Toward an Environmental Database : Exploring the material properties from the point cloud data of the existing environment

The utilization of point cloud as a 3D laser scanning product has reached across multi-disciplines in terms of data processing, data visualization, and data analysis. This study particularly investigates further the use of typical attributes of raw point cloud data consisting of XYZ (position information), RGB (colour information) and I (intensity information). By exploring the optical and thermal properties of the given point cloud data, it aims at compensating the material and texture information that is usually remained behind by architects during the conceptual design stage. Calculation of the albedo, emissivity and the reflectance values from the existing context specifically direct the architects to predict the type of materials for the proposed design in order to keep the balance of the surrounding Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Therefore, architects can have a comprehensive analysis of the existing context to deal with the microclimate condition before a design decision phase