Hi there,

As August comes to a close, we want to give you a quick recap of all the updates and announcements from this month.

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Enhanced Share Link Feature

Earlier this month, we introduced improvements to our share link functionality:

• Redesigned interface for an improved user experience
• More customisable options for the default view for better presentation control
• Enhanced viewer experience with targeted content display

For more details, refer to our help article: How to share my projects to stakeholders using share links

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Expanded e57 File Support

We're pleased to announce Skand now supports e57 files from:

• Leica BLK2Go
• Matterport Pro2 and Pro3

This expansion allows you to seamlessly import data from these advanced devices into Skand, improving your workflow and expanding your project’s capabilities.

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Power BI Integration

We launched our integration with Power BI, bringing you:

• Automated data synchronisation
• Enhanced visualisation capabilities
• Streamlined workflow integration

Key benefits include:

• Real-time data updates
• Deeper analytical insights
• Efficient incorporation of Skand data into Power BI

For details, please visit: Integrate Skand Reports with Microsoft Power BI

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Coming Soon: Skand Onboarding Series

We're developing a comprehensive Skand onboarding series:

• Designed for new users to quickly gain proficiency
• Valuable for experienced users to discover best practices
• Allows you to learn how to use Skand at your own pace

We're in the final stages of preparation and look forward to launching this resource soon.

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Thank you for your continued support in Skand. We're committed to enhancing your experience and look forward to sharing more innovations in the coming months.

Hi there,

We are thrilled to bring you the latest updates for this month! Our team has been working hard to enhance your experience and provide you with more powerful tools to elevate your projects.

E57 Workflow Release

Starting last week, you can effortlessly extract both point clouds and embedded panoramas from your E57 files directly into Skand. This streamlined process simplifies your workflow and saves you valuable time. This exciting new feature is available to our Pro and Enterprise plan subscribers.

We would like to thank our beta users for their valuable input. Your feedback played a crucial role in making this release a success.

Renderer Performance Improvement

Over the past month, we have continuously improved our renderer performance to minimise latency while navigating through the 3D scene.

These improvements ensure a smoother and more responsive experience as you work on your projects. We hope you enjoy the enhanced performance!

DXF Enhancements

We have resolved several issues related to DXF files, ensuring more reliable handling in the Skand platform. The improvements include:

• Reduced memory usage and faster load times
• Fixed rendering for specific entity types
• Fixed geometry glitches caused by floating point precision issues

You can now expect a smoother and more dependable experience when working with your DXF files.

Coming Soon This Week: Share Link Release

We are excited to roll out the improved share link feature later this week. This update includes enhanced functionalities that will make sharing and collaborating on your projects easier and more effective.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our share link beta program; your feedback has been instrumental in shaping this feature. Stay tuned for the upcoming release!

Your Input on Upcoming Features

We value your feedback and are always looking for ways to improve. We have built a feedback board where you can get sneak peeks of our upcoming features. Check out our feedback board to share your thoughts on the following features:

1. Customisable Workflows: Automate routine tasks and enhance your processes for improved efficiency and visibility in layer creation.
2. Customisable Annotations: Drag and drop files into the 3D scene to create annotations, complete with customisable icons and render images for a more immersive experience.
3. Saved Views (previously called Presentation Mode): Tailor the default view of your project with saved and organised project views.
4. Files Tab: Experience improved file organisation and a smoother layer creation process.

To help us shape these features, please use our support live chat and select the following option: I want to provide input on upcoming features.

Hi there,

We hope this message finds you well. We are excited to share some fantastic updates with you this month and invite you to help shape our upcoming features.

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New Live Chat Support

You can now reach out to us directly within the Skand web application via live chat. Whether you have questions, feedback, bug reports, or just want to share your favourite GIF, we’re here! You can also find our latest news and updates in the live chat section.

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Latitude and Longitude in Reports

Now, each 3D annotation includes latitude and longitude details in the reports. Additionally, you can find a direct link to Skand Explore for every annotation. Viewing annotations in the 3D viewer is now just one click away!

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Faster Panorama Loading

We’ve introduced panorama tile-streaming to enhance the loading speed of your high-resolution images. This update will be automatically applied to your panoramas in the coming week, providing a smoother walkthrough experience.

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OBJ Model Multi-threading Loading

For those dealing with large OBJ models, we are introducing multi-threading loading in the coming weeks. This allows you to continue working on other tasks while your OBJ models load in the background without any interruptions.

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Share Link Enhancements

We are dedicated to enhancing our share link feature to better serve your needs. Currently, we are actively seeking beta users to test and provide feedback on these improvements. If you’re interested in participating and experiencing these enhancements firsthand, please don’t hesitate to contact us via our new support live chat or email.

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Automated E57 Workflow

We’ve listened to your feedback and are excited to announce the development of an automated workflow for loading E57 files into Skand. This new feature will extract both point clouds and embedded panoramas seamlessly. If you have E57 files with embedded panoramas and want an effortless way to integrate them into Skand, please contact us to join our beta program (available for Pro and Enterprise plans).

Your Input on Upcoming Features

As well as improvements to the share link and the automated e57 workflow, we’re working on some exciting new features that will transform your workflow.

While these aren’t ready for hands-on testing, we’d love your input on our designs and concepts for:

• Customisable Workflows: Automate repetitive tasks, integrate seamlessly with your daily software or services, and track progress. This feature will allow you to tailor workflows to your needs, freeing up valuable time for important tasks.
• Enhanced Layer Creation & Processing: Simplify the process of visualising data with advanced data validation tools.
• Enriched Customisable Annotations: Embed files and videos, connect to third-party software, and display rich information in the 3D scene for powerful presentations.

To contribute to shaping these features, use our support live chat and select one of the following options:

• “I want to join the beta program” for testing Share Link Enhancements or Automated E57 Workflow
• “I want to provide input on upcoming features” for sharing your thoughts on Customisable Workflows, Enhanced Layer Creation & Processing, or Enriched Customisable Annotations

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Legacy Share Links

We will be discontinuing old share links created in the previous interface by the end of June.

To ensure uninterrupted access to your share links, we recommend the following:

• Regenerate any share links you need: New links created using the updated interface will be fully functional. For instructions, please refer to: How to create new share links
• Contact us if you have any questions or concerns: Our support team is happy to assist you with the transition and answer any questions you may have about the new features or regenerating share links.

Recursive Search

We're excited to announce the recent launch of recursive searching in data management! Now you can easily search for files not just in the current folder, but also in all its subfolders. Finding files throughout data management is now simpler than ever.

How to do recursive searching

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Image and Panoramic Image Groups

We've moved images and panoramic images from add-ons to layers, making the experience more integrated and user-friendly. Plus, the feature now automatically loads the 3D position from the data you provide, making it even easier to use.

• What are layers?
• How to create image groups?
• How to create panoramic image groups?

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Skand Defect Analysis

Our defect analysis service has been updated. You can now request this service by creating an Annotation add-on. A member of our team will contact you to confirm the details.

How to request Skand defect analysis service

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Google Earth Globe Integration (Enterprise Plan)

We’re excited to bring Google’s realistic globe tiles to our enterprise users*. These amazing 3D tiles help you understand geographic context better, improve navigation, and make storytelling more engaging.

How to switch on Google Earth Globe

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Eye Dome Lighting

You can now enable eye dome lighting, which is particularly useful for point cloud models. This feature outlines the models, making it easier to perceive depth and take measurements. Additionally, we have changed the shape of points in the point cloud from squares to circles.

How to turn on Eye Dome Lighting

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Legacy Share Links

Please note that we will discontinue old share links created in the old interface by the end of June. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

How to create new share links

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Other Improvements

• Point Cloud Tiling Improvements: We’ve streamlined the process by automatically converting colour channels to 16-bit.
• Enhanced 3D Widget Tools: Our 3D widget tools are now rendered on top of all other elements in the scene for easier use.
• Orthographic Camera Enhancements: We’ve improved the zoom and pan sensitivity for smoother navigation. We’ve also fixed the zoom level issue with perspective mode and added a toggle for near-plane clipping for better control over your viewing experience.
• Tileset Refinement: Tileset refinement has been improved to ensure that the section in view loads more quickly. Higher detail tiles will appear sooner, prioritising the area the user is focusing on.

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*Please note, by using the Google Earth Globe feature, you agree to follow Google’s fair usage terms. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us.