RIEGL Laser Scan Database (RDB) Reader

FME can read data in the RIEGL Database format.

A RIEGL Database (RDB) is used to store laser scan data from a RIEGL V-Line scanner instrument. The database is contained within the subfolders of a RiSCAN PRO or RiPROCESS project. The data in the RIEGL project may include a point cloud, a raster image, and/or a panorama view.

Note  The RDB Reader currently supports only point cloud geometries.

Point cloud data files contain P3D in the filename. A dataset consists of one *.rds file, which contains data, and one *.rdx file of the same root name, which contains an index to that data. Optional files may also be included in the dataset, including color data (*RGB.rds files) and timestamp data (*TST.rds files).

Reader Overview

FME considers an *.rds data file and an *.rdx index file with the same root name to be a dataset.

The index file is the source dataset. A color file and timestamp file, also with the same root name, will also be included if they are present. These files will add RGB and/or timestamp components to each point in the point cloud.

Each dataset contains a single FME point cloud feature.

The index is used for efficient access when clipping the input to a bounding box.

Version Notes

RDB point cloud data files have several possible versions, and FME supports all versions from 1.0 to 6.0.

RDB index files have two possible versions:

  • 1.0, which does not contain a bounding box for the point cloud, and
  • 1.1, which contains a bounding box in the file header.

The file version, along with other metadata, is indicated in the header preamble of each file.