TLSynth: A Novel Blender Add-on for Real-Time Point Cloud Generation from 3D Models

Point clouds are a crucial element in the process of scanning and reconstructing 3D environments, such as buildings or heritage sites. They allow for the creation of 3D models that can be used in a wide range of applications. In some cases, however, only the 3D model of an environment is available, and it is necessary to obtain point clouds with the same characteristics as those captured by a laser scanner. For instance, point clouds may be required for surveys, performance optimization, site scan planning or validation of point cloud processing algorithms. This paper presents a new Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) simulator, designed as an Blender add-on, that produces synthetic point clouds from 3D models in real-time, while adhering to standard laser scanner parameters. The target meshes may be derived from either a real-world scan or 3D designs created using design software. The simulator generates point clouds with distributions and characteristics similar to those obtained by a real laser scanner, incorporating the standard parameters from scanner specification sheets. This feature, together with its real-time generation capability, makes it particularly suitable for scan planning and the creation of synthetic point cloud repositories.