Four reported quantities
A two-point measurement reports 3D distance, horizontal distance, and signed elevation difference. A polyline adds the 3D lengths of consecutive segments.
Point-cloud measurement
Measure Distances and Elevation in a Point Cloud
WolkeViz measures 3D distance, horizontal distance, signed elevation difference, and polyline length in supported point clouds. These browser-based checks are useful when the coordinate units and frame are known and the precision limits of selecting individual points are acceptable.
At a glance
What to know before opening the file
Units come first
A number only has meaning when the coordinate units are known. LAS scale/offset, documented CRS metadata, and ROS coordinate-frame conventions all affect interpretation.
Use it for verification
A browser measurement is a quick way to compare a known feature, inspect clearance, or spot an implausible scale. It is not a substitute for a survey-grade QA procedure.
Practical workflow
Make a defensible quick measurement
- Open the file and set the measurement unit to Auto, File Units, or the documented unit for the dataset.
- Fit the scene and select points on clear, stable surfaces rather than noisy edges or sparse areas.
- Use distance for two points or polyline measurement for a path made of several segments.
- Compare the result with a known feature and record the coordinate reference and unit when the measurement supports a decision.
Technical notes
Where measurement uncertainty comes from
The standard 3D distance between points p1 and p2 is the square root of the summed squared differences in X, Y, and Z. A useful viewer makes this calculation immediate, but its reliability is bounded by the dataset's coordinate units, point spacing, acquisition accuracy, and the chosen points.
Elevation can mean the Z value in the point cloud's local or projected coordinate system, not necessarily a height above ground or sea level. Confirm the vertical datum and whether the data are normalized before treating a Z difference as terrain height.
Picking a point visually is not the same as fitting a surveyed feature. For high-consequence dimensions, use an appropriate measurement procedure and preserve the source data, CRS, and uncertainty assumptions.
See it in use
Watch the workflow.
See WolkeViz open and inspect a ROS 2 MCAP point-cloud recording in the browser.
Questions and answers
Common questions
Can I measure a point cloud in a browser?
Yes. WolkeViz provides distance and polyline tools for supported files, making it convenient to check dimensions and spatial relationships during inspection.
Are point-cloud measurements always in meters?
No. Units depend on the file and its metadata. Confirm whether the coordinates are metres, feet, US survey feet, centimetres, millimetres, or a local unit before interpreting a result.
Why does a measured edge look imprecise?
Point density, sensor noise, surface reflectance, registration, and the exact points selected all influence the result. Edges and sparse surfaces are often less stable than flat, well-sampled features.
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