Practical point-cloud
workflow guides
Expert guidance for turning point clouds into defensible CAD and BIM deliverables: why a workflow is needed, which technical choices matter, how to control quality, and only then how to execute it.
Crop, section and govern scan views
The current PCCTools workflow is shared across AutoCAD and BricsCAD 2026; platform-specific limits are identified where relevant.
PCCTools for AutoCAD guideHow to crop a point cloud in AutoCAD
Learn the native AutoCAD limitations and use rectangular, circular, polygonal and directional slice crops.
Read the basic crops guide PCCTools for AutoCAD guideAdvanced point-cloud cropping
Build editable box crops, isolate objects with a sphere and follow linear routes with a buffer crop.
Read the advanced crops guide AutoCAD & BricsCADCreate sections from a point cloud
Build horizontal, vertical, detected-plane and guided sections with saved UCS positions and reusable section states.
Read the sections guide AutoCAD & BricsCADCross-sections along an axis
Design a defensible station series for roads, channels and tunnels by balancing spacing, corridor width, slab thickness and scan density.
Read the technical article AutoCAD & BricsCADManage point-cloud crop states
Preserve review context, naming discipline and coordinated scan visibility when a drawing contains several clouds.
Read the technical article AutoCAD & BricsCADManage point-cloud sections
Treat the cut plane, crop, UCS, thickness and projection depth as one controlled section definition.
Read the technical article PCCTools for AutoCAD guideInstall, upgrade and configure PCCTools
Set up PCCTools on AutoCAD 2018-2027, move a machine from version 3.0 cleanly, and check the settings that matter first.
Read the setup guideControl scans inside BIM views
PCCTools for Revit guideQuick Crop and editable Cropbox workflows
Choose between fast view-based cropping and a reusable native Revit Cropbox that remains editable after creation.
Read the crop workflow guide PCCTools for Revit guideCrop around points and Revit objects
Define a precise 3D scan region with picked points or isolate the cloud around selected model elements.
Read the targeted crop guide PCCTools for Revit guideSave and restore named crop states
Store useful scan regions, switch between them quickly and keep recurring review views consistent.
Read the crop states guide PCCTools for Revit guideCreate point-cloud sections and slices
Build horizontal and vertical scan slices for floor plans, elevations and focused modelling views.
Read the sections guideBuild and verify terrain
DTM Tools for AutoCAD guideAutomatic ground extraction
Generate a practical unstructured terrain surface when you need broad ground shape without enforced breaklines.
Read the extraction guide DTM Tools for AutoCAD guideCreate and adjust terrain breaklines
Drape curbs and channels onto scan data with DTM_DrapeCloud, then project onto a TIN or correct vertices in profile.
Read the breakline guide DTM Tools for AutoCAD guideCreate a structured terrain model
Build a more precise terrain using breaklines plus gridded points draped onto the cloud.
Read the TIN guide DTM Tools for AutoCAD guideCreate terrain contours
Generate native 3D contour polylines and choose an interval suited to the source data.
Read the contours guide DTM Tools for AutoCAD guideCheck DTM quality against the cloud
Use a deviation heatmap to find missing features, smoothing errors and noisy scan returns.
Read the quality guide DTM Tools for AutoCAD guideCalculate terrain volumes
Compare two TIN surfaces or a surface against a datum, interpret the sign convention and create a colour report.
Read the volume guideModel pipes from scans
3D Pipe Tools for AutoCAD guideThree ways to model 3D pipes
Compare manual centerlines, automatic point-cloud extraction and semi-automatic aligned fitting.
Read the pipe modelling guide 3D Pipe Tools for AutoCAD guideJoin pipes and centerlines
Close skew centerline gaps, connect cylinders with elbows and position branch pipes at T-joints.
Read the joining guide 3D Pipe Tools for AutoCAD guideModel flanges and reducers
Add native solid reducers and flanges to completed pipe runs and verify their orientation.
Read the fittings guideExplore the CADTools plugin suite
Each guide links directly to the plugin used in the workflow, with features, compatibility details and available installers.