CloudCompare forum

Just want to note I am new to this, originally got a e57 from a pointcloud self created, with the intention of obtaining just the ground level data to make a topograghy in Revit. Since this is multi-step, I started in Recap Pro, couldn't find a solution and eventually made it here

Trying to get a portion of a Pointcloud model into a csv filetype so that i can import it into Revit 2025. Through Massing & Site -> Toposolid -> create from import -> Create from CSV.

At this point I have been able to create a csv file which has imported to create a portion of the topo, but not the whole thing and not in a straightforward manner. The model imports into Cloudcompare well, but the export, has each sweep's name in front of each line, as well as using ';' as spacers which revit/australia doesn't allow. I went through the csv deleted the name e.g. "sweep 1 colour;intensity" so the lines are just x,y,z and replaced all the ';' with ',' and it mostly imported. but I have should have an approximate square of area and it only imported a trapezoid-ish area.

Basically I want the csv batch export to look like the "csv imported to revit" and include the entire area from CC not just a portion. so batch export to use ',' and to not include the sweep name nor the first 2 values

I don't think you should use the 'batch export' tool, but simply export the cloud as a 'text/ascii' cloud. This way, you'll have all the points exported, no name at the beginning of each line, and you should even be able to chose the separator.

That would create 1 file per sweep/line though, so 45 files. How would you then consolidate that back into 1 csv/txt file for importing into revit?

Also would you know why it's not exporting the entire square? Is there also perhaps a way to make sure it's creating 1 point every 0.5/1m so the output should cover the entire space not just 2/3rds of it?

Just highlight all the lines and use 'Edit > Merge'.

The batch export option only extracts the center of each cloud

Not sure about your other question, sorry.

daniel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 1:41 pm Just highlight all the lines and use 'Edit > Merge'.

The batch export option only extracts the center of each cloud

Not sure about your other question, sorry.

Thank you very much, this is bang on what I wanted :) :) :).
Also to get the other thing I wanted after merging the lines, I could subsample and set the distance between points at x (e.g. 0.25m, 0.5m, 1m) to make file smaller and easier to maneuver in Revit (obviously losing definition though)

If anyone else finds this thread helpful Pointcloud to topography in Revit

1. Obtain an E57 file "File1.e57", open it in Recap Pro, and crop the area to a manageable size/crop to just your ground line.
2. Export that as a new E57 file. "File2.e57"
3. import new E57 into Cloudcompare
4. Select all lines and 'Edit > Merge'.
5. Subsample the result, the slider designates how often points are, e.g. how many points it will see in Revit. And save this as "File3.txt"
6. Select "Toposolid create from inport" in Revit, and select "Create from CSV" then change file type its looking for to txt, and select it.
7. You now have an accurate topography element in revit made directly from the pointcloud

Hi Ben!

I understand that you already have a solution to your problem, but an alternative way to make a topo, I have found is to use the CSF tool to separate the ground and off-ground points. In that tool you can save the mesh that is used to separate the points. If you then export it as e.g. DFX then you can use it to make a topo in Revit. I have noticed that it can sometimes make the topo a little less noisy, compared to the way you describe above.

Kind regards,
Max