Change the appearance of point clouds

You can adjust the display and appearance of feature layers, including visibility range limits, display effects, symbology, and visualization options for extrusion, face culling, and lighting on the Appearance tab. Select a point cloud layer in the Contents pane to access the contextual Appearance tab.

Visibility range

Use the In Beyond and Out Beyond settings to limit the visibility of a layer to be between specific scales. Choose one of the preset options in the drop-down menu or enter a scale in the text box. Use the Clear Limits button to remove the visibility settings.

Effects

The following Effects options allow you to compare two overlapping rasters.

• Transparency slider —Reduce the opacity of the selected raster. Doing so will make the underlying raster visible. The selected raster must be the uppermost layer that is enabled in the Contents pane for you to visualize the transparency.
• Layer Blend—Draws the entire layer and then blends it with the content below it in the drawing order. Each mode performs a type of mathematical calculation on the layer to accomplish various goals, such as drawing topography above background layers but keeping its labels visible.
• Swipe tool — Peel back the raster on top, revealing the raster that's under it. To deactivate Swipe, on the Home tab, click the Explore button .

Symbology

You have several options available in terms of how you display or symbolize a LAS dataset. You can quickly change the display of an LAS dataset layer with the Symbology drop-down menu or the Symbology pane. The display renderers on the Symbology drop-down menu only show one renderer at a time. To display more than one renderer for an LAS dataset, consider using the Symbology pane.

The Symbology options for an LAS dataset layer honor any applied LAS dataset filters.

Symbology for a single LAS or ZLAS file is supported in the same way as an LAS dataset.

When an LAS dataset, LAS, or ZLAS file is added to a 3D scene in Drone2Map, the points are drawn with an elevation renderer and eye-dome lighting applied, by default. Eye-dome lighting is a shading technique that improves the perception of depth and contour when viewing LAS datasets. To turn eye-dome lighting on or off, select an LAS dataset in the Contents pane, select the Appearance contextual tab and locate the Lighting and Shading group. Select the Eye-Dome Lighting button to turn the shading effect on or off.

When an LAS dataset, LAS, or ZLAS file is added to a 2D map in Drone2Map, the points are drawn with an elevation renderer only.

Use the symbology drop-down menu

Use the Symbology drop-down menu to quickly change the symbology of an LAS dataset between common point and surface symbology renderers. The appearance of the LAS dataset automatically changes with each selection from the Symbology drop-down menu.

Follow these steps to access the Symbology drop-down menu:

1. Select an LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and click the Appearance tab.
2. On the Appearance tab, in the Drawing group, click the Symbology drop-down arrow.
3. Select the applicable symbology for the selected LAS dataset layer.

There are several common triangulated irregular network (TIN-)-based symbology renderers you can use to display your LAS dataset. Once a selection is made, the changes apply to the LAS dataset listed in the active LAS dataset Layer drop-down menu.

Select from any of the following point-based symbology renderers:

Point symbology	Description
Elevation	Symbolize LAS points based on elevation.
Class	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the LAS classification code.
Return	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the lidar pulse return number.
RGB	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by RGB values assigned to each point.
Intensity	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by intensity values assigned to each point.

Select from any of the following surface-based symbology renderers:

TIN surface symbology	Description
Elevation	Symbolize TIN using elevation.
Aspect	Symbolize TIN using aspect values.
Slope	Symbolize TIN using slope values.

Select from the following line-based symbology renderers:

Line symbology	Description
Contour	Symbolize TIN using contours.
Edges	Symbolize TIN using edges.

Use the symbology pane

The Symbology pane for LAS dataset layers allows you to draw an LAS dataset as points, contours, edges, or a surface, as well as any combination of these symbology renderers. Only the types of symbology that are valid for the LAS dataset you have selected will be presented to you.

1. Select an LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and click the Appearance tab.
2. On the Appearance tab, in the Drawing group, click the Symbology button .

The Symbology pane appears. From here, modify the applicable symbology for the LAS dataset selected in the Contents pane.

You can also select other LAS dataset layers from the Contents pane, and without closing the Symbology pane, you can apply the same symbology to them.

Symbolize using points

Clicking the Symbolize your layer using points button opens the Points pane. The following options will become available once the Draw using check box is checked. The table provides the available point symbology attributes from the Draw using drop-down menu. Once the point-based attribute is selected from the Draw using drop-down menu, the symbology options provided in the Symbology pane will show either stretch, classify, or unique value symbology options.

Point symbology attributes	Description
Elevation (classified)	Symbolize points based on point elevation using classified options.
Elevation	Symbolize points based on point elevation using stretch options.
RGB	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by RGB values assigned to each point if available.
Intensity	Symbolize the points by intensity values assigned to each point if available.
Scan angle	Symbolize the points based on the scan angle.
Classification	Symbolize the points by the LAS classification code if available.
Return number	Symbolize the points based on the return number.
Number of return	Symbolize the points by the lidar pulse return number if available.
User data	Symbolize the points with user data.
Point source ID	Symbolize the points by the point source ID.

Classify

Classify allows you to group points together in a specified number of classes when displaying Elevation (Classified).

• Symbol scale increases or decreases the size of the points based on minimum and maximum values.
• Modulate using intensity darkens the base color computed by the renderer based on the intensity value for each point. High intensity values leave the base color unchanged, while low intensity may darken the base color. The amount of modulation is proportional to the intensity value within an intensity range representative of the dataset where extreme intensity values (low/high) have been excluded.
• Method shows the available options used to classify the points.
• Classes allows you to change the number of classes used.
• Color scheme allows you to choose a color scheme to apply.
• Class breaks defines the range of values to display.

Stretch

Stretch allows you to define how the values will be stretched between minimum and maximum values that are associated by a color scheme for Elevation, RGB, Intensity, and Scan angle values.

• Symbol Scale increases or decreases the size of the points based on minimum and maximum values.
• Draw allows you to switch between Elevation and Intensity values.
• Modulate using intensity darkens the base color computed by the renderer based on the intensity value for each point. High intensity values leave the base color unchanged, while low intensity may darken the base color. The amount of modulation is proportional to the intensity value within an intensity range representative of the dataset where extreme intensity values (low/high) have been excluded.
• Color scheme sets the color scheme.
• Stretch defines the range of values to display.

Note:

You can only change the size of the RGB rendered points.

Unique Values

Unique Values assigns a color to each value in your dataset. LAS files of a LAS dataset layer might be attributed with additional information. A unique values renderer allows the points to be rendered with individual colors for the following point attributes: Classification, Return number, Number of returns, User data, and Point source ID.

• Symbol scale increases or decreases the size of the points based on minimum and maximum values.
• Modulate using intensity darkens the base color computed by the renderer based on the intensity value for each point. High intensity values leave the base color unchanged, while low intensity may darken the base color. The amount of modulation is proportional to the intensity value within an intensity range representative of the dataset where extreme intensity values (low/high) have been excluded.
• Color scheme allows modification to the current color scheme.
• Values defines the range of values to display.

Symbolize using contours

Click the Symbolize your layer using contours button to open the Contours pane. The following options will become available once the Draw contours check box is checked:

• Contour interval is the interval between the contours lines.
• Reference height defines the starting z-value from which the contour interval is either added or subtracted to delineate contours. The default value is 0.0.
• Index factor is commonly used as a cartographic aid for assisting in the visualization of contour lines. The index factor is typically five times larger than the contour interval.
• Contour types shows the Symbol, Type, and Label for the contours.

Symbolize using edges

A TIN is used to display an LAS dataset as a surface. Edges are line features using the triangle edges of a TIN dataset.

Click the Symbolize your layer using edges button to open the Edges pane. Once the Draw using check box is checked, use the drop-down menu to select either Simple or Edge Type to symbolize the edge lines of the TIN.

Symbolize using a surface

A TIN is used to display an LAS dataset as a surface. An LAS dataset rendered as a TIN can be symbolized using Simple, Elevation, Slope, or Aspect symbology.

Click the Symbolize your layer using a surface button to open the Surface pane. The following options will become available once the Draw using check box is checked:

Select from any of the following surface-based symbology renderers:

TIN surface symbology	Description
Simple	Symbolize a TIN using a single symbol.
Elevation	Symbolize a TIN using elevation.
Aspect	Symbolize a TIN using aspect values.
Slope	Symbolize a TIN using slope values.

Reset Legend Elevation Range

You can reset the elevation symbology range classes for an LAS dataset layer based on the current display extent. You can redefine the class breaks using this option so that you get the full range of colors for that area of interest.

The Reset Legend Elevation Range option for an LAS dataset layer is located on the context menu of the layer.

1. Select an LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and right-click to access the context menu.
2. Select the Reset Legend Elevation Range option. The elevation will be reset based on the current display extent.

Note:

The Reset Legend Elevation Range option is only available in a 2D map.

Point thinning

The Point Thinning group on the Appearance tab controls the resolution of the LAS dataset. The Point Thinning group is available in a 2D or 3D map.

Typically, the LAS points are displayed as a thinned representation of the full resolution point set. You can quickly zoom in to full resolution using the Zoom To Full Resolution option from the context menu of the LAS dataset layer. Right-click the LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and select Zoom To Full Resolution. The Zoom To Full Resolution option is only available in a 2D map.

• Full Resolution (only available in a 2D map)—A scale threshold can be set in the Full Resolution Scale window. This is a scale threshold used to control when the LAS dataset renders itself without thinning, using 100 percent of the LAS points. It is used when the map scale is equal to or greater than the scale you specify. The point limit is still honored; therefore, if the number of estimated points for the current extent exceeds the limit, the LAS dataset thins itself and will not draw using all the data. When this occurs, an asterisk appears next to the data percentage listed for the layer in the table of contents. When the map display scale is less than the full resolution scale, thinning occurs based on the setting of the Point Density slider bar.

• Display Limit—Applying a point limit sets a size limit to the number of points used in the triangulation of the LAS dataset layer surface. The default value is 800,000. If, for a given display extent, use of the settings result in a surface that exceeds the specified point count, the layer switches to be more generalized.
• Density—The density of points enforced by the LAS dataset. This is set interactively by using the slider bar. Move the slider to the left for a coarse surface and to the right for a more fine or full surface resolution. As you move the slider bar, the density of the points on-screen changes from Min to Max.

Point filters

The Point Filters group on the Appearance tab allows you to change the display of the data contributing to the LAS dataset in Drone2Map. An LAS dataset can reference many LAS files and surface constraints. You can adjust which lidar points and surface constraints are drawn using the Filters group. The Filters group contains LAS Points and Surface Constraints filters. The LAS Points and Surface Constraints buttons provide quick access to the LAS dataset Layer Properties.

Once the filter options have been chosen, any further analysis or symbology changes will honor the selected filters.

Follow these steps to access the LAS dataset Filters group.

1. Select an LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane.
2. On the Appearance tab, in the Filters group, click the desired LAS dataset filter option or options.

Note:

The same filter options also apply to a single LAS or ZLAS file.

Change LAS point filters

A lidar pulse can be reflected from one or many features and can therefore return more than one laser pulse. You can use these separate laser pulse returns to display the lidar data referenced by the LAS dataset. The most common filters are Ground and Non-Ground, basically meaning ground laser returns and feature laser returns, respectively. Being able to separate out lidar data based on different laser returns allows you to analyze and visualize lidar data quickly and efficiently for various applications.

The LAS Points filters drop-down menu provides a quick way to access common lidar filters. There are several other options available in Drone2Map to filter lidar data referenced by the LAS dataset. Use the LAS Filters on the Layer Properties for more advanced point filter options.

Choose from any of the following lidar point filters:

Point or surface filter	Description
All Points	Use all the lidar points to display the LAS dataset.
Ground	Use only the lidar points flagged as ground points to display the LAS dataset.
Non-Ground	Use all the lidar points that are not flagged as ground points to display the LAS dataset.
First Return	Use only first-return lidar points to display the LAS dataset.

Turn surface constraints on and off

Surface constraints are surface features stored in either geodatabase feature classes or shapefiles, which are usually derived from some sort of remote-sensing technique such as photogrammetry. If you have added surface constraints to your LAS dataset, you can quickly turn them on or off.

1. Click the Surface Constraints button from the Filters group to open the Surface Constraints options on the Layer Properties.
2. Check the appropriate check boxes to turn the desired surface constraints on or off.