---
title: "V3.0 How To Utilise Ballast Connect LiDAR Artefacts"
canonical: "https://support.cordel.ai/space/CSD/2840758335/V3.0%20How%20To%20Utilise%20Ballast%20Connect%20LiDAR%20Artefacts"
format: markdown
---
The Ballast Connect module produces one .LAZ file, one ideal mesh .PLY and one mesh .PLY (measured) for each chainage segment of captured data within the mission. Ballast Connect users are able to view this information in Cordel Connect, or export the files for use in third party software. 

### How to view ballast LiDAR in Cordel Connect 

1. [Navigate to the mission](https://corridor1.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TCSD/pages/2285700471) of interest.
2. Click the relevant chainage segment (shown on the network path) and select ‘View Lidar’ from the mission card:

![image-20241217-005909.png](media://1545ab8a-afd8-4b3e-9758-c5fc027606ee)

> ℹ️ Note: You can also ‘View Lidar’ by selecting on the bounding box of the mission or from the Lidar Exports in the Payload Data.


3. This automatically opens all .LAZ and .PLY files associated with this mission in the LiDAR viewer (powered by Potree)

> ℹ️ Note: The LiDAR viewer will default to the chainage segment selected when performing the ‘View LiDAR’ action; however all .LAZ and .PLY files associated with the mission will be loaded automatically into the LiDAR Viewer.


### How to zoom, pan and change mesh colours

1. Zoom in on areas of interest or potential infringements using the scroll wheel on the mouse, or your using your trackpad.
2. Pan the view by holding the left mouse click and dragging the mouse to move the camera in relation to the point cloud.
3. Adjust the colour and opacity of ideal/measured ballast mesh in real-time by clicking on the .PLY you wish to edit and selecting a new colour/dragging the opacity slider.

![Untitled design (2).mp4](media://f3773182-1529-4ac1-ae11-6c497a11552f)

### How to compare the ideal and measured ballast profiles in the LiDAR Viewer

The LiDAR Viewer allows users to toggle different mesh layers on/off, providing a visual comparison of the ideal and measured profiles.

The .LAZ and .PLY files associated with this mission can be toggled on and off using the checkboxes in the objects menu. 

![Untitled design (1).mp4](media://1bd82d5c-4fe3-4f79-a683-166cacbc9c04)


> ℹ️ Knowledge base: [How to interact with the LiDAR viewer and its tools](https://corridor1.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CSD/pages/3618799902)

### Downloading the LiDAR Files for use in third party software

.LAZ and .PLY files can be downloaded and imported into third party systems for further analysis.

1. Go to the Payload Data section in the mission screen of Cordel Connect.
2. Under the Ballast Report section click '+' and locate the desired files.
3. Click the download icon

> ℹ️ - **Ideal Mesh** (.PLY) files represent the ideal ballast profile. These files have ‘ideal’ in the file name (shown in the screenshot below)
> ℹ️ - **Measured Mesh (.PLY)**: files represent the measured ballast profile based on captured/supplied LiDAR data. These files do not have ‘ideal’ in the file name.

  

![image-20241217-073514.png](media://0c814eb6-5640-46dc-a06d-1d1978bc8779)

 

4. Open the files using compatible 3D visualization software (e.g. 3D Reshaper, CloudCompare)