Comments on: Any CADgeeks still here? https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/19/any-cadgeeks-still-here/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:38:00 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SDG https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/19/any-cadgeeks-still-here/#comment-31892 SDG Wed, 24 Sep 2014 14:51:03 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47430#comment-31892 slightly off-topic, but not really. Have you been watching the progress of 3d scanning technology? Its absolutely amazing how quickly a point cloud can be generated with a 3d scanner set up in a couple of locations. The point cloud can then be imported to the CAD software of choice and be used as as-built information. The cost is still out of range for me, but its dropping. I can't tell you how many times I've driven for several hours to do a measure up, then realized I'm missing a critical dimension when drawing it up. I then have to drive out again or try and figure it out without. If I had created a point cloud from the laser scan, I could just measure the points from the comfort of my desk. http://www.autodesk.com/products/recap/features/recap-pro/all/gallery-view. Autoesk claims that you can also create point clouds from photographs with their 123D Catch and Recap software, but all of my attempts have been subpar at best. Maybe the tech will get better, but in the meantime I'm still salivating over the laser scanners. Next marry up the tech with a quadcopter and you get this: http://www.smartlab.at/autonomous-flying-drone-creates-a-3d-map-of-a-building/ slightly off-topic, but not really. Have you been watching the progress of 3d scanning technology? Its absolutely amazing how quickly a point cloud can be generated with a 3d scanner set up in a couple of locations. The point cloud can then be imported to the CAD software of choice and be used as as-built information.

The cost is still out of range for me, but its dropping. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven for several hours to do a measure up, then realized I’m missing a critical dimension when drawing it up. I then have to drive out again or try and figure it out without. If I had created a point cloud from the laser scan, I could just measure the points from the comfort of my desk.

http://www.autodesk.com/products/recap/features/recap-pro/all/gallery-view.

Autoesk claims that you can also create point clouds from photographs with their 123D Catch and Recap software, but all of my attempts have been subpar at best. Maybe the tech will get better, but in the meantime I’m still salivating over the laser scanners.

Next marry up the tech with a quadcopter and you get this:

http://www.smartlab.at/autonomous-flying-drone-creates-a-3d-map-of-a-building/

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/19/any-cadgeeks-still-here/#comment-31887 ER Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:24:03 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47430#comment-31887 I did that too, for about five years in the 70s. It was a totally analog technology at the time, working with film emulsions and optical/mechanical devices. Its all done with computers nowadays. Look in <em>Space>I would like to check this out>Tell me about it (2014-09-16)</em>for details on this 3d plotting equipment. GIS is graphics software for mapping spatial data stored in tabular databases, although it can also interface with digital imagery. GIS is a lot like CAD, except its for maps, not engineering drawings. Image processing works with raster data, digital images, like the output of satellite sensors or digital cameras. Image processing is about processing image data and enhancing it so it makes more sense to the human eye and brain. It acquires and displays new ground data. GIS is about displaying tabular data in cartographic form. It depicts already-known known information, data gathered by other means (like photography, image processing and remote sensing). I did that too, for about five years in the 70s. It was a totally analog technology at the time, working with film emulsions and optical/mechanical devices. Its all done with computers nowadays. Look in Space>I would like to check this out>Tell me about it (2014-09-16)for details on this 3d plotting equipment.

GIS is graphics software for mapping spatial data stored in tabular databases, although it can also interface with digital imagery. GIS is a lot like CAD, except its for maps, not engineering drawings.

Image processing works with raster data, digital images, like the output of satellite sensors or digital cameras.

Image processing is about processing image data and enhancing it so it makes more sense to the human eye and brain. It acquires and displays new ground data. GIS is about displaying tabular data in cartographic form. It depicts already-known known information, data gathered by other means (like photography, image processing and remote sensing).

]]> By: SDG https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/19/any-cadgeeks-still-here/#comment-31881 SDG Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:44:26 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47430#comment-31881 I seem to recall discussing GIS technology with you sometime in the past. If I recall correctly, it was a stereopraph machine using aerial imagry to plot topology. I'm an architect, so I work with GIS data quite a lot. I seem to recall discussing GIS technology with you sometime in the past.
If I recall correctly, it was a stereopraph machine using aerial imagry to plot topology.

I’m an architect, so I work with GIS data quite a lot.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/19/any-cadgeeks-still-here/#comment-31874 ER Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:03:05 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47430#comment-31874 I worked with ArcView and ArcInfo mapping software, from the early nineties command line versions to the full GUI ArcEdit ver 9+ until I retired 4 years ago. I did a lot of work with image processing back in the '80s, on a now defunct system called IDIMS (Interactive Digital Image Manipulation System). Was it you who once posted here for advice on careers in GIS? I once recall talking with someone on this forum about it. If so, how did that work out for you? I worked with ArcView and ArcInfo mapping software, from the early nineties command line versions to the full GUI ArcEdit ver 9+ until I retired 4 years ago. I did a lot of work with image processing back in the ’80s, on a now defunct system called IDIMS (Interactive Digital Image Manipulation System).

Was it you who once posted here for advice on careers in GIS? I once recall talking with someone on this forum about it. If so, how did that work out for you?

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