Classification Manager

The Classification Manager is accessible through the Classification Viewer. This is where the user can perform an initial classification in pre-imported data, adjust the classes shown in the Classification Viewer, import and export the XML file containing the class data, such as color and class name, and is the main location for classifying the point cloud.

To automatically classify a pre-imported data set, select Classify Visible Points to use the Classification Model listed in the drop-down menu.

It is recommended that classification be performed after import rather than during for all but small Projects.

If a mix of indoor and outdoor Setups are to be classified, place indoor and outdoor Setups into separate Bundles. When classifying the indoor Setups, select all outdoor Setups and use the Show/Hide Point Clouds option to hide the outdoor Setups before selecting Classify Visible Points. Repeat for the outdoor Setups, using the Show/Hide Point Clouds to hide the indoor Setups. If a single setup contains both indoor and outdoor points, manual classification can be used to move the points to the desired class.

Note: Setups on a different SiteMap will be classified with the Classify Visible Points command if those Setups are not hidden using the Show/Hide Setup Clouds command.

As this can be a very time-consuming process, depending on the number of point cloud points in the Setup(s) and the power of the computer/GPU. It is recommended to test the time to classify a single Setup before classifying a large project with many Setups. To do this, toggle Show/Hide Setups on all Setups except the one(s) that should be classified or move the Setup to another SiteMap and then select the Classify Visible Points command from the Classification Manager.

Once a data set is classified, the user may begin modifying it.

As in the Classification Viewer, selecting a color will bring up a menu to change the color of that class.

The Favorite column indicates which classes are visible in the Classification Viewer. Once the classification has been completed, the classes that contain classified points will automatically have the star in the Favorite column and be visible in the Classification Viewer.

Another option is to select a favorite star manually. For example, if no points were classified as ground points, the user would like to add that class. Selecting the star by ground will add the ground class to the Classification Viewer, and points can be fenced and added to the ground class.

To reset the Favorite category to include only the classes in non-hidden Setups that contain points, select Reload Classes in the Classification Viewer. This can be useful to keep the number of classes in the Classification Viewer to the minimum needed.

The Class Name value can be edited in the Classification Manager. There are a total of 256 classes, including class 0 - Created, never classified. All points will start in class 0. The classification model discussed below will attempt to map the point cloud onto the appropriate class. As a best practice, users should classify visible points before changing the names of the classes.

Rather than using the automatic classification function in Cyclone REGISTER 360 PLUS, users may also import a classification by selecting Import. This will allow the user to import an XML file that contains information for the Value, Color, and Class Name. Selecting Export will allow the user to export the current class colors and names to an XML file. These XML files are interchangeable with Cyclone 3DR.

WARNING: Undo is not available when Classifying Point Clouds.

Classify While Importing

Auto-Classification is a very GPU-heavy process and it is recommended that Auto-Classification be run from the Classification Manager. However, it is also available on scan import. In this case, the import will be done in Safe Mode (single thread). If you usually use Balanced or Fast Mode, this will increase the time for the basic import of the scans as well as add time further time for the classification. It is possible that classification will fail upon import. This will not stop the import from occurring, and Automatic Classification can be run again using the Classification Manager.

Note: Existing Projects can be Auto-Classified from the Classification Manager.

To classify while importing, place some data in the Import area and select the check box on the right for Point Cloud Classification. Indoor and Outdoor models are available.

Multiple Settings During Import

It is now possible to have different settings for each Setup, Bundle, or Project in a single import session. By selecting an object in the Import area, the settings for that object will be displayed on the Properties panel. This allows Projects that have some Setups inside and some outside to be classified with the correct model, Indoor or Outdoor, and be imported in the same session.

For example, if the object selected is a Project that has Setups with different settings under it, the check box will turn into a grey square. As shown below, all Setups have Auto B&W Target selected, thus the check box is selected. However, some Setups have import images and point cloud classification, thus those boxes are grey, and none of the Setups have Pre-Registered, thus the box is empty.