NavVis

Prevu3D supports the following scanners from NavVis:

• NavVis VLX (preferred)

• NavVis M6

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Data Collection

In order to achieve the highest quality results, the following is required:

Quality	Requirement
High overlap	Capturing areas with high overlap between passes to ensure there is little to no occlusion
Many images	Capture as many images as possible. Ideally panoramic images should be collected every 3 meters
Loop closures	Improves accuracy and error correction
Control points	For large scans this is recommended to reduce drift

Data processing

Note

NavVis offers both a local Linux processing option and a cloud processing option.

NavVis IVION Processing Settings

Select the following processing settings:

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NavVis IVION Crop and Download

NEW! It is now possible to use the Crop and Download option in NavVis’ IVION software to download e57 files with panoramas. This feature allows NavVis point cloud data that was captured without control points to be aligned in IVION and exported in a compatible format for Prevu3D meshing. You can find more information on this feature in this documentation by Navvis.

Sitemaker Processing Settings (Linux)

Select the following processing settings:

Setting
Point Cloud Resolution: 5mm
Point Cloud Format: ply
Colorize point cloud: True
Generate panoramic images: True

If you are using Navvis Sitemaker to process your Navvis scans, you can retrieve the .nvd files from the generated datasets_web folder, and import these into IVION. From here, you can follow the usual workflow with the crop and download feature to export e57 files with panorama images.

Texture Projection Option

When uploading NavVis datasets, two options are available in the Upload Wizard to control how textures are applied to the 3D mesh.

Important Information

• The 3D geometry is NOT impacted by this setting

• Both options generate the exact same geometry

• The difference is purely visual (texturing only)

Option 1: Without Projection

Disable Texture Projection (Recommended for consistency)

The mesh will be colored using point cloud color data only, without projecting panoramic images.

Benefits:

• Produces a more uniform and stable appearance

• Reduces visual artifacts caused by image distortion

Trade-offs:

• May appear slightly blurred, as colors are interpolated from point data

• Fine details (e.g., text or small features) may be less sharp

Option 2 : With Projection

Enable Texture Projection (Recommended for realism)

Prevu3D projects panoramic (360°) images onto the mesh to enhance visual quality.

Benefits:

• Produces highly detailed and realistic visuals

• Leverages the full quality of NavVis imagery

• Best suited for visual inspection and immersive navigation

Trade-offs:

• May introduce visual artifacts such as distortion or misalignment

• Can result in less consistent appearance across the model

• Not ideal for workflows requiring high visual accuracy

Important Consideration

NavVis panoramic images can contain distortions. While Prevu3D applies correction algorithms, some distortions may still result in:

• Misaligned textures in certain areas

• Visual artifacts where images are projected inaccurately

These issues are caused by source data distortion and are partially outside of Prevu3D’s control.

Examples

Potential Artifacts with Texture Projection.

The example below left illustrates common artifacts that may occur when texture projection is enabled:

• Distortion on curved surfaces (e.g., pipes)

• Inconsistent texture blending on ceilings or flat areas

• Minor misalignment or ghosting on floors

Benefits of Texture Projection

In contrast, the example below right illustrates how texture projection can significantly improve visual quality:

• Enhanced detail on surfaces (e.g., stair grating)

• More realistic and immersive representation

Tip

Use With Projection for walkthroughs and inspections, and Without Projection for analysis workflows where visual consistency is critical.