Forum Discussion
PLY 3D model data to Oculus pipeline?
Hi all,
Sorry if this is a total noob question, but anyone know the easiest way to get make a PLY file viewable with the ouclus? Is there existing software that will do this or does it require a pipeline to import it into Unity or something? I wanted to have a look at these models (http://dronemapper.com/sample_data) in the Oculus if that was easy to do.
My longer term goal is to create 3D timelapse of our research site using repeat flyovers with a UAV and then build an Oculus interface so people can see the site in 3D and zoom through time to watch the trees grow, etc. At the moment I'm just trying to figure out the general work flow and also to see what the models that come from the software will look like. We'll probably be hiring people to work on this at some point if anyone out there interested :)
Cheers
Tim
Sorry if this is a total noob question, but anyone know the easiest way to get make a PLY file viewable with the ouclus? Is there existing software that will do this or does it require a pipeline to import it into Unity or something? I wanted to have a look at these models (http://dronemapper.com/sample_data) in the Oculus if that was easy to do.
My longer term goal is to create 3D timelapse of our research site using repeat flyovers with a UAV and then build an Oculus interface so people can see the site in 3D and zoom through time to watch the trees grow, etc. At the moment I'm just trying to figure out the general work flow and also to see what the models that come from the software will look like. We'll probably be hiring people to work on this at some point if anyone out there interested :)
Cheers
Tim
3 Replies
- The PLY files on that site are point cloud data. Converting to other formats might be a little tricky, even Blender couldn't display them.
However PLY isn't a hard format. I just knocked together in a few minutes a hacky viewer that can load at least one of those maps into Ogre 3d and render it using point sprites. I'm sure someone could get unity to do the same.
One of the other formats on that site might be better though, the Digital Elevation Model and Digital Surface Model are probably heightmaps (haven't looked up their formats), that would be easier to handle in most systems and look better, although can't represent non heightmap environments (like overhangs).
I am also looking for a browser based cloud server to view .PLY files in VR over a browser.
If someone is capable of coding such an app, please reach out to me!
It looks like Three JS https://threejs.org supports websites with VR, point clouds and PLY. But none of their examples show all three at once. Plus that's not a prebuilt solution, you'd still be coding to some degree.
