What is Vector Data?
Vector Data is data that is composed of points, lines, and polygons. The points are referred to as vertices while the lines are called edges. It can be useful, but it can also take up a lot of memory on your computer when using certain programs such as Rhino or Grasshopper.
Both Vector Data and Raster Data can be used to create 3D points and surfaces. The difference between the two is that Vector Data is made up of only lines, edges, and vertices while Raster Data is pixel-based.
Vector Data may be used with point cloud software to display, navigate through, or manipulate data that has been acquired by a scanner or a laser.
Why is Vector Data used with point cloud software?
Vector Data is used with point cloud software to display, navigate through, and manipulate data that has been acquired by a scanner or a laser. With Vector Data, you can easily locate points in space and measure distances between them. For example, Scanning the Moon with LIDAR technology will create a 3D map of surface features such as craters and mountains. Scanners can also be used to create 3D models of rooms and buildings by rotating the scanner and capturing each angle individually.
These 3D surfaces can then be exported as a Point Cloud File which you would open up in point cloud software such as Limon. The Point Cloud file is what you would see when viewing the data with point cloud software.
