Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable medium provide the ability to create a point cloud indexed file. A grid (of cells that are divided into subcells) is mapped over points in a point cloud dataset. An occupancy value, that indicates whether a subcell contains a point, is computed for each subcell. A surface area contribution factor is computed for each cell and identifies a count of subcells that are occupied divided by a total number of subcells. The surface area contribution factor for each cell and points for each cell are written to the point cloud indexed file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to visualize a point cloud dataset. A grid, having cells, is mapped over the point cloud dataset. The points are sorted and a contribution factor is computed for each cell. Each cell and its contribution factor is stored. A viewing area and total number of viewing points is determined. The cells are intersected with the viewing area to determine visible cells. The contribution factors for the visible cells are accumulated and divided into the total viewing points to determine a point extraction value. A number of points to read (and display) from each visible cell is determined by multiplying the contribution factor of each visible cell by the point extraction value.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable medium provide the ability to create a point cloud indexed file. A grid (of cells that are divided into subcells) is mapped over points in a point cloud dataset. An occupancy value, that indicates whether a subcell contains a point, is computed for each subcell. A surface area contribution factor is computed for each cell and identifies a count of subcells that are occupied divided by a total number of subcells. The surface area contribution factor for each cell and points for each cell are written to the point cloud indexed file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to visualize a point cloud dataset. A grid, having cells, is mapped over the point cloud dataset. The points are sorted and a contribution factor is computed for each cell. Each cell and its contribution factor is stored. A viewing area and total number of viewing points is determined. The cells are intersected with the viewing area to determine visible cells. The contribution factors for the visible cells are accumulated and divided into the total viewing points to determine a point extraction value. A number of points to read (and display) from each visible cell is determined by multiplying the contribution factor of each visible cell by the point extraction value.