Smoothing and Re-spacing Point Cloud

*This feature is available in the Basic license level and above for LP360.

The Smoothing and Re-spacing Point Cloud Task smooths given geometry (lines or polygons) using the Douglas-Peuker algorithm. It can re-space the given geometry by adding or removing points. If both smoothing and re-spacing options are selected, then it performs the smoothing operation first and then re-spacing.

How To Use Smoothing and Re-spacing

1. Use the Add Files command to open the file(s) that contain the geometry that you want to smooth and re-space.

2. Use the Add Task command to create a new task. When you are selecting a Task Type in the Add Point Cloud Task dialog, select Smoothing and Re-spacing. On the Point Cloud Task tab again, you should see the unique name that you gave your task selected in the list and the Smoothing and Re-spacing properties displayed.

3. Set the parameters in the Smoothing and Re-spacing tab depending on whether you want to add points to re-space your geometry, remove points to smooth your geometry, or a combination of both actio

4. Click the points in the geometry to add or remove points. The output file is generated and placed in the location you specify and remains visible in the map. Click on the TOC tab to see it listed as a Layer.

Overview of the Smoothing and Re-spacing Property Page

Input Data Sets The dialog items in the input data set group box allows you to select the input geometry, units,..etc.

Smoothing and Re-spacing The geometry selected is the input geometry for which Smoothing and Re-spacing is performed and written as another output shape file. The input geometry can be a polyline or a polygon. Input geometry can come from Tool geometry or from a Shape layer or file. These selections are made in the I/O manager.

Units The units for the other settings such as Move distance, Spacing, etc. The valid options are Meter and Feet. If the display units of the map or units of LAS data are different from this unit, then all the parameters will be converted to display units.

Smoothing Group Box These are the options set for Smoothing.

Smoothing  Select this option for a smoothing operation. The Douglas Peuker algorithm is used to smooth the given geometry.

Move Distance  This is the amount of distance you want to allow the data to be moved the smoothing operation.

Re-spacing Group Box  These are the options set for Re-spacing.

Re-space Vertices Select this option for a re-spacing operation.

Keep Original Vertices  This option allows you to keep the original vertices from input geometry to output geometry.

Spacing The distance between the two vertices in the output geometry.

Output Data Sets Group box  These are the output options and location specifications.

Smoothing and Re-spacing Output File Specify the Smoothing and Re-spacing output shape file.

Copy Attributes from Input to Output  This option allows you to copy the shape file attributes from the input shape file or layer to the output file.

Create DXF file This option creates a DXF file in addition to the shape file. The filename and path of the DXF file will be the same of the shape file, except that the extension will be DXF.

Examples of Smoothing Results

Before Smoothing

After Smoothing