Post Pointillism

Presentation for the PUNCTUM Conference: Photography 2025 VIRTUAL VS. REAL

What is a point cloud?

A point cloud is a 3D dataset that records the geometry of a scene as a collection of spatial points, each with x, y, z coordinates and, in some cases, color values. It can be generated through various methods, including LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, or newer techniques like Gaussian splatting. This data structure forms the basis of what we see as a spatial image.

LiDAR: from Aerospace into Architecture, Industry and Art

Originally developed in the 1960s for space exploration, LiDAR was used by NASA to scan the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission in the 1970s.