# Create a Point Cloud

## Playback Point Cloud (Version 4.0.X and below)

To view the recorded point cloud in real-time in SpatialExplorer version 4.0.X and below, you must hit the Play button located in the bottom right corner of the Playback Menu. You can choose which sensors (camera, LiDAR, etc.) are activated in the main display area by toggling them from within the Sensors window. Refer to [Sensor Controller](/spatialexplorer/acquisition/user-interface/sensor-controller.md) window for more information.

![Recorded 3D point cloud in SpatialExplorer](/files/-M04NVouHumsom0P9ry-)

Notice how in the figure above the point cloud data does not feature any colorization but the point cloud data in the following figure does. The difference is the CAM0 sensor mode. In the figure above, the CAM0 sensor is set to PRV (preview) and in the figure below the CAM0 sensor is set to FSE (fuse). Refer to [Sensor Controller](/spatialexplorer/acquisition/user-interface/sensor-controller.md) window for more information.

![Point cloud colorization in SpatialExplorer](/files/-LT-XKFnLQhpVHk3jNHs)

## Create Cloud (SpatialExplorer 5.0.X and above)

Beginning in SpatialExplorer 5.0.X and above, to export a LAS/LAZ file you must first create a cloud. A cloud is an instance of the point cloud stored in memory.

There are two types of clouds that can be created, persistent and temporary. A persistent cloud will be saved in a location of the user's choosing, allowing for the reopening of the cloud at any time. A temporary cloud will remain visible until the current session of SpatialExplorer is closed.

To create a persistent cloud, click on the cloud icon located underneath the Menu toolbar.

![Create persistent cloud in SpatialExplorer 5.0.X and above.](/files/-LnYx_2Hu2cCpvTzL7cS)

A dialog box will pop up asking the user to choose a name and save location for the cloud as well as which intervals to include in the cloud.

![Create to Cloud dialog box in SpatialExplorer 5.0.X and above.](/files/-LnYzu2_88wcl5zb7XUo)

{% hint style="info" %}
We recommend saving the .cloud file in the same location as your raw rover data (.plp, .nav, .log, etc).
{% endhint %}

If you would like to change the save location of the .cloud file, click on the box with the three ellipsis (...) and a standard windows save dialog box will pop up.

![Choose save location of persistent .cloud file.](/files/-LnZGnBy_ludDm52a08v)

If you have custom intervals in your trajectory (auto-split or manual), you can choose to create a persistent .cloud file from either. Refer to [Autosplit Trajectory](/spatialexplorer/work-offline/workflow/navigation/autosplit-trajectory.md) for more information.

![Choose intervals to fuse in .cloud file](/files/-LnZNWkiuMJocI2OsgOm)

Click the "OK" button to begin creating the .cloud file in the chosen save location with the selected interval. In this example, a .cloud file is being created from the entire trajectory. Once done, the point cloud will be displayed in the Display window.

![Click OK to begin creating persistent .cloud file.](/files/-LnZRda9bSvdYuDwi5Qn)

![Cloud file created in SpatialExplorer 5.0.X.](/files/-LnZZO_bdRSZjQEaX3FJ)

When the .cloud file is created, the user can now initiate playback by clicking the Play button as discussed in the [Playback Point Cloud (Version 4.0.X and below)](/spatialexplorer/work-offline/workflow/open-files.md#playback-point-cloud-version-4-0-x-and-below) section above.

## Open LAS Files

SpatialExplorer 5.X can natively open LAS files for viewing. Use the File menu near the top right corner of SpatialExplorer to navigating to File → Open file. Alternatively, you can press the keyboard shortcut CTRL + O.

![Select LAS file to open in SpatialExplorer 5.X](/files/-LtQgL7qlE0yu_jDarjK)

Before loading the LAS file, make sure to confirm the time format used to create the LAS file as well as the proper acquisition date in UTC. In this example, the acquisition date is June 1, 2018 with a GPS week of 2003.

![Confirm LAS File time format](/files/-LtRkCC5F54WaSGi963e)

* GPS Microseconds
* GPS Standard Time
* GPS Standard Time (Adjusted)
* No Time / Zero
* Seconds into UTC day
* Time of Week (seconds)

![Select proper acquisition date in UTC](/files/-LtRkyszibCh8f3p9iVy)

![LAS file loaded in SpatialExplorer 5.X](/files/-LtRp_ktbiKuvRaPQ2Yh)


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