This article explains how to use 360° panoramas to step through scan locations using captured panoramic imagery, similar to street-view navigation.
What you will need
An Emesent account with Aura Cloud access.
A point cloud that includes 360° imagery captured during the scan. 360° panoramas are not available on point clouds without 360° imagery.
A modern web browser. Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop is recommended.
How 360° panoramas work
With Show 360° panos turned on, panoramic imagery captured during the scan appears as photo domes (small blue 3D disks with the Emesent logo) overlaid on the 3D view. Selecting a photo dome teleports the camera to that location and displays the 360° image. The point cloud and the 360° image are shown at the same time, so spatial context is preserved while moving through a site.
Procedure
Step 1: Open a point cloud with 360° imagery
Locate a point cloud that includes 360° imagery in the project or folder.
Open it in the 3D viewer.
Step 2: Turn on 360° panoramas (if not enabled)
In the viewer sidebar, find the Modes section.
Turn on Show 360° panos. The viewer overlays photo domes on the 3D view, marking the locations where 360° imagery was captured.
Step 3: Move between 360° panoramas
Double-click a photo dome. The camera teleports to that location and opens the 360° image view for that panorama, with the point cloud overlaid.
To navigate inside and between 360° panoramas, use the keyboard shortcuts. See Keyboard shortcuts.
Step 4: Return to the standard 3D view
Select Exit 360° panoramas to return to the standard 3D view.
Outcome
360° panoramas provide a familiar street-view-style way to navigate a site, making the scan accessible to viewers who would not otherwise interact with point clouds.
Additional information
If a scan does not show photo domes, the original capture may not include 360° imagery.
360° panoramas viewed via a public link work the same way for recipients, with no Aura Cloud account required.