipe run, such as:

    • Predefine the diameter.

    • Force rounded values of elbows.

    • Extract symmetric reducers only.

To consolidate the extraction, the pipe run tool is totally compatible with the existing semi-automatic tools that allow the extraction of other assets in two clicks. The semi-automatic tools can help fine-tune the results for difficult pipe features like short segments, double elbows, and areas with a poor density of points.

As a reminder, the semi-automatic tools to create new assets are:

• Elbow + Straight pipe

• Reducer + Straight pipe

• Straight pipe

To jump from one tool to another one, it is just necessary to click on the appropriate button in the toolbar. It is also possible to go back to pipe run mode after the use of other type of extractions.

Dimension locker

A significant improvement is introduced for all the piping assets of Scan to Pipe: the capacity to lock the dimensions of the extracted objects.

• Straight pipe: diameter

• Elbow: diameter + angle + bend radius

• Reducer: diameter 1 + diameter 2 + offset

• Branch: diameter 1 + diameter 2 + angle

• Flange: diameter + length + gasket width

The benefit of locked dimensions is that they remain unchanged after the edition, extension or connection of the trace.

During the extraction process and for all the types of assets, there are options that the user can choose prior to the extraction to force some dimensions. When those options are checked prior to extraction, the dimensions are locked automatically, which means that they will remain locked and saved for future extension or connection operations.

From the dialog box, the user has the possibility to unlock some dimensions by toggling on/off the lockers close to the dimension fields.

Notes

• Locking many asset dimensions along a trace might result in very restrictive geometries, which won’t be editable at some point for complex traces.

• Connecting traces that contain very restrictive geometries might not succeed.

• As a consequence, it is a user decision at the beginning of the extraction job to apply or not the dimension locker for certain objects, depending on the use cases he wants to achieve and the characteristics of the final 3D model he will deliver.

New fitting technology

Cyclone 3DR 2025.1 benefits from a significant algorithm improvement, which is an automatic fitting of the traces onto the point cloud during the extension and the connection of pipe traces. This improvement is not visible to the users, since there are no specific button or toggle in the user interface in Scan to Pipe.

The main benefit of this feature is to consolidate the accuracy of the 3D model when connecting traces together. Acknowledged users will notice a new progress bar that is displayed during connection operations (through elbows, reducers straight segments or branches).

The more complex the connected traces are, the longer the connecting operation takes. However, it delivers models that are closest to the reality from the scan data and also it removes the capacity of Cyclone 3DR to create advanced and complex piping assets.

Point cloud classification filter

At the top of the dialog box in the extraction mode, a new filter is exposed to users, that enables the capacity to select only few of the classes of the input point clouds.

After the selection of the user, only the selected classes:

• are visible in the 3D Scene, which offers a very smooth extraction experience

• are used for the entire extraction, fitting, connection operations, which improves the performance of the extraction process and guarantees a more accurate operation since only the points from the appropriate classes are used.

With this new classification filter, it is then highly recommended to execute an automatic point cloud classification with the Plant model, before starting any Scan to Pipe job. This automatic 1-click task does not require additional user interaction and can significantly improve the Scan to Pipe workflow.

Notes

• The pre-classification process remains optional before the workflow. A non-classified point cloud does not prevent from using Scan to Pipe.

• Although the input point cloud is classified, it is not mandatory to use the classification filter during the extraction: all the classes would be then visible and used for the extraction as it goes in the previous versions of Cyclone 3DR.

• The classification could be processed first by a 3^rd party application for imported point clouds in (las/laz, e57 or lgsx formats).

• It is meaningful to use the Plant model prior to Scan to Pipe, but the feature is not limited to this model. A user could apply the Indoor Construction Site model for example and execute Scan to Pipe by using the filter.

• It is also possible to complete the automatic classification before with manual classification operations. As an example, it is possible to complete the current Plant classification with assets like Tanks, Pumps, Pipe instruments, …

Flanges

Scan to Pipe continues to include more supported features with the Cyclone 3DR 2025.1 version and offers the new capacity to create flanges as part of the piping models.

The creation of flanges is straightforward:

• Flanges can only be created on pre-extracted straight segments. Make sure that a straight pipe is extracted on the location of the flange.

• To create a new flange, it is necessary to be in the mode of creating or extending an existing model, then to click on the button “Add flange”. Once the creation button is toggled on, it is just required to click on the points that represent the flange to be extracted.

  • An automatic algorithm will pre-define the dimensions of the flanges.

  • If the dimensions need to be adjusted, it is possible to click on “edit” in the toolbar and to click on the flange in the 3D Scene.

    • A 3D widget in the scene allows to shift the position of flange along the straight segment. In addition, a double arrows give the possibility to edit the length of the asset.

    • In the dialog, the dimensions of the flanges can be edited too: diameter, length and gasket.

• Before clicking on the point cloud to extract the flange, it is possible to force the diameter and the length of the flange, which has the benefit:

  • To automatically create the flange with the wished dimensions,

  • To lock the dimensions of the flange, later during the extraction job that might require fitting and connections of the traces.

During the Extraction step of the workflow, the user can edit the dimensions outside the creation mode of the trace, by clicking in the 3D scene of an extracted flange or through the treeview of the project.

Note that the creation of a flange on a straight segment splits the straight cylinder in 2 parts in the trace.

New export options for IFC

Reminder, Cyclone 3DR Scan to Pipe feature can support various export possibilities: BIM models (IFC 2x3), CAD models, Mesh models, Center Lines and List of assets (CSV). The export of BIM models is improved with Cyclone 3DR 2025.1.

Parametric solids to IFC

A new option is exposed in the Export step of the workflow for IFC models: Export to Parametric solids. When the option is checked, the following assets are not exported to meshes but to solids with editable geometric parameters: straight segments, elbows, branches and flanges.

The goals are to:

• Facilitate the edition of the 3D BIM models in 3^rd party applications

• Reduce the size of the exported IFC files.

• Reduce the time of the export process.

Known issue

Since Cyclone 3DR exports pipe models to IFC 2x3 format, the limitations of the 2x3 standard apply. As a consequence:

• The reducers (conic objects) are not supported as parametric solids, they remain mesh objects, even when the option is selected by the user.

• The elbows are defined with values in radian unit, for the sake of the best interoperability as possible. Some 3^rd party solutions struggle to import elbows with the IFC 2x3 standards. As an example, Autodesk Navisworks needs to be updated to at least 2025 for a successful import of the elbow objects.

Better structure of IFC Models

Exported IFC models are composed of a better structure with the latest release of Cyclone 3DR. The structure is now defined according to the traces that are created during the extraction job.

This improvement enables a new option: the capacity to export multiple IFC files in one type, to generate 1 IFC file for each trace. As an example, it is possible during an extraction job to export various files for various domains and to split into multiple IFC files: HVAC piping, plumbing piping, …

UI improvements

Many User Interface improvements were added within Scan to Pipe in Cyclone 3DR 2025.1. They are described in the section.

New representation of extracted pipes

As part of the regular improvement of the Scan to Pipe feature, the extracted assets are now represented in the 3D as CAD objects instead of Mesh objects. The two main consequences are:

• A better visualization experience during the extraction process

• Internal outputs from Scan to Pipe are now CAD objects in the Cyclone 3DR project, which enables all the CAD-object-compatible features in Cyclone 3DR to execute other tasks.

Note that it is possible to extract mesh objects from CAD objects in the application if a specific mesh-object-type of feature is needed by the user.

Assignment of random colors

During the extraction process, the colors of the pipe assets are now assigned randomly. The goal is to reduce confusion for the users. It is still possible to change the color of a trace after extraction.

Notes:

• The color of a trace is unique.

• When connecting 2 separate traces, the common ouput trace will get the color (and also the name) of the reference trace, meaning the first one being selected by the user.

New toolbar

The introduction of the Pipe Run tool within Cyclone 3DR 2025.1 motivated a revamping of the toolbar.

Initial toolbar

4 possibilities are introduced at the beginning for simplification purpose

During the creation/extension of trace

The different extraction tools are now exposed in the toolbar. To jump from one tool to another one, the user does not have to click ENTER anymore. This improvement significantly reduces the number of clicks (on the mouse or the keyboard).

The behavior between the tools is detailed in the description of the new Pipe Run tool.

During the connection of 2 traces

Traces can be connected with the following assets:

• Elbow: options to adjust angles

• Reducer: option to force symmetric connection

• Straight part: useful for very long pipe situations

• T or Y branch: options to adjust angles

Object treeview improvements

During the extraction operation, the details of the traces are now exposed during the Extract step.

In addition to this improvement, a new warning notifier is introduced to identify assets with potential issues (very short length or very small angle for example).

Hotkeys [Update]

Smart Object Segmentation Experience

Cyclone 3DR 2025.1 includes a new segmenting technology built from AI technology. This technology is deployed in multiple features across the product which results in the era of a new Smart Object Segmentation Experience.

Indeed, this new technology relies on the AI-trained identification of objects in 2D and facilitates the contour identification of objects on images or in the 3D Scene. This allows the isolation of objects, assets or regions, for cleaning purposes, classification or intelligent segmentation.

The usage of the tool is described in the following section for the following features:

• Point Clouds | Clean Separate

• Point Clouds | Manual Classification

• Meshes ­| Clean Separate

• Images | Edit Mask

Note that some pre-requisites are necessary to let the technology work and the user will have to install an “AI package” before starting the workflow. The package is installed separately from the main application installation and the user is guided automatically before starting any of the following features.

Contrary to the AI Point Cloud Classification, the computation relies on the machine CPU and there is no dependency nor to NVIDIA Graphics Card with GPU capacity, neither to a CUDA toolkit library.

Point Cloud | Clean-Separate

The probable first use of the technology will be within the Clean Separate. The workflow barely changes for this feature and the new Smart Object Segmentation tool is displayed as another button in the main toolbar of the feature.

To execute the new tool, make sure it is toggled in the main toolbar and follow the process:

• Since the technology works in 2D, make sure to position the camera view point in the best way to identify and isolate the object or area of interest.

• Execute a first click randomly on the object, a first contour will be processed based on AI-based model.

  • Although the click can be random, it is recommend to click on a part that will define the object the most obviously as possible.

  • From this stage, the technology relies on the 2D View on the asset. Thus, panning, zooming and rotating are limited during the operation.

• To refine the contour, it is recommended to read the displayed instructions and it is possible to:

  • Add more meaningful clicks on the object.

  • Add areas of the environment to remove from the contour (Shift + Click).

  • Cancel one or multiple last clicks with the DELETE shortcut.

• When the contour is satisfying, click ENTER. From this step, only the points inside the contour will be pre-selected, including the points that are hidden behind the object, from the camera point of view. The operation can be stopped or repeated as many times as necessary to finalize the selection.

  • Rotate the scene to get a second relevant point of view on the asset to segment.

  • Start a new contour with a first click. Consolidate if necessary the contour with additional clicks or removing clicks for the environment.

  • Click ENTER.

• At this stage, most of the segmentation is successful. For advanced assets, more points of view might be required by the user and many rounds of contour definition can be executed.

• After the last segmentation tour, the user must decide from the dialog box if he wants to keep, delete or split the isolated object.

It is highly recommended to go through the online contents of Cyclone 3DR (online help center, videos) to get immediately familiar with the tool and the good tips.

Once used to it, a user friendly way to segment objects from any point clouds is now ready to be used in Cyclone 3DR!

Adjust the point size to make Smart Object Segmentation efficient

If the point cloud density is poor, use the SCROLLING Mouse button + LEFT ALT button to increase the size of the points and improve the coverage of the object of the 3D Scene to improve the object segmentation.

The applications for this new tool are unlimited and are not restricted to specific industries: as soon as there are some assets to isolate, in particular with geometric complexities, it is relevant to accelerate the segmentation operation with Smart Object Segmentation. As example: statue in a Heritage environment, asset in a Plant Facility, object in an Indoor Outdoor context, …

The feature can be appropriate to remove unwanted objects, like moving artifacts, pedestrians or scaffolding structures on a construction site.

Like the other tools of the Clean/Separate feature, it is possible to execute multiple segmentation operations and to jump from one fencing tool to another one, including the new Smart Object Segmentation technology.

This feature is available to users with the Standard license.

Point Cloud | Manual Classification

Since Manual Classification mechanism is exactly similar to Clean/Separate, the workflow is exactly the same for this feature.

At the end of the selection of the object, the user can decide to reassign the class of the selected points: remove, assign to the active class or assign to a new one.

This technology is extremely relevant for Manual Classification. Instead of splitting the scan data in multiple point clouds, Manual Classification offers the possibility to keep all the valuable information of the classes within a single scan object, that can be then consumed in Cyclone 3DR or exported to a 3^rd party application.

A meaningful application is to combine an auto-classification step with the creation of additional customized classes for specific assets and objects.

This feature is available to users with the Survey, AEC or or Plant PRO licenses.

Mesh | Clean-Separate

Since the technology relies on a 2D analysis of the view, it is deployed not only to point clouds but to meshes also. Thus, the Clean/Separate feature from the Surface Modeling menu also benefits from this nice improvement.

The workflow is exactly the same as the one described in the Clean/Separate feature for point clouds. Instead of being applied to points, triangles that represent objects will be segmented accordingly.

For any meshing workflow in Cyclone 3DR, it is recommended to execute cleaning operations first. That means that complementary segmentation of meshes should be less used in Cyclone 3DR workflows, in comparison to point clouds. However, the feature offers the possibility to refine meshes imported from 3^rd-party applications.

The improvement serves all the applications as well, with no industry limitations.

This feature is available to users with the Standard license.

Image | Texture | Edit Mask

The technology has been deployed too for the images and is accessible within the Edit Mask command. As a reminder, the purpose of Edit Mask feature, is to define the mask of the images that will be applied during texturing operations.

Combining the Smart Object Segmentation technology with this feature, is relevant to remove objects or regions that are unwished in the final texture that will be created onto a mesh.

To benefit from the improvement, select the input set of images and execute Edit Mask from the Texture menu. Like the other segmentation tool, the main toolbar is completed with a new Smart Object Segmentation button. Since the segmentation happens on a 2D image, the behavior differs from the three other 3D tools, but similar logical steps apply too.

Instructions	Example of Mask Edition for a Heritage application
Make sure the Smart Object Segmentation tool is toggled by clicking on “Automatic”.
Execute 1 click to start a contour
Execute additional clicks to consolidate the contour or to remove points of the environment (Shift + Click).
Adjust the precision of the mask with the “inflate - deflate the zone” option
Click on validate. Go the next/previous image or quit the feature to edit the mask of the images.

If the Eraser mode is toggled on, it is possible to remove objects from the scope of the mask.

Decide to apply or to remove a mask on the pixels inside the contour

This feature is available to users with the Survey or PRO licenses.

New alignment object with stations

Import LandXML improvements

With Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, the support of LandXML alignment model offer new capacities.

• New alignment object

• Compatibility with Profile workflows [AEC, Survey or PRO Editions]

• Distance to axis feature

This feature is available to users with the Standard licenses.

New alignmnent object

A new type of object appears in the object treeview after the import of a LandXML alignment project. It is now composed of an axis, that behaves like a polyline with Cyclone 3DR and that contains the alignment stations, which is one of the main improvement for this workflow.

From the treeview, it is possible to:

• Notice the alignment type of object with a new icon

• Adjust  the visibility information of the alignment from the visibility manager tool

In the 3D scene, the main stations are visible along the axis.

From the main settings of the application, it is possible to adjust the representation parameters, and the station name formatting as well, that relies on the regional or local specifications.

This new type of object, like scanner trajectory from mobile devices (BLK2GO, BLK2ARC, TRK series, …) is compatible with:

• Clipping along a curve

• Cut polyline

• Profile workflows (described in the next section)

• Camera Path

• Cleaning functions (according to distance, on both sides)

• Script functions in SAlignment() class

New behaviour with Cyclone 3DR 2025.1

Contrary to previous versions, only the 3D Definition of the alignment is imported into the application, whereas the 2D Definition of the axis is not imported anymore by default.

However, it remains possible to create a 2D polyline from an alignment object with the following steps:

• Select the alignment

• Go the Extract menu

• Execute Polyline from Alignment

Compatibility with Profile workflows

The three Profile workflows are the following ones:

• Profile Extraction

• 3D Profile Analysis

• 2D Profile Analysis

The combination of the alignment axis and the profile workflows is extremely interesting. Indeed, the second and common step of the 3 workflows “Define Positions” offers an easy way to position the section of the profile extractions or the profile analysis according to the definition of the design alignment model. The two benefits for the users are:

• A significant gain of time: the user can define optimized positions along the axis and depending on the portions of the axis (straights, curves, spirals)

• A better consistency between the design model and the deliverable from Cyclone 3DR (CAD Sections or PDF report)

As input, the user must select the input objects for extraction or analysis purpose and the alignment object.

In the first “Prepare” step, there are two changes when an alignment is picked as an input.

• Origin is defined by the selected alignment and cannot be edited by the user.

• The orientation of the axis is defined by the alignment too.

In the “Define Positions” step, the user has the possibility in the Regular mode to:

• Define the step along each type of alignment portions: straight lines, curves and spirals. As an example, a step every 20 meters might precise enough along a straight line, whereas a position of extraction/analysis should be positioned with 2-meter-intervals along curved parts.

• Customize the range of position creation (“Custom” option instead of “All over”) and assign the beginning and the end of the job according to the design sections of the project.

Once the positions are inserted, the user can proceed to the end of the workflow by clicking Next. The end of the workflow is unchanged.

Distance to Axis

With the introduction of the new alignment object, a new measurement feature is added into Cyclone 3DR. This feature is compatible with polylines, scanner trajectories and alignment axis.

To execute the feature, select the axis, and run the “Distance to Axis” tool from the Measure group in the Analysis menu.

Once started, the user just has to click on the targeted points (from any objects in the 3D Scene) to extract as many labels as he wants with clicks. Each label will contain by default:

• The coordinates of the clicked points

• The horizontal distance to the closest point on the axis

• The vertical distance to the closest point on the axis:

  • if the vertical distance is positive, the measured point is above the axis

  • if negative, the point is below the axis

• And the station information if the input axis is a new alignment object.

This feature offers an easy way to monitor information for linear project with axis: tunnel, railways, roads. It is ideal for the following workflows:

• to report location of assets

• to do verification like clearance detection

In the image below, the labels help to measure the height of the catenary infrastructure from the axis.

Extract polyline from alignment

This new feature is added to offer more flexibility for users to manipulate alignment axis with the properties of polylines (like mobile scanner trajectories for example).

Points on Grid

Within Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, Points on Grid feature has been significantly improved with additional features along the workflow:

• New fencing tool

• New capacity to assign COGO points to points (enabled with the Survey and PRO Editions only)

• New export features (enabled with the Survey and PRO Editions only)

To extract and export points of grid, select the input point cloud in your project and run the command, moved into the Extract menu.

Points on Grid feature is now located in the “Extract” menu

Fencing tool

At the beginning of the workflow, it is possible to extract a grid on the complete dataset, or to do a sub selection of it. This step remains optional in the workflow but is valuable for many situations when points must be extracted only from a specific area (for a lot, a heavy construction site, a floor, …). This new step also prevents the user from doing an additional point cloud cleaning step to remain focused on a specific area.

To create a fencing, click on a fencing button (image below). Then, the usual Cyclone 3DR fencing toolbar is displayed in the scene and let the user do his sub-selection through a fence. Note that a validation click is required to valid the fencing operation.

Note as well that the new “Smart Object Segmentation” tool is also available through this toolbar. This feature is described in detail in the appropriate section of the release notes . In the “Points on Grid” workflow, the Smart Object Segmentation tool can help to get a very accurate contour of the area of interest with a limited number of clicks. It also to remove unwanted objects, like vehicle on a parking lot or a construction site for example.

Once defined, the user can proceed to the next step of the workflow. It is also possible to remove the fence and to recreate a new one.

Grid creation

The next step of the workflow consists of creating a grid through the usual tools of Cyclone 3DR: with the definition of a vector and an origin.

Extraction method

Like the previous version of Points on Grid, the user has to define a method to extract a grid on each intersection of the grid. Three methods are embedded in the tool.

• Ground point

• Lowest point

• Highest point

A new toggle button is exposed to snap the points to the grid intersections.

Besides, the user can adjust the radius of research around the grid intersection if necessary.

Click Preview to extract all the points.

Feature Codes / COGO Points

The next step is new and is enabled only for users with valid Survey or PRO licenses.

First, it is possible to check the settings and to open the user defined templates for COGO Points through a direct button. It opens directly the pop-up window that allows the same template manager as the Virtual Surveyor feature. That means that Virtual Surveyor and Points on Grid now share the same type of pre-defined templates. The user must make sure to have at least one type of Feature Code to create his points.

After the optional edition of the template, the user then must:

• Select the appropriate Feature Code / COGO value

• Define a minimum index value for the future exported CAD Project. For example and to fit a specific template specified by the end customer, a user might want to edit this value.

• Define which coordinates should be assigned to each extracted point, depending on which information the end-user needs in the CAD deliverable.

  • As an example, it is quite common to request only the elevation Z value.

Export coordinate information

• For the new CSV export, all coordinates are exported.

• For DXF / Send to CAD Export, only the selected ones are considered. As an example, a user might want to display only the elevation value onto a CAD grid.

Export options

The next step is new and is enabled only for users with valid Survey or PRO licenses.

The mechanism is exactly similar to Virtual Surveyor, the user can:

• Define the size of the text before export

• Export to direct files: CSV and DXF

• Send to CAD: similar contents as the DXF import and compatible with AutoCAD, Hexagon BricsCAD and Hexagon MinePlan 3D

CSV export includes: Point index, Coordinates, Feature Code and Code Description.

DXF export includes: Point index, Coordinates (optional), Feature Code and Code Description

When finalizing the worklow, a new point cloud object with points on the defined grid is created into the Cyclone 3DR project.

New script functions

Two functions are added to execute the Points on Grid with a script and to benefit from the improvements, in the SCloud.PointsOnGrid() section.

Clone LGSx projects

As part of the regular improvement of the LGSx integration into Cyclone 3DR to facilitate the Leica Geosystems cross product experience, a new Clone LGSx feature is released in order to propose the main following workflow:

• Generate a LGSx point cloud (from Cyclone REGISTER 360 PLUS or Cyclone PEGASUS Office)

• Import the LGSx into Cyclone 3DR

• Convert the area of interest

• Edit the point cloud according to the project needs with the few examples ot tasks suggested below:

  • manual or semi automatic Cyclone 3DR tools

  • execute an automatic classification, potentially combined with manual classification operations

  • point cloud reduction

  • noise removing

  • …

• Publish back a new LGSx file that will contain the most of the native assets as possible

• Consume the cleaned LGSx file into the appropriate product: CloudWorx, Reality Cloud Studio, Cyclone ENTERPRISE, TruView Desktop, …

The main objective of this workflow is to offer the powerful Cyclone 3DR point cloud edition tools and to make sure to store assets like scan positions, scan images, geotags, … from the original LGSx. This workflow serves all types of applications and will help the users to benefit from the preserved and geolocalized scan images, as frequently requested by the Reality Capture community.

With Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, most of the LGSx assets are saved and cloned in the process. The list of features is detailed below.

The workflow is illustrated below for this food and beverage site.

The detailed execution of Clone LGSx is detailed below.

• Keep the original LGSx streamed in Cyclone 3DR (the display of the original LGSx is optional).

• Select the converted and edited point cloud

• Go to the CloudWorx menu and execute Clone LGSx

• Clean on Clone to finalize the LGSx export operation after checking the following steps:

  • Options:

    • Export only selected setups and tracks: in case the point cloud is split into multiple setups or tracks in Cyclone 3DR (for mobile scan data in particular), this option allows the user to clone only some portions of it or to clone as they are the unchanged setups/tracks

    • Create a password if necessary

  • Check the outputs - according to the markers, the user can see if the assets are:

    • cloned from the native LGSx

    • edited or completed (classification added in the example below)

    • removed eventually

Import COE models

With Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, COE files can be imported as CAD model.

This feature facilitates another way of interoperability between CAD solutions that host COE plugins (AutoCAD, MicroStation, Revit, BricsCAD) and offers a better consistency between Leica Geosystems product.

Two options are exposed during the import process:

• Group all the sub-components of the COE model. This option significantly improves the rendering performance and is suggested when sub-details are not relevant for the workflow.

• Import in pre-embedded Coordinate System

When imported in Cyclone 3DR, the COE model behaves like a DWG, STEP or IGES files and results in a CAD object.

Then, the imported CAD object is compatible with all CAD-compatible features.

In addition, this new supported format extends the analysis workflows in Cyclone 3DR and offers a straightforward way to do comparisons, heatmaps and analysis of COE models.

This feature is available to users with the AEC or Plant or PRO licenses.

Improvements

• 3D Scene > X-Ray mode: Better frame rate when rendering 3D assets with transparency (including point clouds).

• Application: The progress bar is displayed in the Windows OS taskbar. It gives user indication on the progress of any long Cyclone 3DR computing task when he executes other operations on Windows.

• Application > Cyclone 3DR Viewer: The free viewer does not require any CLM license to run. That simplifies the use of the Viewer application.

  • Reminder Cyclone 3DR Viewer enables LGSx visualization and Connection to Reality Cloud Studio powered by HxDR.

• Application > RAM Memory management: When importing massive data (point clouds or meshes), a new warning message is exposed to notify the user the eventual difficulty to digest the data.

• Extract > Projected polyline: An option was added to keep the inspection information (colormap and values) on the extracted polyline.

• File > Connect to Reality Cloud Studio:

  • Scanning positions stored in the points are now read from the point cloud. That means:

    • They are visible when the data is streamed from Reality Cloud Studio.

    • They are stored after the conversion of the point cloud into Cyclone 3DR.

    • This feature offers two main benefits:

      • Easiness in the navigation within the data, with double click on scan position to jump into it.

      • Scan position information for Meshing and Analysis workflow to keep the right orientation of the points in the algorithm pipelines to deliver more accurate results.

  • The point cloud can also be rendered by scan ID. In addition to a new representation, this feature offers the possibility to split the data later after conversion of the point cloud.

• File > Export DXF:

  • Layer names are no longer exported in uppercase.

  • Text exported as MText type.

• File > Import LandXML: The contents of LandXML files are better structured in the treeview.

  • In previous versions, the contained object were imported in various folders of the treeview.

  • In Cyclone 3DR 2025.1, the behaviour is similar to DXF Import experience:

    • A folder is created and named like the LandXML file.

    • All the contained objects are stored in this new folder.

    • All the images are stored within a single “set of images” object.

• File > Import LandXML: File containing empty list of points (defined for breaking lines, for example) can now be imported.

• File > Import point cloud formats > LGSx: Conversion options are now pre-filled according to the file content.

• File > Import point cloud formats > e57: The possibility to group all scans part of the imported e57 file is now possible. This option is enabled by default. The key benefit of this option is the capacity to digest much bigger datasets.

• File > Import point cloud formats > LAS-LAZ : The GPS time data of point clouds is now supported and is stored as timestamps after import.

• File > Send to BricsCAD : BricsCAD v25.1 is now supported.

• File > Export to BCF > Representation of the labels: the size of the labels are displayed according to the user settings to facilitate the visualization of the measurement values in third party applications.

• Surface Modeling > Check Integrity:

  • New slider to adjust mesh transparency.

  • New option to export the contours of the self-intersecting areas to polylines. The purpose of this new option is to expedite the mesh healing process.

• Surface Modeling > Group Mesh: The inspection values are now saved with a single deviation value for each vertex of the output mesh.

• View > Camera Path: Add the possibility to define a custom video resolution (advanced settings).

Bug Fixes

• Application > Crash: Crashes could happen when closing dialog boxes for machines running with some NVIDIA Graphics Card drivers. Fixed.

• File > Connect to Reality Cloud Studio: Crashes could occur when the user cancelled the point cloud import. Fixed.

• File > Import LGSx: Incorrect unit conversion could happen when the file unit was different from the project unit. Fixed.

• File > Export LGSx: Export to USFeet unit was having issues. Fixed.

• Script > Performance regression: A regression caused poor performance with some point cloud processing script functions. Fixed. The addressed functions are:

  • SCloud.ProjDir

  • SCloud.Reduce

  • SCloud.BestSqSlot

Known Issues

• The Documentation Center is only available in English.

• Some CAD import and export issues might happen. It is recommended to use the Send to CAD feature.

• If DXF can be imported with a standard version, DWG requires the AEC or PRO Edition. One workaround is to use the 3DR Send command from AutoCAD to Cyclone 3DR.

• When CloudWorx for AutoCAD 2025 is installed prior to last version of Cyclone 3DR, Send to AutoCAD 2025 might not be found by the CAD application. The workaround is this one:

  • Uninstall CloudWorx for AutoCAD 2025

  • Update Cyclone 3DR (latest version)

  • Re-Install CloudWorx for AutoCAD 2025

Deprecated Features

Leica Geosystems strives to provide support for the widest array of operating systems and file formats possible as is reasonable given current technologies and support from third-party partners.

With each release, we review our list of currently supported formats and operating systems in line with industry trends and announced product terminations.

Leica Geosystems may add or terminate support for a file format during any release. Obsolete operating systems will be supported for six months after their announced termination or the next major software release, whichever comes first. Server products will be supported in alignment with Leica’s Client License Manager (CLM) supported servers to guard users against incompatibility.

Cyclone 3DR 2025.1.0:

• Script functions:

  • SSurveyingFormat.ImportCloud() is deprecated and replaced by SSurveyingFormat.ImportLASLAZ().

  • SSurveyingFormat.ExportCloud() is deprecated and replaced by and SurveyingFormat.ExportLASLAZ().

Generic specifications

Leica Cyclone 3DR 2025.1 compatibility

• Cyclone 3DR is compatible with CLM 2.22.0 and higher.

• Cyclone 3DR is compatible with LGS/LGSx files.

• Cyclone 3DR is compatible with Cyclone ENTERPRISE 2022.0 and higher.

• Cyclone 3DR is compatible with Cyclone REGISTER 360 2021.1 and higher.

• Cyclone 3DR is compatible with Cyclone IMP databases from Cyclone 6.0 or higher, however improved rendering will only be seen with IMPs from Cyclone 9.3 or higher.

Computer specifications

Installation and Licensing Recommendations

Installation update procedure

1. Launch the Cyclone 3DR EXE and follow the instructions in the Setup Wizard

2. Select the option to update Cyclone 3DR (or repair if you want to change installing options)

3. Complete the installation by selecting “Install”.

Licensing setup

1. Once you have installed Cyclone 3DR, open the Client License Manager for Floating Licenses via Cyclone 3DR (Home/Settings/License) or via the program located here:

Start Menu | All Programs | Leica Geosystems | Client License Manager

Be sure to choose the CLM Floating option (there are two CLM options and the Nodelocked CLM will not activate your license).

3. Click Add.

4. Enter your Entitlement ID (EID) in the field (copy / paste). To enter multiple EIDs separate them with a semicolon ";" and no space. 

4. After you have entered your EID, click on the Add button in the bottom right of the page.

5. Once your licenses are activated you can close CLM and launch or return to Cyclone 3DR.

6. Go to Home | Settings and select License.

7. If you have entered the EID inside your local CLM, select Localhost. If the license is on a dedicated server, enter the server’s name in Server Address.

8. You can select the features you want to check out from CLM. The available options to checkout will correspond to the options you purchased which are contained in your EID.

9. Once the options are selected, click on Activate license.

Licensing

All users with valid CCP or CCP which was valid as of 01 Jan 2025 for Cyclone 3DR, can run this new version of Cyclone 3DR.

All users with valid CCP or CCP which was valid as of 01 Jan 2025 for 3DReshaper, can run this new version of Cyclone 3DR with no new license required. Users with 3DReshaper licenses with expired CCP must migrate to Cyclone 3DR in order to continue to access updates and support. Please contact your sales or support personnel for more information.

All users with valid CCP or CCP which was valid as of 01 Jan 2025 for Cyclone SURVEY, can run this new version of Cyclone 3DR (Standard and Survey Edition features only).

All users with valid CCP or CCP which was valid as of 01 Jan 2025 for Cyclone MODEL, can run this new version of Cyclone 3DR (Standard and Plant Edition features only). 

Interoperability

Import / Export supported file formats

Please reference the Cyclone 3DR Technical Specification for a complete list of supported file types per license.

Send To / Send From

Cyclone 3DR provides “SendTo” features as well to import and export certain kinds of data with third-party products. More information is available in Cyclone 3DR documentation center (from the software help menu).

The following commands in Cyclone 3DR include a direct “Send to” capacity that provides the possibility to export the outputs in different layers in the CAD 3^rd party software product:

Compatibility with native JetStream point clouds

The following commands can use native JetStream point clouds (LGS/LGSx files or connection to Cyclone CORE, Cyclone REGISTER 360, Cyclone ENTERPRISE) as inputs. In other words, it is not required to proceed a CloudWorx > Convert project step prior to execution of the listed features.

The functionalities of the menus View, CloudWorx and Script can obviously be used for JetStream point clouds.

With the capacity to stream images from LGSx files since the 2025.1.0 version of Cyclone 3DR, it is not required to convert the project to visualize the camera images anymore. However, it remains necessary to convert them when the images are used for specific features:

Connect to Cyclone FIELD 360

The connection from Cyclone FIELD360 to Cyclone 3DR (2024.0 and later versions) projects is limited to TLS sensors:

• P-Series

• RTC360

• BLK360, BLK360 G1

Export BCF tickets

The following commands embed the capacity to export BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) files that contain information from IFC model for an open-BIM experience with other software and BIM solutions.

Cyclone 3DR 2025.1 supports BCF 2.1 format (export).

Management of external files

To ensure its flexibility of applications, Cyclone 3DR offers a way to manage some external files with the purpose to allow users to facilitate the software configuration.

The purpose of this section is to clarify the possibilities and the types of external files that can be used through Cyclone 3DR.

For each feature/aspect, the users can:

• Build a first version of each file from Cyclone 3DR User Interface

• Export from or Import into Cyclone 3DR

• Edit the external file in other software tools (notepad, excel, …)

 With those features, the benefits for the users are:

• Saving time for repetitive jobs

• Working easily with their favorite settings

• Collaborating with colleagues and within their organization

• Optimizing the configurations for each project, each type of end customers

 The current tools are:

Name	Menu	Feature	File extension	Contents	Example of use cases	Illustration
Class standard	File > Settings	Classification	XML	The list is by default defined the Hexagon standard list composed of 256 indexes. This Hexagon standard is democratized among the Hexagon products using point cloud classification and is compliant with the ASPRS definition of the first 64 indexes. The users can customize the name, the color the “favorite” status for each index among the 256 classes. The Hexagon standard list can be restored in 1-click, which is important for a unified experience between Reality Capture products and adjusted to new models. The list can be exported and reimported to XML.	For the usage of Manual Classification for specific jobs, users can edit new classes (color and name) to make sure that all Cyclone 3DR projects are consistant. The users can adapt the names and the colors for a customer who uses a specific standard. The users can then save a XML file to save time when they need to repeat the operation for another job.
Feature code standard	Extract	Virtual Surveyor Points on Grid	CSV	Settings are accessible from Virtual Surveyor feature. Two types of CSV can be managed for: Layers (colors + names + pixel size of assets) Feature Codes (layers + colors + names + beginning of index + description)	Users must deliver topographic plans according to standards that are defined by the end customers (Department of Transportation, Municipality, Local authority, …). It is extremely easy to understand Cyclone 3DR template and to create a customized list of Layers and of Feature Codes in a spreadsheet from any type of text-type files.
Colormap definition	Analysis	Edit colors Gradient Scripting	RSI	For any colorized/inspected objects (point cloud, models, polylines), the users can edit the color gradient inside the inspection feature or from the “Edit Colors” feature. With the Save / Load feature, it is very convenient to reuse a specific color gradient for repetittive analysis. To build a RSI file, the best way is to create it from Cyclone 3DR user interface and to save to RSI. Users can define: the ranges, the steps, the colors, the values, the unit.	Regular or repetititve Design vs As-Built verification: Define a tolerance-standardized colormap for a specific manufacturer, or a specific type of object. Applications are multiple: Manufacturing, BIM, Road or Tunnel analysis, …
Report template	Report	Template Library Scripting	MLT	With the embedded report editor of Cyclone 3DR, there are various templates that are adapted to the different types of chapter: General aspects (footer, header, …) Analysis (Stockpile, Compare/Inspect, …) Image positioning Statistics Tank Inspection workflow A dedicated help page is part of the online documentation to explain the contents of the templates.	A user might adapt a weekly scan vs as-built comparison report he has to do on a regular basis for his own customer. Thanks to MLT files, it is easy for him to save and to reuse a template for the repetitive analysis reports.
Camera parameters	Texturing	Estimate Pose Scripting	INCAM EXCAM	INCAM Files INCAM files typically contain internal camera parameters. These parameters are crucial for photogrammetry processes as they describe the intrinsic properties of the camera used to capture images. Internal parameters might include focal length, principal point coordinates, lens distortion coefficients, and other calibration data that help in accurately reconstructing 3D models from 2D images. EXCAM Files EXCAM files generally store external camera parameters. These parameters describe the position and orientation of the camera in space relative to a given coordinate system. External parameters include the camera's location (X, Y, Z coordinates) and its orientation (rotation angles or a rotation matrix). These parameters are essential for aligning multiple images or point clouds in a common reference frame.	Those files are usefull in the following cases: Manually defining camera parameters from a set of photos taken by a camera Editing camera parameters of photos taken by a not supported scanner. The INCAM file can be generated once for all by the Calibrate Camera commands. Batch edition can also be possible through scripting. The EXCAM file can be generated per images by Estimate Pos command.
Matrix file	Coord Sys	N points Registration Best Fit Registration	TXT	Store the definition of a 3D transformation as a matrix in a file.	Apply a bestfit between two objects and export the result in another software. Repetitive best-fit operations for the same project

Classification experience

Exchange formats for classification

Classification of point clouds is saved and supported for the following exchange possibilities:

• Import and Export: LGSx, E57, LAS, LAZ

• Stream and Convert: from Reality Cloud Studio, powered by HxDR

Models

Within the 2025.1 version of Cyclone 3DR, the following classification models are exposed in the Auto-Classification feature.