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Import and Visualize 3D Tiles from RealityCapture
Import and Visualize 3D Tiles from RealityCapture

This article provides a step-by-step guide to exporting 3D Tiles from RealityCapture for upload into Swyvl.

Updated this week
Import and visualize 3D tiles from RealityCapture to Swyvl

Prerequisites for Exporting Cesium 3D Tiles

Before you export Cesium 3D Tiles, make sure your model meets the following requirements:

  • Textured and Colorized Model
    Your model must be both textured (UV-mapped with a texture image) and colorized (vertex colors). RealityCapture requires a textured model to export 3D Tiles. Colorization enhances visual quality, especially for dense meshes.

  • Georeferenced (Optional but Recommended):
    Your model needs real-world positioning and should be georeferenced using the WGS84 coordinate system. In RealityCapture, this is represented as EPSG:4326 - GPS (WGS84). This defines coordinates as longitude, latitude and height.

Export Cesium 3D Tiles from RealityCapture

Step-by-Step Guide to Export Cesium 3D Tiles

1. Open the Export Tool

  • From the top toolbar, in the Workflow tab, go to Export

  • Select Cesium 3D Tiles from the popup.

  • Choose the folder location you want to save the Cesium 3D Tileset.

Cesium 3D Tiles RealityCapture Export Button

Cesium 3D Tiles RealityCapture Export Button Close Up

Export Cesium 3D Tiles from Reality Capture

Select folder location to export your Cesium 3D Tileset from RealityCapture

Alternative method: Go to SCENE 3D > TOOLS, then under Export, select Levels of Detail.

2. Configure Export Settings for Cesium 3D Tiles

Use the following recommended settings to effectively export Cesium 3D Tiles for optimized web performance in Swyvl.

Export settings for Cesium 3D Tiles from RealityCapture

  • Initial Simplification:

    • Type: None

  • Iterative Simplification:

    • Type: Relative

    • Target Triangle Percentage: 50% (balances visual detail and file size for streaming efficiency).

  • Texture Options:

    • Export Textures: Yes

    • Source Layer: Color Layer

    • Texture Size: Optimal (RealityCapture selects ideal resolution, typically 4K).

    • Texture Format: JPEG (compatible) (provides effective compression for web use).

    • Large triangle removal threshold: 10

  • Maximum Node Triangle Count: 20,000 (ideal for efficient streaming of Cesium 3D Tiles).

  • Bandwidth Scale: 1.0 (default; compatible with CesiumJS compression methods).

  • Altitude: Unmodified (suitable for models georeferenced in WGS84).

  • Compression: None

  • Primitive Type: Triangle Strips (optimized for CesiumJS rendering).

3. Start Exporting Cesium 3D Tiles

  • Click OK to initiate the export.

  • RealityCapture will generate your Cesium 3D Tileset (multiple files), including a tileset.json file, saved in your selected folder.

Post-Export Steps

1. Prepare Files for Upload to Swyvl

  • Locate the folder containing your exported Cesium 3D Tileset.

  • Compress the entire folder, including the tileset.json, into a single .zip file.

Compress RealityCapture exported 3D Tileset into zip folder

2. Upload Cesium 3D Tiles to Swyvl

  1. Log in to your Swyvl account.

  2. Create a new project or open an existing one.

  3. In the Toolbar, select 3D Data, then 3D Tileset and upload your zipped Cesium 3D Tiles.

3. Verify the Upload in Swyvl

  • Confirm your Cesium 3D Tiles display correctly in Swyvl.

  • Use the Fly To button in the Project Data Sidebar to zoom directly to your 3D Tileset and verify texture accuracy and proper georeferencing.

Additional Tips

  • Preview Before Export

    Always preview textures and colors in RealityCapture's viewer before you export Cesium 3D Tiles.

  • Confirm Georeferencing

    After uploading to Swyvl, confirm the 3D Tileset aligns correctly with the Base Map.

  • Adjust Export Settings for Larger Tilesets

    For larger datasets, if performance or streaming speed is compromised after uploading to Swyvl, adjust triangle counts or simplification settings when exporting Cesium 3D Tiles.

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