---
title: Align Your Point Cloud to Ground Control Points
description: Aligning your point cloud to Ground Control Points (GCPs) is essential for ensuring accuracy in your project data. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you align your point cloud using GCPs effectively.
---

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March 2, 2026

# Align Your Point Cloud to Ground Control Points

## Aligning your point cloud to Ground Control Points (GCPs) is essential for ensuring accuracy in your project data. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you align your point cloud using GCPs effectively.

<iframe allowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" src="https://komododecks.com/embed/recordings/BfgMcynaUcCGMeaCfm5f?onlyRecording=1" width="100%" height="100%" style="border: 0px; position: absolute; inset: 0px;"></iframe>

### Getting Started

Once you've uploaded your GCPs into your project, they should appear as green points. Initially, you might notice these points floating below or above your point cloud. This intentional setup helps in visualizing the alignment process.

### Viewing and Selecting GCPs

1. Click on the measurement icon (measuring square) on the right toolbar. This action will display all your GCPs along with their details.
2. On the right toolbar, click the **Quick Tools** icon (lightning bolt). Then select the **Auto Align** icon (bullseye).

### Aligning Your Point Cloud

#### Custom Point Placement

1. Switch your point cloud to intensity mode to simplify locating the center of your GCPs.
2. **Add Custom Points**
   
     - Click **--Select--** on the **Move Point** dropdown and select **Custom Point**
     - Select the the center point or point recorded of your GCP in intensity mode.
     - Click **--Select--** on the **To Point** dropdown and select the corresponding GCP from the list.
3. Click on the blue **Align** button to see the alignment results.

### Final Adjustments

1. Check your X, Y, and Z translations.
2. If the alignment looks good, save your changes. The system will process the alignment and update the project accordingly.

#### Helpful Resources

[Learn how to create your first project on ROCK Cloud](https://learn.rockrobotic.com/rock-cloud-create-project?hsLang=en)

[Uploading Data to ROCK Cloud Using ROCK Desktop](https://learn.rockrobotic.com/uploading-data-to-rock-cloud-using-rock-desktop?hsLang=en)

[Reproject Your Data in ROCK Cloud](https://learn.rockrobotic.com/reproject-your-data-in-rock-cloud?hsLang=en)

[Add Ground Control Points To Your Point Cloud](https://learn.rockrobotic.com/add-ground-control-points-to-your-point-cloud?hsLang=en)

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