Point Cloud Shape Extraction for AutoCAD

30 July 2010 Geoff Zeiss


Utilities are increasingly using laser scanning, terrestrial and LiDAR, to scan transmission lines for vegetation management, substations to create 3D models as a starting point for rehabilitation design, and other objects.

There is a new Point Cloud Shape Extraction Plug-in available on the Autodesk Labs site. Shape Extraction is a plug-in for AutoCAD that allows you to extract shape and geometry information from point cloud data in AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD 2011-based products.

Laser Scanning and AutoCAD Shann Hurley 6a00d8341bfd0c53ef013485dc7339970c To do this first import unorganized point cloud data into AutoCAD.  You then have three options for extracting shapes.

  • Primitive Shape Extraction – extract primitive shapes such
    as spherical, cylindrical, conical and toric surfaces or solids.
  • Plane Extraction – extract a single plane or automatically extract all planes
  • Point Cloud Sectioning – specify a sectioning plane and then fit poly-lines or b-splines to the points on the
    sectioning plane

More information is available on the Labs blog. There are some examples on Shaan Hurley’s site and on Kean Walmsley’s blog.  Videos are also available.

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss has more than 20 years experience in the geospatial software industry and 15 years experience developing enterprise geospatial solutions for the utilities, communications, and public works industries. His particular interests include the convergence of BIM, CAD, geospatial, and 3D. In recognition of his efforts to evangelize geospatial in vertical industries such as utilities and construction, Geoff received the Geospatial Ambassador Award at Geospatial World Forum 2014. Currently Geoff is Principal at Between the Poles, a thought leadership consulting firm. From 2001 to 2012 Geoff was Director of Utility Industry Program at Autodesk Inc, where he was responsible for thought leadership for the utility industry program. From 1999 to 2001 he was Director of Enterprise Software Development at Autodesk. He received one of ten annual global technology awards in 2004 from Oracle Corporation for technical innovation and leadership in the use of Oracle. Prior to Autodesk Geoff was Director of Product Development at VISION* Solutions. VISION* Solutions is credited with pioneering relational spatial data management, CAD/GIS integration, and long transactions (data versioning) in the utility, communications, and public works industries. Geoff is a frequent speaker at geospatial and utility events around the world including Geospatial World Forum, Where 2.0, MundoGeo Connect (Brazil), Middle East Spatial Geospatial Forum, India Geospatial Forum, Location Intelligence, Asia Geospatial Forum, and GITA events in US, Japan and Australia. Geoff received Speaker Excellence Awards at GITA 2007-2009.

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