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Importing Data

VRGS supports a variety of formats for both point clouds and mesh data. Formats include PLY, OBL, LAS (point cloud), and ASCII. Other formats may be added as requested (if possible). Below are descriptions of the common 3D model data types and loading requirements.

1. Point cloud data​

VRGS can import several point cloud filetypes. Import functions support multiple attributes in the input file. Available options when importing:

  • Re-scale input data to metres.
  • Skipping header lines in files, if desired.

For example, the steps below are used to import a generic ASCII point cloud.

  1. Data is imported via the Import menu from the Point Clouds group.
  2. Select ASCII as the format to be imported from the File dialog. The data import dialog shows a preview of the file to be imported.
  3. Select the template which best suits the data and select appropriate separators (comma, tab, space) and click OK to import the data.
    • Initial import of data may be slow, but once saved within VRGS, data loading is much faster.

2. Meshes​

PLY and OBJ files can be imported via the import menu from the relevant group in the Data tab. Select PLY or OBJ as the format to be imported from the File dialog. The easiest way to import a PLY or OBJ file is to drag and drop it from a directory/folder into the 3D view.

The preferred format for meshes is OBJ, though other formats are supported.

  1. PLY - These filetypes can be imported as either point clouds or as triangulated meshes. If they are imported as meshes, then textures are also supported. If the PLY file has a texture associated with it, then the texture will be imported automatically.

  2. OBJ - These filetypes will be imported as meshes only. Textures are supported if a MTL file if present.

Common Issues​

There are a few common problems that occur when importing meshes. Possible solutions are outlined here.

  1. ❓ My mesh lacks the resolution I see in my photogrammetric software.

    This is usually because of missing textures. Either you have not exported the model with textures from the photogrammetric software, or you may have moved the file from where you exported it and not moved the additional files as well.

    An OBJ file will have an MTL file and one or more textures associated with it. The MTL and textures MUST be in the same folder as the OBJ file, if not then VRGS will not be able to find the textures and will import the OBJ with vertex colours only.

  2. ❓ My mesh doesn't have any colour - it's black and white!

    This usually a problem with PLY 3D models. There is a simple fix that only requires you to open the attributes of the mesh and turn (tick box ☑️) on the Red, Green, and Blue one by one.