What tools are available to edit and correct errors in grids?

Tcp PointCloud Editor offers a comprehensive set of tools specifically designed to refine, correct, and optimize Digital Elevation Models (DEMs or grids) generated from Point Clouds. These utilities are primarily divided into interactive editing tools and automatic correction processes:

Interactive Editing and Manual Modeling

The fundamental command for custom adjustment is EDIT GRID, which allows the user to act directly on a selected region using a Polyline. Within this editor, it is possible to perform flattening, raising, or lowering of the terrain interactively, even allowing adjustment of the Intensity and action radius of the tool to model earthworks or correct local errors in real time.

Automatic Correction Processes

To improve the overall quality of the model without detailed manual intervention, the software includes several specialized commands:

• FILL HOLES: this command automatically detects areas without data within the grid and calculates interpolated elevations to complete the Surface continuously.

• Remove Spikes: generates a new version of the grid by removing those irregularities or isolated points that anomalously protrude from the terrain, known as "spikes".

• SMOOTH GRID: applies a Smoothing algorithm to reduce visual noise and roughness in the model, obtaining a more aesthetic and fluid representation of the terrain.

• RESAMPLE GRID: allows generating a new grid by changing the resolution or density of the original, facilitating the simplification of excessively heavy models.

Model Management and Transformation

In addition to error correction, there are tools to manipulate the Structure and position of grids in the project:

• MERGE GRIDS: allows combining one or more existing grids with a Reference grid, facilitating the management of projects divided by zones.

• Area Cutout: extracts a specific portion of a grid or Surface to create a new independent model with that information.

• Move Elevations: applies a constant vertical Offset (Z) to the entire model, useful for correcting systematic altimetry errors.

• SET TERRAIN: is used to adapt the grid to a new terrain definition based on updated parameters.

Remember that to improve the perception of errors during editing, it is highly recommended to activate the Lighting effect in the 3D viewer, which highlights the shadows and relief of the model.

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