Exporting Data

Exporting to Maptek object data (.maptekobj)

Exporting multiple scans as a single las file

Exporting standard data

Exporting custom text file formats

Exporting images

Exporting to Maptek object data (.maptekobj)

.maptekobj is the Maptek object file. The purpose of this generic file format is to allow the operator to transfer objects between other projects, or any arbitrary groups of objects excluding external referenced files. All data can be stored in one file, which makes it easier to email than Maptek projects. Otherwise, objects can be saved to individual files.

  1. Highlight a file to export.

  2. On the Home ribbon tab navigate to the Data group and click Export.

  3. From the Export as drop-down list select .maptekobj.

  4. Select the Path (destination directory).

  5. Click OK or Apply.

    Output is saved to an individual file - with the object name and the .maptekobj extension.

Exporting multiple scans as a single las file

  1. Highlight the scans to be exported in the project explorer. All point density scans can be selected.

  2. On the Home ribbon tab navigate to the Data group and click Export.

  3. Select the Export as format as Las scan file (*.las) from the drop-down list.

  4. Select the Path (destination directory).

  5. Clear the Export to separate files option.

  6. Click OK or Apply. The scans are merged and exported as multi_selection.las to the destination directory and the report window displays a notification that exporting is complete.

Exporting standard data

  1. Highlight the data to be exported in the project explorer. More than one file can be exported at a time provided the target export format is the same.

  2. On the Home ribbon tab navigate to the Data group and click Export.


  3. Select the Export as format. Some formats allow the unit of the exported data to be selected.

  4. Select the Path (destination directory). The exported data is saved with the Database object name.

  5. Select whether the files will be exported to separate files (if available).

  6. Click OK or Apply.

Note:  
  • Any data manipulation that has occurred, for example filtering or colouring, will be saved to the file.

  • Newly acquired scans will be exported in their entirety. Data reduction (to reduce file storage requirements) will be performed on scans whose visibility has been manipulated. This process will crop invisible or invalid points from the edges of the scan.

  • AutoCAD files are in the 2009 format specification.

File type Description

.3dv

Scan grid text file

.arch_d

Maptek Vulcan software archive format: points and edges

.csv

Point text file

.00t

Maptek Vulcan software design data format: facet data only.

Compatible with non-compressed format used before Vulcan version 8.0, and compressed format used in Vulcan version 8.0 and later.

.dwg

AutoCAD binary file format

.dxb

Binary of the .dxf format

.dxf

AutoCAD file format: point, edge and facet data

.e57

The E57 file format is an extensible industry standard for '3D Imaging Data' developed by ASTM International and specified in the 'ASTM E2807 - 11 Standard Specification for 3D Imaging Data Exchange' standard.

.ireg

Maptek Vulcan software image registration file

.jpg or .jpeg

JPEG image file

.las

The LAS file format is a public file format for the interchange of LIDAR data between vendors and customers.

.ma

Maya ASCII file

.maptekobj

Maptek object file

.obj

Wavefront object modelling format: point, edge and facet data

.txt

Comma or space delimited ASCII text files.

  • Scan text file: space delimited for scan files with the format (X Y Z Red Green Blue Intensity)
  • Point text files: comma delimited for all regular object types with the format (X, Y, Z, Red, Green, Blue). Not available for text or construction plane objects.
  • Survey files: comma delimited file with the format (Index, X, Y, Z, Feature or Label)

See Export custom text file formats to export text files that are not in the above formats.

.wrl

VRML 97 file. Point, edge, facet data can be viewed in web browsers, using plug-ins such as the Cortona VRML client.

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Exporting custom text file formats

Predefined PointModeller text file formats:

  • Scan text file: Space delimited for scan files with the format (X Y Z Red Green Blue Intensity).
  • Point text files: Comma delimited for all regular object types with the format (X, Y, Z, Red, Green, Blue). Not available for text or construction plane objects.
  • Scan Polar Coordinate text file: Comma delimited file with the format (............
  • Discontinuities: Comma delimited file with the format (X/E, Y/N, Z/RL, Dip direction, Strike, Length, Area).

To export a text file (ASCII file) that is not in one of the predefined PointModeller formats listed above, use the custom text file export method below:

  1. Highlight a file to export.

  2. On the Home ribbon tab navigate to the Data group and click Export.

  3. From the Export as drop-down list select Custom text file (*.txt).

  4. Select the Path (destination directory).

  5. Click OK or Apply. The Export custom ASCII format window displays.

  6. Define the data type to be exported. Different data types can have different attributes:
  • Point data: Must include X, Y coordinates. May include Z and colour RGB data.
  • Scan data: Must include X, Y coordinates. May include Z, colour RGB and intensity data.
  1. Ensure the Column separator displays the correct option.
  2. The Comment character defines the character used in the file to determine text that is a comment.

  1. Ensure the preview columns displaying the output format are assigned to the correct value. If they are not correct, change the assigned columns by clicking on the column header and choosing the appropriate variable from the drop down list.

  2. Click OK.

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Exporting images

Image files can be imported and exported in association with surfaces and scans. The images can be draped over the entire target object or placed on a specific patch. Appropriate options will be available dependent on the target object for the image.

Note:  This allows a panorama photograph from a scan to be exported, edited, then imported to replace the original image.

  1. Select the object with the image to be exported (surface or scan).

  2. On the Home ribbon tab navigate to the Data group and click Export.
    You should be able to select the JPEG image file format for exporting the image. Specify path and or separate file options if appropriate.
    Click OK or Apply to continue.

  3. If the source image was originally distorted to fit the object, another panel will display providing the option to apply distortion correction, then click OK to continue.

  4. The progress bar displays the image exporting process.

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