Carlson Precision 3D is a software platform designed for surveyors, civil engineers, and contractors to efficiently process, visualize, and edit 3D surfaces using data from point clouds, drones, LIDAR, and traditional survey methods. It offers advanced surface modeling, editing tools, and hydrology design features, enabling users to generate accurate deliverables for topography and drainage projects without relying solely on 2D CAD workflows.

Key Features

Surface Creation and Editing Create and refine 3D surfaces from diverse data sources.

• Import point clouds, survey data, polylines, and georeferenced images
• Real-time surface editing with dynamic contours and volume calculations
• Add/remove points, breaklines, and triangles; swap triangle edges

Point Cloud Processing Efficiently handle large and complex point cloud datasets.

• Load, merge, crop, and filter point clouds (supports .las, .laz, .ply, .xyz, .pts, .e57, .pcd)
• Bare earth and outlier filtering, smart smoothing, and voxel grid reduction
• Colorize point clouds with images or map data

Visualization and Presentation Advanced tools for visual analysis and reporting.

• Drape images and textures to surfaces
• Insert and edit 3D models (.OBJ, .SKP)
• Profile and section views for polylines
• Animate scenes for drive-through and fly-over videos

Hydrology and Drainage Design (P3D Hydro) Integrated tools for civil and hydrology projects.

• Design storm sewers, culverts, and drainage areas
• Calculate runoff and grade surfaces for water management
• Move and adjust hydrology structures with DTM restoration

Data Interoperability Seamless import/export with industry-standard formats.

• Export to LandXML, DXF, TIN, TN3, TTM, and STL for 3D printing
• Print preview and PDF export
• Supports mixed metric/imperial units and worldwide coordinate projections

Benefits

Efficiency in Surface Modeling Reduces time and effort in creating accurate 3D models.

• Multi-threaded performance for large datasets
• Drag-and-drop interface and unlimited undo/redo

Improved Data Quality Ensures high-fidelity deliverables with advanced filtering and editing.

• Remove noise, vegetation, and artifacts from point clouds
• Real-time feedback on surface changes

Versatile Application Supports a wide range of civil, survey, and construction workflows.

• Integrates with Carlson Civil Suite, AutoCAD, and MicroStation
• Suitable for both small and large projects