LixelStudio Editing and Export
Reference for every point cloud editing tool, the Merge utility, export formats, and licensing in LixelStudio. For Project Processing settings, coloring options, SLAM modes, and coordinate transformation, see 8.6 LixelStudio Tools.
Point Cloud Editing Tools
LixelStudio's viewer and editor provide tools for reviewing, cleaning, and measuring the processed point cloud before export. K2, L2 Pro, and K1 scans process through the same editing workflow once the point cloud is generated.
Recommended cleanup sequence before export. Start with Clipping and Cropping to remove the largest unwanted volumes first (areas outside the site boundary, ceiling artifacts, scan start and end noise). Then use the Cloud Map Overlay floor slicing to isolate and inspect each level. Use freehand Clipping to remove irregular geometry boundaries. Run Noise Filtering after spatial cleanup is complete. Apply Resampling last, immediately before export, so it operates on the fully cleaned cloud rather than on intermediate editing states.
Editing and Cleanup
Clipping and Cropping
Select and remove point cloud regions using rectangular or freehand selection tools. Use to remove scan noise at scan start and end, remove the scanner operator from the data, crop the deliverable to the site boundary, or clean up ceiling artifacts.
Noise Filtering
Automated filter that identifies and removes statistical outliers from the point cloud. LixelStudio introduces AI-powered filtering that improves outlier detection while preserving edge detail and fine surface features. Run after the initial review of the processed cloud to reduce noise before export.
Plane Draw
Point cloud drawing tool supporting common CAD drawing operations directly on the point cloud viewport. Includes intelligent vector extraction to assist in tracing building geometry from the point cloud. Produces 2D vector linework from the 3D scan data.
Dynamic Object Removal
Detects and removes dynamic objects (people, vehicles) from vehicle-mounted scan scenarios in post-processing. Available as both a processing-time option (Advanced Settings, see 8.6) and a post-processing editing tool. Results vary with object size, speed, and density.
Measurement
Point-to-Point Distance
Click two points on the point cloud to return the 3D Euclidean distance. Accuracy is subject to point cloud accuracy; treat measurements as approximate to 0.4 to 0.8 in (1 to 2 cm) in well-processed scans with RTK. Do not use for contract-level dimensional verification without independent check measurements.
Area Measurement
Define a polygon on a planar surface to calculate area. Requires a minimum of three coplanar points. Useful for quick room area estimates from the processed point cloud.
Coordinate Readout
Click any point to return its X, Y, Z coordinate in the project coordinate system. On georeferenced scans, these values represent real-world coordinates in the configured target coordinate system. On non-georeferenced scans, values are in the scanner's local reference frame.
Volume Calculation and Comparison
Calculate volume of a defined region directly in the point cloud viewer. Volume Comparison computes the difference between two scans of the same area, useful for stockpile change detection, earthwork progress, demolition verification, and construction progress monitoring. Both scans must share a coordinate system. Output volumes are reported in cubic units of the project coordinate system.
Resampling
Point cloud resampling reduces the density of the output cloud by keeping only a representative subset of points at a specified spacing interval. The spacing value determines how many points survive: a tighter interval preserves more detail, a wider interval produces a smaller, more manageable file.
Resampling is applied at export time, not to the internal project data. The original processed cloud is always intact within the LixelStudio project. Different exports from the same project can use different resampling intervals to serve different downstream needs.
Merge Tool
The Merge tool combines multiple processed point cloud files into a single output file. This is a post-processing utility, not the same operation as Map Fusion. Map Fusion aligns and combines raw scan segments using shared overlap geometry during the SLAM optimization stage. The Merge tool takes already-processed, already-aligned point clouds and writes them into one file for delivery or downstream use.
Typical use cases include combining separately processed floors of a building into one deliverable, merging independently georeferenced scans of adjacent areas that were not captured as part of a single Map Fusion project, or consolidating multiple exports into a single LAS file for a client handoff.
Merge does not re-align point clouds. If the input clouds are in different coordinate systems or have positional offsets, the merged output will contain those offsets. Confirm all input clouds are in the same coordinate system and correctly georeferenced before merging. For clouds that need alignment, use Map Fusion instead.
Export Formats
LixelStudio exports the processed point cloud in five primary formats. The format choice is driven by the downstream software the client or workflow requires. Export settings are configured in the Export panel after processing and review are complete.
LAS to E57 Conversion Tool
A standalone conversion utility distinct from the standard E57 export. Takes a processed LAS format point cloud and merges it with the panoramic photos captured synchronously along the acquisition path, producing an unstructured E57 file compatible with BubbleView-style panoramic viewers and E57-compatible BIM import workflows. This combines photographic imagery into the E57 container rather than producing a pure point cloud file.
BubbleView delivery for AEC. When a Scan-to-BIM partner or client expects panoramic photo bubbles aligned to the point cloud (the BubbleView workflow common in Autodesk Docs and BIM 360 review), use the LAS to E57 Conversion Tool rather than a pure E57 export. The conversion embeds panoramic imagery and registration data needed for the bubble navigation experience.
Licensing and Activation
LixelStudio requires license activation from version 3.0 onward. Each device is identified by a unique serial number (SN) and is entitled to three permanent activation codes. Activation can be performed online or offline.
Loan and demo units do not qualify for license activation. A device SN that was sold in one regional market cannot activate software from a different regional market. If activation fails repeatedly with a valid, unused code, contact XGRIDS Technical Support rather than attempting additional codes. Using a third code when the first two have already failed for a non-obvious reason will exhaust the entitlement without resolving the underlying issue.
Activation Workflow
Three permanent codes per device. The three-code entitlement supports the common case of needing to migrate a license between workstations (e.g., field laptop fails, replace with a new laptop). Use codes one at a time as workstations change. After all three codes are consumed, contact XGRIDS Technical Support for entitlement extension.
LixelStudio processing workflows are covered in detail across Module 8 sub-pages. For processing errors and failure recovery, see 10.4 Error Messages.
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