Crop and download sections of a site so you can edit them or import them into other software.
Before you start
You need Admin or Editor permissions to crop and download point clouds.
Georegistration is preserved, so the cropped data places automatically in the correct location in your third-party tool. You can use a Site coordinate system, a Spatial reference system, or one of your datasets as the reference (useful for external .e57 data).
Depending on the size of the data, some downloads take a few minutes to complete.
Open the Crop & download tool
In the toolbar, click the Crop & download icon, or right-click in the view and select Crop & download.
Download formats
In the Crop & download panel, choose a Data type from Point cloud, Orthophoto,, then a format:
Data type | Formats |
|---|---|
Point cloud | .e57, .las, .ply, .pod, .rcs, .xv2 |
Orthophoto | .tiff |
Coordinate systems
These coordinate systems are available when downloading point clouds and orthophotos,:
Site coordinate system: downloads in the coordinate system chosen for the site. The site's base point is the origin of the local coordinate system.
Spatial reference system: downloads in a spatial reference system you search for and select. The data is referenced in EPSG geospatial coordinates. Use this if your control points were georeferenced in EPSG units.
Dataset: downloads in the coordinate system of a specific dataset you search for and select. The data is not edited; the 0,0,0 point is where mapping started with the device, so all points stay in that mapping's local coordinate system. Not available for orthophotos.
Hide a dataset before cropping
To focus on one dataset, hide adjacent datasets from view:
In the topbar, open the Site Structure.
Hover over the dataset you want to hide.
Click the eye icon to hide it.
For more detail, see Hiding datasets within the Site Structure menu.
Crop in the 2D map
Switch to the 2D map using the 3D / 2D toggle.
Move: click the centre of the orange-bordered box, hold the left mouse button, and drag it over the area you want to crop.
Resize: click a point on the box border, hold the mouse button, and drag to expand or shrink the area.
Rotate: click the rotation arrow at the top of the box, hold the left mouse button, and rotate left or right.
To refine the selection, switch to the 3D view with the 3D / 2D toggle.
Crop in the 3D view
In the 2D map, outline the area you want to crop.
Switch to the 3D view with the 3D / 2D toggle. Your point cloud appears with a box around the crop area.
Adjust the box with the axis gizmo (red = X, green = Y, blue = Z): drag the straight axes to move the box, drag the curved axes to rotate it, and drag the dots to resize it.
Note: The 2D map in the secondary view (bottom-right) reflects the changes you make in the 3D view.
Use the orientation controls to snap the view to Top, Back, Front, Left, or Right.
Open Scene settings (the sliders icon in the view controls) to toggle the Orthographic projection and the cropping box display options (Cropping box controls and Crop model).
Download point clouds and orthophotos
In the Crop & download panel, select the Data type you want to download, set its options, and click Download.
Download a point cloud
Under Data type, click Point cloud.
Under Coordinate system, select a coordinate system (see Coordinate systems).
In Name and format, enter a name or keep the default.
Select a format from the drop-down (see Download formats).
Click Download.
Note: The .las format does not support normals.
Include panoramas in .e57 downloads
To export a point cloud with embedded panoramas, select .e57 with panoramas from the format drop-down. This includes every panorama inside the cropped area.
Using NavVis data in third-party software
NavVis files are compatible with a range of third-party software solutions. Details can be found here: https://knowledge.navvis.com/docs/end-to-end-data-workflows
Download an orthophoto
Under Data type, click Orthophoto.
The projection plane appears as a light-yellow surface; the yellow square marks the top-left of your orthophoto.
Click Sync box to view to reset the orthophoto to its default top-down position.
Select the coordinate reference to write to the metadata:
EPSG (Spatial reference system): best for precise positioning on the world map; GeoTIFF-compliant; supported by specialised GIS systems.
Local / Site coordinates: best for measurement and positioning within a project; wider software support.
Select an Image resolution.
Select a Visualisation:
Coloured — the orthophoto downloads in colour.
X-Ray — the orthophoto downloads in X-ray mode (see X-Ray visualisation).
In Name and format, enter a name.
Click Download.
X-Ray visualisation
X-ray mode is useful when you download an orthophoto because it:
Reveals hidden geometry for a clearer understanding of structures.
Accurately identifies corners and vertical elements, even in overlapping walls.
Provides CAD-friendly drawing planes for surveying and engineering workflows.
Supports inspection, maintenance, and change detection over time.
Create a BIM model with BIMIT
To turn the cropped area into a BIM model, click Create BIM with BIMIT at the bottom of the Crop & download panel.
FAQ
What permissions are required to crop and download point clouds?
You need Admin or Editor permissions.
How does georegistration affect the downloaded data?
Georegistration is preserved, so the cropped data can be placed accurately in third-party tools.
What formats can I download in?
Point clouds: .e57, .las, .ply, .pod, .rcs, and .xv2. Orthophotos: .tiff: .obj and .ply.
Can I crop point clouds from multiple floors at once?
No. Cropping is limited to one floor by default.
Can I hide datasets while cropping?
Yes. Open the Site Structure and click the eye icon next to a dataset.