Hello! What is your favourite way to load a point cloud within an IFC so you do not have to reload it each time?
I use Point Cloud Visualizer, and I find it perfect, except that I have to reload the point cloud each time I need to revert the IFC Project.
Hi! Can you please show an example how it currently works for you with Point Cloud Visualizer?
Here you can find the steps:
Usually set just one clipping object for all the point clouds, so I can clip them together.
If it helps, you can store point cloud data in IFC by converting it to mesh after step 2 - https://jakubuhlik.com/docs/pcv/convert.html#mesh and then assigning IFC class. Then when you reopen IFC, you can generate PCV data from point cloud object's mesh vertices - https://jakubuhlik.com/docs/pcv/generate.html#mesh-vertices
But IFC doesn't have options to store any point cloud data besides the positions (such as colors, sizes, normals, ets) - https://github.com/IfcOpenShell/IfcOpenShell/issues/363. And it seems there is no native IFC way to link some .ply file to the element/representation.
Thanks @Andrej730 for the advice! The project i'm working on has more than 6 Gbyte of point cloud data, so I'd prefer to avoid to have it stored inside the IFC file.
Just thinking out loud, but what I'd think that could be nice would be to have it linked as a document (ProjectDocumentInformation ?) like we do with drawings (as they also are in the end external resources).
So in the "Drawings and Documents" tab we could host a dedicated menu for it, and in case PCV is installed, .... well, i don't know ... :)
Or perhaps something in the References tab under "Drawings and Documents"?
I can share a script I've used in the past when I faced the same problem. I don't use it anymore since I have since elected to using the same Blend file all throughout the project, which has its own drawbacks but far less than a few versions ago.
This creates a Pset on the selected IFC object with relevant PCV data. It also stores the clipping box transform.
You should be able to run this in the script editor and F3 > Store PCV Settings or F3 > Update PCV Settings. If you don't see these prompts enable Developer Extras in the preferences. You can setup other properties in the pcv_mapping_dict dictionary.
import bpy
from mathutils import Matrix
import json
try:
from ifcopenshell.api import run
from blenderbim.bim.ifc import IfcStore
import blenderbim.tool as tool
except:
pass
finally:
pcv_mapping_dict = {
"File Path": ("point_cloud_visualizer.data", "filepath"),
"Shader": ("point_cloud_visualizer.shader", "type"),
"Percentage": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "percentage"),
"Point Size": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "point_size"),
"Alpha": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "global_alpha"),
"Clip": ("point_cloud_visualizer.shader", "clip_enabled"),
"Clip Planes Live Update": ("point_cloud_visualizer.shader", "clip_planes_from_bbox_object_live"),
"Use Scalars": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "use_scalar"),
"Scalar Use Scheme": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "use_scheme"),
"Scalar Scheme": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "scheme"),
"Scalar Opacity": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "bleeding"),
"Scalar Mode": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "blending_mode"),
}
class GU_OT_IFC_PCV_update_settings(bpy.types.Operator):
bl_idname = "ifc.pcv_update_settings"
bl_label = "Update PCV Settings"
bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
**@classmethod**
def poll(cls, context):
obj = context.active_object
if obj is None:
return
element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(obj)
if not element:
return
return bool(tool.Pset.get_element_pset(element, "PointCloudVisualizerProps"))
def execute(self, context):
obj = context.active_object
element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(obj)
pset = tool.Pset.get_element_pset(element, "PointCloudVisualizerProps")
for prop in pset.HasProperties:
value = prop.NominalValue.wrappedValue
if prop.Name == "Clip Object Name":
if not value:
continue
obj_clip = bpy.data.objects.get(value)
if not obj_clip:
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(
size=2, enter_editmode=False, align="WORLD", location=(0, 0, 0), scale=(1, 1, 1)
)
obj_clip = context.view_layer.objects.active
obj_clip.name = value
obj_clip.display_type = "BOUNDS"
obj_clip.select_set(False)
context.view_layer.objects.active = obj
obj.select_set(True)
obj.point_cloud_visualizer.shader.clip_planes_from_bbox_object = obj_clip
clip_obj_matrix_prop = next(
(p for p in pset.HasProperties if p.Name == "Clip Object Matrix"), None
)
if clip_obj_matrix_prop:
matrix_1d = json.loads(clip_obj_matrix_prop.NominalValue.wrappedValue)
matrix = [
(
matrix_1d[4 * i],
matrix_1d[4 * i + 1],
matrix_1d[4 * i + 2],
matrix_1d[4 * i + 3],
)
for i in range(4)
]
obj_clip.matrix_world = Matrix(matrix)
elif prop.Name == "Scalar Range Min":
obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[0] = value
elif prop.Name == "Scalar Range Max":
obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[1] = value
elif prop.Name in pcv_mapping_dict:
prop_path, attr = pcv_mapping_dict[prop.Name]
setattr(obj.path_resolve(prop_path), attr, value)
return {"FINISHED"}
class GU_OT_IFC_PCV_store_settings(bpy.types.Operator):
bl_idname = "ifc.pcv_store_settings"
bl_label = "Store PCV Settings"
bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
def execute(self, context):
obj = context.active_object
ifc = tool.Ifc.get()
element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(obj)
pset = run("pset.add_pset", ifc, product=element, name="PointCloudVisualizerProps")
properties = {k: getattr(obj.path_resolve(v[0]), v[1]) for k, v in pcv_mapping_dict.items()}
clip_object = obj.point_cloud_visualizer.shader.clip_planes_from_bbox_object
properties["Clip Object Name"] = clip_object.name if clip_object else None
if clip_object:
rows = clip_object.matrix_world.row
matrix_1d = []
for row in rows:
for elt in row:
matrix_1d.append(elt)
properties["Clip Object Matrix"] = json.dumps(matrix_1d)
properties["Scalar Range Min"] = obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[0]
properties["Scalar Range Max"] = obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[1]
run("pset.edit_pset", ifc, pset=pset, properties=properties)
ifc.write(IfcStore.path)
context.view_layer.objects.active = context.active_object
return {"FINISHED"}
bpy.utils.register_class(GU_OT_IFC_PCV_update_settings)
bpy.utils.register_class(GU_OT_IFC_PCV_store_settings)
I can share a script I've used in the past when I had the same problem. Nowadays I elect on using the same Blend file all along the life of my project (which has its own quirks when things get corrupted but this happens WAYYY less than a few versions ago) so I don't need to reload PCV settings.
This creates a Pset on an IFC element that acts a proxy for the point cloud. It stores a number PCV settings and the clipping cube transform. There are two operators, one to store the settings when you quit Blender, and one to restore the settings when you imported the project in a blank blend file.
This should work as is, if you don't see the operators with F3 you need to enable developer extras in the preferences. You can add properties to store / restore by modifying the paths and property name in pcv_mapping_dict
import bpy
from mathutils import Matrix
import json
try:
from ifcopenshell.api import run
from blenderbim.bim.ifc import IfcStore
import blenderbim.tool as tool
except:
pass
finally:
pcv_mapping_dict = {
"File Path": ("point_cloud_visualizer.data", "filepath"),
"Shader": ("point_cloud_visualizer.shader", "type"),
"Percentage": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "percentage"),
"Point Size": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "point_size"),
"Alpha": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "global_alpha"),
"Clip": ("point_cloud_visualizer.shader", "clip_enabled"),
"Clip Planes Live Update": ("point_cloud_visualizer.shader", "clip_planes_from_bbox_object_live"),
"Use Scalars": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "use_scalar"),
"Scalar Use Scheme": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "use_scheme"),
"Scalar Scheme": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "scheme"),
"Scalar Opacity": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "bleeding"),
"Scalar Mode": ("point_cloud_visualizer.display", "blending_mode"),
}
class GU_OT_IFC_PCV_update_settings(bpy.types.Operator):
bl_idname = "ifc.pcv_update_settings"
bl_label = "Update PCV Settings"
bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
**@classmethod**
def poll(cls, context):
obj = context.active_object
if obj is None:
return
element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(obj)
if not element:
return
return bool(tool.Pset.get_element_pset(element, "PointCloudVisualizerProps"))
def execute(self, context):
obj = context.active_object
element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(obj)
pset = tool.Pset.get_element_pset(element, "PointCloudVisualizerProps")
for prop in pset.HasProperties:
value = prop.NominalValue.wrappedValue
if prop.Name == "Clip Object Name":
if not value:
continue
obj_clip = bpy.data.objects.get(value)
if not obj_clip:
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(
size=2, enter_editmode=False, align="WORLD", location=(0, 0, 0), scale=(1, 1, 1)
)
obj_clip = context.view_layer.objects.active
obj_clip.name = value
obj_clip.display_type = "BOUNDS"
obj_clip.select_set(False)
context.view_layer.objects.active = obj
obj.select_set(True)
obj.point_cloud_visualizer.shader.clip_planes_from_bbox_object = obj_clip
clip_obj_matrix_prop = next(
(p for p in pset.HasProperties if p.Name == "Clip Object Matrix"), None
)
if clip_obj_matrix_prop:
matrix_1d = json.loads(clip_obj_matrix_prop.NominalValue.wrappedValue)
matrix = [
(
matrix_1d[4 * i],
matrix_1d[4 * i + 1],
matrix_1d[4 * i + 2],
matrix_1d[4 * i + 3],
)
for i in range(4)
]
obj_clip.matrix_world = Matrix(matrix)
elif prop.Name == "Scalar Range Min":
obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[0] = value
elif prop.Name == "Scalar Range Max":
obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[1] = value
elif prop.Name in pcv_mapping_dict:
prop_path, attr = pcv_mapping_dict[prop.Name]
setattr(obj.path_resolve(prop_path), attr, value)
return {"FINISHED"}
class GU_OT_IFC_PCV_store_settings(bpy.types.Operator):
bl_idname = "ifc.pcv_store_settings"
bl_label = "Store PCV Settings"
bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
def execute(self, context):
obj = context.active_object
ifc = tool.Ifc.get()
element = tool.Ifc.get_entity(obj)
pset = run("pset.add_pset", ifc, product=element, name="PointCloudVisualizerProps")
properties = {k: getattr(obj.path_resolve(v[0]), v[1]) for k, v in pcv_mapping_dict.items()}
clip_object = obj.point_cloud_visualizer.shader.clip_planes_from_bbox_object
properties["Clip Object Name"] = clip_object.name if clip_object else None
if clip_object:
rows = clip_object.matrix_world.row
matrix_1d = []
for row in rows:
for elt in row:
matrix_1d.append(elt)
properties["Clip Object Matrix"] = json.dumps(matrix_1d)
properties["Scalar Range Min"] = obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[0]
properties["Scalar Range Max"] = obj.point_cloud_visualizer.display.range[1]
run("pset.edit_pset", ifc, pset=pset, properties=properties)
ifc.write(IfcStore.path)
context.view_layer.objects.active = context.active_object
return {"FINISHED"}
bpy.utils.register_class(GU_OT_IFC_PCV_update_settings)
bpy.utils.register_class(GU_OT_IFC_PCV_store_settings)
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