What it is
A Point Cloud is your site as millions of measured 3D points. Where the 3D Model gives solid surfaces, the cloud gives the raw geometry engineers and estimators use for elevations.
When to use it
- Elevations and terrain shape — the most accurate way to read heights across the site.
- Bare ground — filter out vegetation to see the earth underneath.
- Detailed inspection — zoom into structures, poles or slopes point by point.
- Cross-sections and volumes — pull an elevation profile along a line, or feed volume calculations.
How to open it
- Open your project and pick the flight date if there's more than one.
- Click the Point Cloud tab (the dotted-circle icon).
- It streams in during the loading screen, with the 3D Model's camera modes: Orbit, Fly, Tripod and Walk.
Coloring the points
The color-mode control switches what the colors mean:
- RGB — true photo color.
- Height / Gnd Elev — colored by elevation.
- Intensity / Bare Int — laser-return strength; "Bare Int" also hides vegetation.
- Type — ground, vegetation, buildings, water and other classes.
- Return and Trajectory — advanced views of how the data was captured.
Quality tiers
A Standard / HD / Ultra control trades detail for speed: start on Standard and step up on a desktop. On phones, HD is the ceiling.
Tips
- Phones: a streamed, tiled cloud renders live, which is why HD is the ceiling. A large single-file cloud doesn't; the project's own team gets a Download button there instead.
- Export the cloud as LAS or PLY, or a cross-section profile as CSV or DXF.
- For contour lines or cut/fill volumes, see the elevation and volumes guide.
Related guides
Measurements, Elevation & Volumes — turning the map into numbers
Turn your data into numbers: distances and areas, terrain elevation profiles and contour lines, and cut/fill volumes for stockpiles and earthwork.
Photoreal 3D Model — your site as a solid, textured object
A true-to-life 3D model of your property to spin, tilt and zoom in the browser. Best for walkthroughs, presentations and a feel for the whole site.
Find your projects and download your deliverables
Navigate the dashboard to open any project, and grab your maps, 3D models, point clouds, and reports from the Downloads tab.
Didn't find your answer? Contact us and we'll help you out.