Distance from Objects

Source file: distance-from-objects.htm

Distance from Objects compares objects of interest to base (reference) objects and applies colours by the distances between the objects, according to the criteria specified in the colour scheme editor.

Colouring by distance is useful for comparing as-built surfaces against design models to highlight non-conformance. You can also use it to identify changes between scans of the same area, such as a slow moving failure in an open-pit mine.

To colour by distance, proceed as follows:

1. On the Home tab, in the Colour group, click Distance from objects.

   
   

2. Populate the Base object(s) field with at least one reference object.

3. Select the objects of interest in the project explorer or view window.

4. From Measurement targets, select one of the following options:

   • Closest object to colour object points by distance from the closest base object.

   • Average to colour object points by the average distance to all base objects.

5. From Distance type, select one of the following options:

   • Signed to colour by distance and vertical direction from a base surface.

   • Absolute to colour by the distance only.

6. From the Measurement Direction drop-down, select one of the following:

   • Closest point to colour by the distance to the nearest base point.

   • Closest point (vertical component) to colour by the distance in the Z-direction to the nearest base point.

   • Closest point (horizontal component) to colour by the XY distance to the nearest base point.

   • Closest vertical point to colour by the distance to the nearest base point directly above or below the selection point.

   • Closest horizontal point to colour by the distance to the nearest base point on the same XY plane (i.e. with the same Z-value) as the selection point.

7. If you selected either Closest vertical point or Closest horizontal point in the previous step, No measurement colour is enabled. Select a distinctive colour to apply to any selection points for which there are no corresponding base object points.

8. Adjust the colour scale as required. See Modifying a Colour Scale for detailed instructions.

9. Select Create contours to make contours of selected surfaces based on the distances from the base objects.
   The contours will be spaced according to the colour band interval. They will be saved in the contours container and loaded into the active view window.

   Note:  Create contours is only available when you select at least one surface as an object of interest.

10. Select Create legend to add a legend indicating the colour scale. Double-click on the legend in the project explorer to view it.

11. Select Create histogram to generate a graph displaying the distribution of data in front of and behind the surface. The chart will be placed in a secondary container called colour by distance from objects legend. Double-click on the container to view the chart.

12. Select Output distances to file to save a CSV file listing the points of the selected surface and the distances from the base objects. Browse to and enter the Output file name and path.

13. Click OK or Apply.

    A surface coloured by distance from objects (left) and corresponding histogram (right).