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Terrasolid FAQs

Common Questions #

If you transform point clouds in TerraScan from one projection system to another, the coordinate setup must be defined in a way that coordinate values of both projection systems are covered by the coordinate range. However, this is impossible if coordinates are stored with high resolution (millimeter), and if coordinate values are very different in the two systems. Then, either the source or the target coordinate values are outside the coordinate range and TerraScan fails to load data correctly into memory. By creating a new project, importing the original point cloud into it and applying the transformation in the import process, this problem can be solved.

Try the following workflow:
1. Define the coordinate setup in TerraScan in a way that it fits to the coordinate values of the target projection system.
2. If you want to keep the original project structure, transform the block boundaries of the existing project to the target system. Otherwise, create a new project.
3. Save as a new project file into a new folder for storing the laser data.
4. Import the points of your original project blocks (in the source projection system) into the new project and apply the transformation to the target projection system in the import process.

Only the Import points into project and Read points processes are able to load points correctly if the coordinate range does not fit source and target coordinate systems. The range must fit to the target system. Macro steps for transforming points only result in correct coordinates if the coordinate range fits to both, the source and target system.

This message appears if the coordinates of the laser data have millimetre (mm) resolution but the resolution of the coordinates in TerraScan is set to centimetre (cm). You can change that in TerraScan General Tools > Define Coordinate Setup. Set Resolution = 1000 (mm = 1000, cm = 100). When you increase the resolution, the coordinate range gets smaller (see lower part of the dialog). Therefore, it might be necessary to change the coordinates of the Origin Easting and/or Northing as well to make the range fitting to the data. Set the Easting/Northing to some value closer to your project’s coordinates. Check in the lower part of the dialog, that the coordinate range includes the coordinate values of your dataset.

The problem is related to the coordinate setup of TerraScan. The coordinate setup defines what coordinate values of points can be loaded into TerraScan. The corresponding tool is in TerraScan General tools > Define Coordinate Setup.
The tool’s dialog shows coordinate ranges for Easting, Northing, Elevation. All points with coordinates inside these ranges can be handled in TerraScan. Depending on the resolution of point coordinates, the ranges are bigger (cm resolution = 100) or smaller (mm resolution = 1000). If the coordinates of laser points are outside the range, the Origin Easting and/or Northing coordinates must be changed in the dialog. Set it to a value closer to the points’ coordinates. Then, check the coordinate ranges again and make sure that the points’ coordinates are falling within the ranges. Watch the video here

This a result of a new feature in TerraScan. Now TerraScan supports most of the coordinate systems and it is possible to pick from the list. If you need to do transformation it can be done while importing points by choosing input and active projection.

Watch this webinar about coordinate transformation in the latest versions (from 59:30min).

TerraScan supports several input formats for time stamps, such as GPS standard time, GPS time, GPS seconds-of-week, Unix time (trajectories only). TerraScan can handle the GPS time stamp formats for data processing. GPS seconds-of-week can be used if the data of a project is captured within a week (Sunday 00:00:00 till Saturday 23:59:59). GPS time or standard time must be used for data of projects that is captured within several weeks. Unix time must be converted into a GPS time format when a trajectory is imported. Trajectories and points must store time stamps in the same format in order to allow the assignment of points to trajectories. The time stamp format can be converted for both data types during the import of data into TerraScan, by using menu commands or macro steps (point data only).

It is recommended to organize a point cloud in a TerraScan project and project blocks for processing the data. TerraScan has it’s own binary formats for project blocks, such as Fast BinaryBinary 8-bit and Binary 16-bitLAS or LAZ formats can also be used to store point data in project blocks. Fast binary is the recommended format for processing data in TerraScan (and using point clouds in other Terrasolid applications). LAS and LAZ formats are suited for data exchange between different software products; LAZ is also the best choice for archiving data.

If your input data is in LAS 1.4 format and you need to deliver LAS/LAZ 1.4 format as well, it is recommended to keep the LAS 1.4 format for the project in TerraScan. There are some limitations for storing LAS/LAZ 1.4 format with TerraScan. TerraScan does not store coordinate system information in the file header. It can not store near-infrared values for points.

32-bit and 64-bit Terrasolid software:
LAS 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 have reading and writing support. LAS 1.3 has only reading support.
LAZ 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 have reading and writing support.
64-bit Terrasolid software:
LAS 1.4 has reading and writing support.

Mismatch in MLS point clouds is most often caused by inaccuracies in the trajectory solution. Failure of GPS signal during the data collection leads to more and more increasing positional errors. The mismatch can be removed in TerraMatch by applying fluctuating corrections. This may include internal corrections (line-to-line matching) as well as absolute positional adjustments (point cloud-to-control points matching).

The recommended workflow strategies for matching data to control points and internally are:

Two separate matching steps for XYZ:  1st to control points, 2nd internally

  • good workflow in general, always applicable and leading to good results
  • better results if mismatch is big between point cloud and control points
  • removes the big mismatch first, following tie line observations for internal matching are cleaner and lead to better result

One single matching step for XYZ: matching to control points and internally
The result of the matching process should be equally good as with two separate matching steps,

  • if there are enough control points (not too long distances between consecutive control points) and the trajectory is not drifting back and forth between control points
  • if there is no big mismatch between the point cloud and control points

For an additional Z correction, it is always recommended to run a separate matching step, if required. This should continue from the corrected observations of the first matching step(s).

In MicroStation CONNECT Edition, you can use the key-in commands:

– scan app mainwin to open the TerraScan Main window.
– scan app main to open the TerraScan Main toolbox.

– photo app mainwin to open the TerraPhoto Main window.
– photo app main to open the TerraPhoto Main toolbox.

The Speed setting in the Display mode dialog determines, whether TerraScan draws only a selection of points depending on the zoom level or all points on the screen.
The final decision of what points are drawn on the screen is made by MicroStation, not by TerraScan. Points at the edge of a section view or the depth boundary of a top view may be drawn at some zoom levels and not at other zoom levels. For manual classification tasks, set Speed = Slow – all points in the Display mode dialog for the section view. If possible, use Display method = Raster (switch on Use depth in the Display mode dialog or set the Display method in TerraScan Settings). Move section tool should use Move by = Half of view depth. This makes sure that each point is displayed in two consecutive section views when moving forward/backward, maybe at the edge of one section and in the center of the next section.

This is an unclear visualization problem. The point display becomes transparent which often looks like a gray overlay (the black view background is shining through the points). This happens most often if the Display method is set to Raster (in TerraScan Settings or if Use depth is switched on in the Display mode dialog) and if no vector data is displayed in the view. The point display becomes normal again if vector elements are drawn in the view or if the Display method is set to Points.

If a tool dialog in Terrasolid software is closed by using the cross icon in the upper right corner, no other Terrasolid dialogs are displayed anymore. You have to select a MicroStation tool in order to display the dialogs again.

Tool dialogs in Terrasolid software are not displayed completely anymore if the tool is temporary changed. Typical example: you use a manual classification tool and switch temporarily to a tool for drawing or moving a section. After returning to the manual classification tool with the right mouse button, the settings part of the tool dialog is not displayed anymore. You have to start the tool again by clicking on the tool icon (or using a function key) in order to display the dialog completely.

To fix this issue where you are unable to open the Terrasolid Installation executable on Windows 11:

  1. Right click the SETUP.exe file and select, Properties.
  2. Move to the Compatibility tab and select the Run compatibility troubleshooter button.
  3. Run the troubleshooter, and apply the changes. This will run the installation executable in Windows 7/8 compatibility mode.

Common Licensing Questions #

There is no way to “return” licenses without using the License Manager on the client computer. If this doesn’t work anymore, you have to wait until the license period has expired. Therefore, we recommend license check-out periods of a reasonable time frame, e.g. 7 – 14 days, to avoid longer license availability problems

You can download the software from the common Terrasolid software download page. In “Platform selection” section, select “32/64-bit Windows” option from the “Stand alone applications” and click Continue. Then, the list of available software includes License Server & Manager as option.

You have to download the package if you want to install both, Server and Manager on a computer, but also if you just want to install one of the modules. The selection of what to install is made during the installation process.

Double-check the Access code in the License Server and License Manager apps:

  • License Server File > Settings
  • License Manager File > Settings

The Access code must be exactly the same in both applications.

After changing settings for the License Server/Manager and/or copying new license files into the network license folder on the server, you must restart the License Service in the Services dialog of Windows. Only after the restart, the service can recognize changes. It is recommended to pause the service when you do changes or license file updates, and resume the service after all changes are done.

You can connect to the License Server and check out licenses via Virtual Private Network (VPN).
However, there might be some network or firewall settings which prevent the successful communication between Server and Manager.

In general, licenses must be requested using the License Manager before a software product can be used on a client computer. An exception is TerraSlave. If TerraSlave is running on the same computer as TerraScan and if a network license is available for TerraScan, there is no additional license required for running TerraSlave on this computer. If TerraSlave is running on a separate computer without TerraScan, it can be configured to request a license automatically.

Download and install Terra License Server and Manager, test the communication between Server and Manager, and register your License Server with Terrasolid. This is described in detail on the Licensensing webpage.

When Terrasolid has send you license files, stop the Terra License Service (if applicable) and copy the license files to the pool license folder of your License Server installation directory. The default directory is c:/terra/pool0xx, where xx stands for the latest major version number. Restart Terra License Server and Terra License Service (if applicable).

Alternatively, you may restart the PC after copying new license files into the /pool0xx folder.

New license files are recognized by the License Server after the License Server Application and Service is restarted. First, copy the new license files into the /pool0XX folder of your Terrasolid installation directory. Then, open the Windows Services window and restart the TerraLicenseService0XX. Open the License Server Application interface and check that the new license files are available.

The License Server/Manager communication does not use TCP protocol. It’s enough that the Manager can connect via LAN or VPN to the Server to generate and return the licenses from/to the license pool folder. The number of the port used for communication depends on the local situation. Therefore, we cannot say in advance which port must be opened, e.g. in firewall settings. You should just start the communication by the License Manager and check which port it tries to use.

There are a few rules to follow strictly to setup License server and License manager successfully:

  • Install License Server/Service and License Manager software directly on the PC acting as server and with administrator permissions (Right mouse click on setup.exe file > Run as administrator). It is not enough to just copy the applications’ .exe files into the target folder.
  • By default, the License Server is installed into the terra installation directory, /pool0XX, where XX is the major version number of the software. This is the same folder in which the license files must be stored. The License manager is installed into the terra installation directory, /license. You should not change the name of the default target folders. The terra installation directory is up to you.
  • In the Windows Explorer, check in Network category if the PC/laptop running License Manager can “see” the server machine. Only if the computers can “see” each other in the network, the communication is successful.
  • Define settings in the License Server, File > Settings:
    • Choose an Access codeand a maximum duration time for license check out (small amount of days recommended).
  • Define settings in the License Manager, File > Settings:
    • Choose the Server from the selection list or type the name of the server machine. If you click on the >> button and there are no available PCs in the selection list, the software does not find any potential server machines in the Windows network.
    • Type the same Access codeas defined in the License Server settings. Make sure that the typing of server name and access code are correct. The values are case-sensitive.
  • After changing settings in the License Server or after copying new license files to the/pool0XX folder on the license server machine, you must restart the License Server/Service. You can restart the service in the Windows Services window or by restarting the PC. Changes in settings will be recognized by the License Service only after a restart. New licenses will be available for check out only after a restart.
  • In the License manager, check View > Server state. Select the correct major version of the software in the Version Set Information Overview. The window should now show the number of available licenses on the server.

Please double-check all the above points in case of connection problems before contacting Terrasolid support or sales.
More information about the License Server/Service and Manager setup process

Yes, if License Server is installed as application only. License Server application does not run as a background service. It must run if someone wants to check out or return licenses from client computers.

If License Server is installed as service, the application dialog serves only as user interface for settings. It can be closed and license check-out/check-in is still possible as long as the service runs.

You can run two instances of license_server.exe or two Terra licenses services at the same time. You just need to have two separate installation folders, such as c:\terra\pool017 and c:\terra\pool018. Each folder must contain its own copy of license_server.exe and its corresponding license files. However, Terrasolid provides network licenses only for the latest software version. Therefore, the license files expire on 31st of March every year. After that, a new version of License Server is required in order to serve for the new license files. Therefore, it is rather uncommon that there are two versions of License Server required.

It is not recommended to allow long check-out periods for network licenses.
In general, server licenses for one major version are valid until 31st of March of the year following the release of the major version (e.g. version 014 is valid until March, 31st, 2015). If you request a license for more days then the number of days until next 31st of March from the server, the license will be valid on the client computer until the expiration date of the longest-lasting free license on the server. The reason behind the yearly changing major version number is that customers must have a maintenance agreement to update to the next major version. Without renewing the maintenance agreement, customers get node-locked licenses for their latest software version after their network licenses expired.

Copy the license_server.zip to another location (e.g. c:/temp) and run the setup again.

The 64-bit TerraSlave expects a license file called “tslave.lic” while 32-bit TerraSlave expects a file called “tslave_scan.lic”. If you are using the same license file for x32 and x64 TerraSlave, just rename the file for x64 TerraSlave in the \license folder of the x64 Terrasolid installation folder.

If License Server is installed as application only, it typically closes on users’ log out. This can be avoided by switching the user or locking the computer instead of logging out. The better alternative is to install the License Server as service.

You need the license server and manager if you want to use network licenses for Terrasolid applications. The license server is used on one computer (acting as “server”) to manage the network license files. The license manager is used on all computers that need the licenses for running Terrasolid applications

Please check the following:

  • The License Manager has been installed with administrator permissions.
  • The user has standard Windows users’ permissions and READ AND WRITE permissions for the license folder in the Terrasolid software installation directory (e.g. c:/terra/license) on his computer.
  • Be sure that the license folder setting points to the correct folder. E.g., if you have installed Terrasolid applications for MicroStation V8 in /terra/ and for V8i in /terrav8i/ folders, check the license path in the configuration of MicroStation or Terrasolid software (in file ‘cfg‘).

1) in Terra License Manager find File –> Settings –> Server –> copy/paste name of your server-computer or type it manually without going to select the server from the list (i.e. no need to press the side arrows >>)

2) check the level of sharing: the recommendation is to share the folder rather than sharing the entire drive
3) you need to provide full read/write/access rights via your network to ..\terra64\pool022 folder
4) check the firewall permissions

Updated on May 4, 2023
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