pontfelh

Pontfelhő, also written pontfelhő in Hungarian, translates to “point cloud.” It is a set of data points in a three-dimensional coordinate system that represents the external surface of an object or scene. Each point typically has X, Y, and Z coordinates and may include attributes such as color (RGB), intensity, or surface normals.

Acquisition methods for pontfelhők include LiDAR (laser scanning), structured-light and time-of-flight scanners, and photogrammetry, which derives 3D information from multiple overlapping images. Modern sensors can generate millions of points, producing highly detailed representations of complex geometries.

Processing of pontfelhő data often involves registration of multiple scans to form a unified model, noise filtering, outlier removal, downsampling for manageability, and, in many cases, meshing to create continuous surfaces. Common data formats for storage and interchange include LAS and LAZ (LiDAR), PLY, E57, and XYZ.

Applications span various fields. In architecture, engineering and construction (BIM) and surveying, pontfelhők document sites and structures with high accuracy. In cultural heritage and archaeology, they enable digital preservation of artifacts and sites. Robotics and autonomous navigation use real-time or near-real-time point clouds for obstacle detection. In entertainment, point clouds can serve as references for 3D modeling and visual effects.

Advantages of pontfelhők include non-contact measurement, high geometric fidelity, and the ability to capture complex, free-form shapes. Limitations include large data sizes, processing requirements, occlusions, and the need for post-processing to produce usable surfaces.