Browser functionalities of
Potree 1.6
How to use the Potree browser to visualize point
clouds with Potree.
Auth. : Nicolas Menu, [Link]
Potree is a WebGL based Open Source rendering engine for viewing
very large point clouds, developed at the TU Wien Institute of
Computer Graphics and Algorithms.
The implemented technology allows an exceptional display speed for
very large point clouds.
This checklist focuses on the different options to navigate and display
point clouds using Potree.
Installation and use of the potree converter is covered on the
[Link] website.
Potree serves its content through a web server (Apache, IIS, etc ...). It is not possible to
directly load a potree « file » without the going through a web server.
In the case of confined use, you can install a web server locally on your machine.
Standard point cloud formats (LAS, E57, etc ...) must be converted to Potree format (a set
of files, consumable by your internet browser) first, using the Potreeconverter
Caution: If the data resides on a UNIX server, the path and file name may be "case
sensitive".
Potree uses WebGL (which allows to use the OpenGL standard within a web page). It is
therefore important that the browser fully supports WebGL.
Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge are browsers that support WebGL. Potree also works on
tablet or mobile.
In any case, if you have issues, try first using another browser. Chrome for example, gives
full satisfaction in my experience.
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1. Getting started
Start your internet browser and type the address that contains your data.
For example: [Link] .
That's it ... you just loaded your first model.
This model is displayed with the default settings that were specified when generating the
potree files.
These potree files consist of a set of data files, html and scripts, interpreted by the web server
and your internet browser.
By clicking on the sign , usually located at the top left of the screen, you can open the
menu containing the Potree tools.
The different tools let you
1. Define the visual aspect of the model
2. Optimise display perfomances
3. Choose a navigation mode to experience the model
4. Measure (distances, profiles, slice, etc…)
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On the first line you will find the
releas number (here 1.6) and a
few other links
Second line let you change the
interface language. EN-FR-DE-JP
Click on a section to expand its
content
The visual of the model is
controlled in Appeareance and
Scene section.
Properties of the Appearance
section are global, while scene
properties apply to each scene (cloud) separately.
Through Scene, you can toggle on/off clouds.
The following [Link] is an example
where multiple clouds are loaded simultaneously, (allowing to color each cloud separately for
example).
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2. Appearance
Point Budget set the amount of points taken into account for the display. This is partly what
makes the point density on screen (but it is not the only parameter)
Field of view set the field of view.
Eye Dome Lighting is a shading calculation methode that improves the perception of depth by
sharpening the edges. Very useful to facilitate the reading of a model. The darkening due to
the eye dome lighting can be compensated via the brightness of the scene.
Without Eye
Dome Lighting
With Eye Dome
Lighting.
Radius and
Strenght
parameters
impact the
degree of edge
shadowing
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Background set the background style
Splat quality set point aspect
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Minimum node size defined Min node size = 1000 the size of the nodes, not to be confused
with the size of the points. Potree uses a point-storing technique
based on an information structure called octree. This structure divides the space into cubes of
different sizes with a specific level of detail allowing to display some cubes (or not) based on
the camera/target position . This is what allows Potree to display huge points clouds with
great perfomances. The smaller the size of these nodes, the greater the amount of detail
displayed. If you have performance issues, increase the value of "Min node size"
Min node size = 1000
Minimum node size = 24
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Minimum node size = 11
Box display the cube structure
Lock froze the node size view
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3. Tools
Warning: Tools available in version 1.6 of Potree are different from those of version 1.5. It is
interesting to convert old point clouds to version 1.6 to benefit from the advanced functions.
Volume resizing and clipping features have been improved in version 1.6
Measurement :
Measurement tools let you
Measure angles
Identify point
Measure distances
Measure heights
Measure surfaces (horiz.)
Measure volumes
Trace profiles
Potree R 1.6
Potree R 1.5
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Once you take measures, the will populate the Scene>Measurements section.
You can delete measures (red X at the bottom) or export
globally (Export .JSON, .DXF).
You can also click on each one to get their detailed
properties
The profile tool is very handy.
Potree Version 1.6, Profile tool
It not only allows you to view an elevation profile instantly, but also to export the points as a
CSV file or as a point cloud in LAS format. This allows to exchange data with CAD/BIM
software.
It is also possible to specify the width taken into account to capture the points that will be
displayed inside the profile.
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Clipping :
Allows you to hide part of a 3D model to better visualize some others. Version 1.6 makes it
very easy to edit volumes by their grips.
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Navigation
Potree navigation tools are easy to use.
Animation Cube
Full extenst
Orbit
Helicopter
Fly
Earth
face / side view
projection type
Moving speed
Earth controls : Hover over the model and left click + move, or right click to rotate the
model. At the initial point of the click appears a colored circle which represents the
center of rotation. (therefore, it is imperative to position the cursor at a location on the
model)
Use the mouse wheel to zoom simultaneously
Fly controls : Left click to steer flight direction + keyboard arrow keys to move forward
/ backward. Right click + move allows a pan of the view
Helicopter controls : Relatively similar, slightly different displacement
Orbit : Left click, 3D rotation around the current center (possibility to adjust the center
with a double-click on one of the points of the model, click right = Pan
Full extents : Zoom extend to the model limits
Cube : display the view cube
Earth, Fly, Orbit modes, and view by faces are let you do pretty much all you need to move
around.
Orthographic projection is generally useful when measuring on the model. Some measuring
or cutting tools require to switch to Ortho mode. Perspective mode is used to visualize and
present a model.
Speed parameter impact the zooms and other navigation tools, you can speed up/ slow
down as required.
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Scene
The Scene section contains different objecst.
Point Clouds : a scene can be composed of one or multiple point clouds
Measures : If you have been taking measurements, they will appear here. By selecting
them, you can see the details, export or delete them. This is also the place where you
can display 2D profiles…
Annotations : annotation management is made here. Annotations are created directly in
the HTML code. You can not create annotations directly from the browser, as you would
do to create measurements
• Other: Here you will find the the camera and target positions.
If objects are present within a topics, a triangle will appear and allows you to expand and
scroll the list. Selecting an object allows you to see its properties.
Each objects have its own properties (distance, starting point, arrival point, distance, etc ...).
A surface, profile, or point cloud have different properties.
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Point Clouds :
Point clouds properties mostly define their visual aspect through various display settings.
Point size : set the point size
Point sizing :set how the point size adapt to camera distance
Shape : set the point shape
Opacity : set opacity for a point cloud. This option requires « Eye Dome Lighting »,
EDL to be turned OFF.
Sub section « Attribute » for point clouds let you choose colorisitaion style, as well as the
rgular parameters for RGB images, gamma, brightness and contrast.
RGB opacity = 1 RGB opacity = 0.1
Attibute section contains colorization style
RGB : True colors (photogrammetry, LIDAR and some laserscans usually contains
RGB)
RGB & Elevation : Blend between RGB and color ramp
Color : One color only
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Elevation : Color ramp by elevation
Intensity : Color ramp by intensity (grayscale) (Laserscan & LiDAR)
Intensity Gradient : Intensity color ramp
Classification : If cloud is classified (usually true for LIDAR data)
Return number : number of signal returns (usually only LIDAR data)
Source : Source
Index : index
Level of details : level of details
Composite : You can blend all of the above
Depending on the data you are viewing, some modes may not have the desired
effect. If the RGB mode for example does not present colors, it is because the potree
files do not contain this information. A laserscan performed without photographic
capture for example will not contain RGB data.
Depending on the options used when converting the point cloud into Potree format
(PotreeConverter) some properties may be available or not. It is possible to have data
from laserscan in E57 or LAS format that initially contained the intensity + RGB, but no
longer contain those values once converted to Potree format. In this case, i twill be
necessary to regenerate the potree data using the PotreeConverter with the
appropriate options.
Measurement :
In this section you can
enable / disable the display
of measurements
previously taken. View the
measurements details,
delete each measurement
individually, or export them
all as DXF or JSON.
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Annotations:
In this section you can enable / disable annotations.
Annotations are created directly in the HTML code. You can not create temporary annotations
directly from the browser, as you would create measurements.
About:
About list authors and sponsors of the
project.
A warm thank you to all of them !
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