How to convert a point cloud produced in SiteMaker to another file format

  • Updated on Feb 5, 2025
  • 1 minute(s) read

Introduction

Purpose

When setting up a processing task in SiteMaker the choice for a file-format of the resulting Point cloud has to be made. By default, the e57-format is chosen.

If by accident the wrong format has been chosen, the correct format can still be obtained by using a command line tool in the Ubuntu terminal.

Note: Available formats are: e57, ply, pts, pcd, xyz, las. Be aware that depending on the format chosen, specific information like RGB values or Normals are not available.

Scope

This applies to Desktop Processing.

Procedure

Important: If you are only using the web-processed data (nvd-file) for upload, then reformatting is often not necessary. All formats including the full data (eg. RGB, intensity, or normals) will be imported as usual, and after upload, all formats will again be available for Crop & Download within NavVis IVION.

  1. Open an Ubuntu terminal on your local workstation via the UI or with Ctrl + T.

  2. Move to the folder /datasets_proc/<dataset_id> for the pointcloud you want to convert with the command

    cd /<path-to-project>/datasets_proc/<dataset_id>

  3. Within this folder, run the following command with the current format as first input and the targeted format as second input:

    nv_pcp pointcloud.ply pointcloud.las

  4. Adapt the point cloud name according to your project. You can check the name by opening the folder in a different window or by using auto-completion within the terminal (TAB).

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