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First project

This page guides step by step through the creation and processing of a first SEABIM Editor project, from loading the point cloud to a first final render.

Prepare the files

Before opening CloudCompare:

  1. Place the point cloud in raw PCD, LAS, BIN format in a project folder.
  2. Cut the cloud into sub-parts p1, p2, … if needed (see Standard procedure § Cutting).
  3. Stick to the cloud naming convention.

1. Load the cloud in CloudCompare

  1. Open CloudCompare 2.13.
  2. Drag and drop the cloud into the scene.
  3. Check that the cloud displays correctly and carries a consistent global offset.

2. Launch SEABIM Editor

  1. Click the SEABIM Editor icon in the toolbar.
  2. The license check runs (WIBU CodeMeter license required — if your workstation is not yet activated, follow the License activation procedure).
  3. The launcher opens on the Home tab by default.

SEABIM Editor launcher after load (tabs visible)

3. Create the reference block

Import tab:

  1. Select the point cloud in the CloudCompare tree.
  2. Click Load init block.
  3. Set the block type and volume.
  4. Validate — a block appears in the scene, anchored on the cloud.

4. Automatic detection (if BlockFinder license)

Import tab → Find blocks in a point cloud:

  1. Select the cloud and run detection with the default parameters.
  2. At the end of the computation, a JSON structure appears in CloudCompare's DBTree.

Without a BlockFinder license

Without the BlockFinder feature, you can manually create each block via Load init block then Register selection - Adaptive dist (Ctrl+E) to register them one by one on the cloud.

5. First filtering

Edit tab → Filter blocks:

  1. Set a score threshold (e.g. 0.30 m) to remove false positives.
  2. Set a distance threshold between blocks if needed (deduplication).
  3. Validate.

6. Save

Export tab → Save JSON:

Name the file following the recommended naming, for example:

2026-05-28_14.30.00_mbes_3m3_MAIN_INT_p1_find.json

7. Check the quality filters

Filters tab: compute Out profile, Displacement, Voids, Contacts (All blocks), Column placement. Quality control tab: compute Compute accuracy, Overlap, Check for duplicates.

Visualize each scalar field via Change color scale (Ctrl+L).

8. Manual registration of problematic blocks

For blocks in red (high accuracy value) or with overlap:

  1. Select the block.
  2. Help register to pre-position and register.
  3. If the block remains bad, Safe delete and consider recreating it elsewhere.

Use Undo (Ctrl+Z) in case of mistake.

9. Final render

Metadata tab → Rename blocks with prefix (Batch) to reindex the structure.

Export tab → Export final render with the desired filters.

You've completed a full cycle. For the next steps, see the standard procedure which details the typical back-and-forth of a real project.