Point cloud formats
CADMATIC can import point clouds from several different ASCII and binary file formats, one or several files (of the same format) at a time.
ASCII point cloud (*.asc, *.pts, *.xyz)
You can import and export ASCII-based point cloud files using these formats: .asc, .pts, .xyz.
The importer attempts to automatically detect the data format and the scale. Before the actual import starts, the importer shows the scale and a sample data line obtained from the import file. You can modify the scale and define what the data values represent. These definitions are then used for all data lines in the current import.
A separate text file named ScanPositions.txt should exist in the directory from where the import text files are read. In this file, each line defines the name of a scanner file, followed by the position of the scanner as X Y Z. Without this file, bubble views which show the point cloud as seen from the scanning position will not be possible, but other shaded views can still show the point clouds. For more information on the ScanPositions.txt file, see the topic Import point clouds in the point cloud tutorial.
When importing multiple ASCII files, they can be merged into a single .cpe point cloud file or imported as separate files.
E57 point cloud (*.e57)
E57 is a vendor-neutral format that is partly binary, partly XML.
The files can contain duplicate scan names. When importing multiple .e57 files or a file that contains several scans, they can be merged into a single .cpe point cloud file or imported as separate files that are named using the format <PointCloudName>.<OriginalScanName>_<n> where n is a running number and used only when there are duplicate scan names. Example: Room_A.MyScan_2.cpe
CADMATIC supports reading the E57 feature categories XYZ, RAE, RGB, INT and MUL.
Show/hide details
Support for E57 features
|
Feature Name |
Abbreviation |
Read |
Write |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cartesian points |
XYZ |
Yes |
— |
|
Cylindrical imagery |
CYL |
— |
— |
|
Geodetic information |
GEO |
— |
— |
|
Multiple images |
MIM |
— |
— |
|
Multiple returns |
RET |
— |
— |
|
Multiple scans |
MUL |
Yes |
— |
|
Pinhole imagery |
PIN |
— |
— |
|
Point color |
RGB |
Yes |
— |
|
Point groups |
GRP |
— |
— |
|
Point intensity |
INT |
Yes |
— |
|
Spherical imagery |
SPH |
— |
— |
|
Spherical points |
RAE |
Yes |
— |
|
Structured point sets |
STR |
— |
— |
|
Time stamps |
TIM |
— |
— |
|
Visual reference imagery |
REF |
— |
— |
Support for E57 extensions
|
Extension Name |
Read |
Write |
|---|---|---|
|
ASPRS LAS format information |
— |
— |
|
Point normals |
— |
— |
For more information on E57 features, see http://www.libe57.org/features.html.
PTX point cloud (*.ptx)
PTX is an ASCII format produced by Leica Cyclone software.
The files do not contain scan names. When importing multiple .ptx files or a file that contains several scans, they can be merged into a single .cpe point cloud file or imported as separate files that are named using the format <PointCloudName>.Scan_<n> where n is a running number. Example: Room_A.Scan_0.cpe
CADMATIC panoramic point cloud (*.cpx)
CPX is a binary-format panoramic point cloud file produced by CADMATIC software.
In CADMATIC eShare, the eShare server converts point cloud files into significantly smaller .cpx files to enable eShare clients to process point cloud data faster.
In Plant Modeller, opening a bubble view for the first time generates a panorama image for the given scanning position and stores it as a .cpx file in the <PointCloudCache>\Panoramas folder. The existing .cpx files are automatically deleted from the cache if the point cloud is rotated, relocated or rescaled.
CADMATIC point cloud v1 (*.cpc)
CPC is a binary format that used to be produced by CADMATIC software.
When importing multiple .cpc files, they can be merged into a single .cpe point cloud file or imported as separate files.
CADMATIC point cloud v2 (*.cpd)
CPD is a binary format that used to be produced by CADMATIC software.
When importing .cpd files, they can be imported as is or converted into CPE and imported as separate .cpe files or a single merged .cpe file.
CADMATIC point cloud v3 (*.cpe)
CPE is an optimized, binary format produced by CADMATIC software. All other point cloud formats except CPD are automatically converted into CPE in import.
This format stores the points hierarchically and rendering is done in two phases; in each frame, a rough overview is drawn first, and then more details are added incrementally.
When importing multiple .cpe files or a file that contains several scans, they can be merged into a single point cloud file or imported as separate files.