---
title: "Guided Workflow | Computing Volumes"
slug: "cyclone-3dr-computingvolumes"
tags: ["Scan2Verify"]
updated: 2026-10-15T12:38:46Z
published: 2026-10-15T12:38:46Z
canonical: "rcdocs.leica-geosystems.com/cyclone-3dr-computingvolumes"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rcdocs.leica-geosystems.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Guided Workflow | Computing Volumes

![Vol_Ini.jpg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Vol-Ini.jpg)

> [!NOTE]
> Exercise overview
> 
> In this exercise, we will see how to:
> 
> - Compute the volume at a certain level of liquid
> - Evaluate the maximum level of a mountain lake
> - Calculate intersections between surfaces
> - Make a “constraint meshing”

> [!NOTE]
> The file used in this tutorial is **MountainLake.3dr** ([download](https://www.cyclone3dr.com/download_helper.php?File=Cyclone3DRSampleData/MountainLake.3dr)).

## Calculating the volume of a lake

Open the file **MountainLake.3dr**.

### Determining the maximum water height

The model represents a mountain landscape and the goal is to evaluate the maximum capacity of a mountain lake.

- Select the object
- Launch the command [Volume From Elevation](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-volumefromelevationc)
- Set the **Direction**: X = 0; Y = 0; Z = 1.
- Use a **List of values** as the extraction method. Enter 2339.6 m in the text field. At this point, there should be no connection between the lake’s interior and exterior.
- Press **Preview** then **OK** to validate the results

![image2019-9-23_13-1-46.png](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/image2019-9-23-13-1-46.png)

***Figure 2: Adjusting the water level to find the maximum capacity of the mountain lake***

> [!NOTE]
> Tips
> 
> You can click on the ‘+’ button to add level at specific elevation from clicking on the mesh.

The result of the volume calculation, here, is not meaningful because it represents the sum of the volumes inside AND outside the lake. Here we need only the volume inside.

### Computing the contour of the lake

- Select both the mountain surface and created plane
- Launch the command [Intersection](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-intersectionc)
- You should see that the intersection contours are calculated
- Click **OK, Exit** to keep the result
- Select the water level and hide it

![Im4Fr.PNG](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Im4Fr.PNG)

***Figure 3: Using the command Intersection to get the contour of the lake***

### Separating the lake surface from the rest of the mountain

- Select both the mountain surface and the contours
- Launch the command [Constraint Mesh](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-constraintmeshc)
- Check only **Cut in parts**
- Click **Preview** to calculate the result, and then **OK** to validate

The mesh has been cut along the contours.

### Calculating the volume of the lake

- Click on the lake and right click to **Show only** this object
- Launch the command [Volume From Elevation](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-volumefromelevationc)
- Adjust the water height to be at the maximum water height. You can click on the plus button at the beginning of list of distance, select option Nearest 3D Projection and select point on the top border of the lake.
- Click **OK**
- You should obtain a volume of 5.7 million of m3

![Im6Fr.PNG](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Im6Fr.PNG)

***Figure 4: Computing the volume of the lake: 5.7 million of m3***

### Calculating the volume at several levels

It is also possible to compute a liquid volume all over the mesh according to regular levels. The resulting volumes can be displayed through Measure(s) and a customizable report or can be exported in CSV format.

- Click on the lake and right click to **Show only** this object
- Launch the command [Volume From Elevation](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-volumefromelevationc)
- Put the options as below:
  - Direction: X=0; Y=0; Z=1.
  - Choose **Regular** steps: 1m **From** 2310 m **To** 2339.6 m thanks to **Custom** mode.
- Click **OK**

The intersection lines between each plane and the mesh can also be extracted via the command [Intersection](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-intersectionc).