Leica Geosystems has launched Cyclone 3DR, an AI-powered tool that transforms how production teams work with LiDAR scans, allowing filmmakers to identify, edit, and export individual objects from complex point cloud data and create personal libraries of photorealistic 3D assets without specialized expertise.
Scanning the Horizon: AI transforms LiDAR from complex data into malleable production assets
The biggest challenge with LiDAR technology has always been handling the overwhelming complexity of point cloud data — until now.
The new AI Classification feature automatically identifies objects within LiDAR scans, grouping millions of data points into recognizable assets
AI Segmenter tool enables users to clean up, edit, or completely remove objects from scans — tasks that previously required painstaking hours of manual work
Objects can be exported in any file format and added to a library for reuse in future 3D projects
Users can choose from six AI-powered models: four for specific commercial environments and two for general indoor/outdoor settings
Check out VP Land’s deep dive into LiDAR technology featuring Leica’s advanced LiDAR scanners.
From Capture to Creation: Cyclone 3DR bridges the gap between scanning reality and building digital worlds
While LiDAR has been used in entertainment for years, Cyclone 3DR significantly expands its creative potential by making the technology more accessible to production teams without specialized technical expertise.
Production teams can work directly within LiDAR scans rather than needing to export to other software platforms
The system pairs with NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs to power its AI features, making real-time classification and editing possible
Users can choose between automated processes for quick results or create custom scripts and filters that integrate with existing workflows
The software can generate high-quality meshes complete with volume calculations and deviation analysis
Practical Production Applications: The tool offers immediate solutions for common virtual production challenges
Leica's approach focuses on solving specific production pain points rather than just delivering raw technological capability.
Virtual production teams can quickly modify scanned locations by removing unwanted elements (vehicles, structures) without rebuilding entire environments
VR creators can scan real-world locations and transform them into interactive spaces with individually identifiable and manipulable objects
Animation teams can extract specific elements from environmental scans to create libraries of authentic real-world assets
The system is hardware agnostic, working with Leica's scanners but also compatible with other LiDAR hardware
Final Cut to Reality: This technology narrows the gap between digital creation and physical world capture
As production increasingly blends physical and digital workflows, tools like Cyclone 3DR represent a fundamental shift in how creative teams will approach environment building and asset creation.
This technology arrives at a pivotal moment when virtual production is becoming standard practice rather than experimental technique. By making LiDAR data more accessible and malleable, Leica is effectively democratizing access to photorealistic asset creation. The ability to easily identify, isolate, and manipulate objects within scans means production designers and VFX teams can work more iteratively, blending captured reality with creative vision.
For smaller productions, the most significant impact may be the ability to build extensive libraries of reusable assets from a single location scan, potentially transforming the economics of digital environment creation. As these tools become integrated into standard workflows, expect the distinction between location scouting, set design, and digital asset creation to increasingly blur.
