In this article, we address the top questions about GstarCAD Point Cloud, helping users understand its features and optimize their workflows.
1. What does the GstarCAD Point Cloud software suite consist of?
GstarCAD combines the powerful Undet Point Cloud plug-in tools with the simplicity of GstarCAD to offer an intuitive workflow to quickly and easily create 2D drawings based on precise as-built point clouds. It consists of the following:
- GstarCAD software, integrated with Undet Point Cloud and Floor Plan plugins
- Undet Indexer (Project Creator)
- Undet Browser (Point Cloud Viewer)
2. What point cloud file formats can I import into GstarCAD?
You can import any point cloud file from a 3D laser scanner, UAV or photogrammetry software.
Supported point cloud formats: *.E57, *.FLS, *.RCP/RCS, *.PTX, *.ZFS,*.LAS, *.LAZ, *.PTS, *.PLY, *.DP, *.FPR, *.LSPROJ, *.FWS, *.CL3, *.CLR, *.RSP, ASCII / NEZ (X,Y,Z/i/RGB) and custom ASCII / TXT file format imports. We recommend using structured point clouds to access all features of the GstarCAD Point Cloud and Undet Browser.
3. What is GstarCAD? Is it the same as AutoCAD?
GstarCAD is an alternative CAD software that is highly compatible with AutoCAD. With continuous improvement and lean innovation, today GstarCAD is far ahead in performance, stability and other key indicators and becomes one of the leading CAD software in the world. It offers all the features you’re familiar with in ACAD, making it easy to transition seamlessly from ACAD to GstarCAD, as well as innovative tools designed to enhance your design process.
4. Is the trial license limited to functionality?
You can use the trial version for 30 days and all features are available. After the trial ends, you can still open Undet projects and access basic features like Display settings, Visualization, Clipping Box… But advanced features like Feature Extraction, Meshing, Draping… are not supported anymore, you will need to activate your license.
5. Is it possible to migrate the license between computers?
Yes, there are no restrictions on migrating the license between computers.
6. I have some very large point clouds and I’m wondering how GstarCAD would handle them?
GstarCAD Point Cloud is well-optimized and can handle massive point clouds (hundreds of GBs in size) on a regular PC. There is no need to worry about file sizes.
7. Does GstarCAD provide the same point cloud management features as AutoCAD?
GstarCAD Point Cloud significantly enhances point cloud management when compared to the built-in tools of AutoCAD. Besides the basic features like importing, clipping, and analyzing point clouds that AutoCAD offers, GstarCAD Point Cloud also provides advanced capabilities such as feature extraction, dynamic visualization, enhanced clipping tools, mesh generation, and seamless panorama integration for streamlined and precise workflows.
8. What is system requirements for GstarCAD Point Cloud to get a good performance?
There are no special requirements; current workstations or gaming laptops can handle massive point clouds:
- Operating System: Windows 10 & 11 OS 64-bit.
- RAM: 16GB and more
- Hard Drive: A solid-state drive (SSD). For maximum performance, please use M.2 SSDs.
- CPU: Intel Core i5 and newer.
- GPU: NVidia or AMD graphics processor with OpenGL version 4.4 or newer support. For example: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 / GTX 1050 Ti / GTX 1650 / RTX 3050 / Quadro K2000 and newer. AMD Radeon R9 270/FirePro W5100 and newer.
- Software Dependencies: Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-2022, .NET Framework 4.8 and above are necessary.
9. Is it possible to have one point cloud project on a server, and for several people to use it on different computers?
Only one user can open the point cloud project from the local server. To avoid performance dropping when working from the server, Link speed (Receive/Transmit) should be 10/10 (Gbps). Without this speed, the point cloud project should be copied to the local SSD disk drive.
10. Can I run GstarCAD Point Cloud on Virtual Machines?
Virtual Machines are supported.
11. Do GstarCAD Point Cloud projects support large coordinate systems (State, airborne LiDAR)?
Yes, if you have scan data files in large/state coordinate systems (for example UAV, Airborne LiDAR, etc.) you can create an Undet project.
All Undet plugins include ‘coordinate system transformatioin’ tools.
For example: if you try to open the project in a large coordinate system, Undet plugin will suggest shifting point cloud data to coordinates (0,0,0). At any time, you will be able to change the coordinate system for the project (0,0,0) to the original with large numbers.
We do not recommend creating deliverables using the point cloud in large coordinate systems. This is because it may cause errors when using modeling tools and start screen view glitching while zooming.
12. Can I scale/resize point clouds with GstarCAD Point Cloud?
Undet point cloud plugin in GstarCAD keeps initial file structure and scale. By using the “coordinate system transformation” tools you can shift and rotate the project, but scaling is disabled.
All scan data files should be registered and on the same scale and coordinate system.
13. Can I snap to point cloud points?
Yes, you can snap to any point of the point cloud. Just make sure that the “ObjectSnap” tool is enabled with the snapping option “Node”
Note: We always recommend keeping the snapping Node option switched off. It is better to use “CTRL + Right mouse click” and select “Node” snapping for a single time. It will be one-time snapping, but if you need to snap lots of points to a point cloud please use ObjectSnap with “Node” option enabled.