A critical upstream workflow prior to uploading data into Cintoo involves considering the placement of data in relation to a coordinate system. Key questions to ask include:
- Is the data correctly positioned relative to its real-world location?
- Are there other data elements, such as models, which need to be coordinated in the same location (e.g. Scan vs. BIM)?
Project requirements typically define how and where scan data and models should be placed in relation to a coordinate system. However, occasionally, this information may be missing, necessitating adjustments to align data elements correctly.
This article provides guidance on repositioning data before importing it into Cintoo. While Cintoo offers a Manual Alignment tool, it's recommended to perform the alignment upstream in your third-party software for more flexible positioning tools and greater accuracy.
Confirm the Coordinate System/Datum
Data elements in different coordinate systems can impact the effective use of some of Cintoo's toolsets, such as the Comparison Tool. If you have loaded scans and models into Cintoo and see the message "Current scene is extremely large. Visualization may be impacted," it is likely due to a misalignment between scans and models, caused by their being too far apart in different coordinate systems.
To understand the difference between the two coordinate systems, move your scans and models into separate work zones and visualize them separately. By clicking a point on a surface inside each work zone, you can obtain the X, Y, Z coordinates of that point, helping you to determine the distance between them.
Confirming the base coordinate system or datum to be used is a critical first step in any data alignment process. Establishing this foundation ensures that all subsequent data elements are accurately placed and aligned, preventing misalignment issues and enhancing the overall integrity of the project.
Identify Common Coordinate Points
Identifying common coordinate points in a scan and model is crucial for achieving accurate data alignment. These shared reference points act as anchors, ensuring precise overlay within the same coordinate system across different data sources. Without such points, there is a significant risk of misalignment, leading to errors in measurements, analyses, and visualizations.
It is recommended to identify a minimum of three points, though four or five are more commonly used, to establish a reliable reference framework. Additional points add redundancy, aiding in error detection and correction during the alignment process. Distributing these points evenly and at varying heights across both the scan and model enhances balance and comprehensive alignment.
Using distinctive features such as corners and edges, which are prominent in both datasets, is encouraged. This practice facilitates smoother workflows and improves alignment efficiency by enabling straightforward comparisons and quick identification of discrepancies for necessary adjustments.
Update Alignment
Once you have determined the coordinate system and identified common points for alignment, you can proceed with the alignment process. The specific workflow will vary depending on the third-party software you are using. We recommend referring to the support or knowledge base articles of your chosen software for detailed guidance on the step-by-step alignment procedure. Some useful links are provided below.
After adjusting the position of the data, it can then be saved or exported into a suitable format for uploading into Cintoo. This ensures that all data elements are correctly positioned and aligned as per project requirements. Importing into Cintoo should then seamlessly integrate these elements into the correct locations, ready for further use.
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