Matterport E57 File Overview
The Matterport E57 file contains high-density point clouds obtained from Matterport scans. The E57 file includes the point cloud, panoramic images, and metadata from each scan location. The E57 file format is a compact, vendor-neutral point cloud format defined by the ASTM E2807 standard. This format is widely supported by most 3D design applications. Therefore, you can seamlessly use your Matterport digital twin in many applications, primarily including the following:
- Autodesk Recap Pro
- Leica Register 360
- Leica Cyclone
- Faro Scene
- Autodesk Revit
- Autodesk Navisworks
- Autodesk
- AutoCAD
- Trimble Sketchup
- Trimble Business Center
- TopCon Magnet
- Cintoo Cloud
With the E57 file:
- Architects and designers can conceptualize designs by understanding the space in more detail.
- Project stakeholders and construction teams can collaborate more efficiently.
- Building operators can maintain inventories of equipment and assets in a portfolio.
Who is the E57 File For?
The E57 file is for architects, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineers, contractors, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, BIM managers, VDC (virtual design and construction) managers, and other construction professionals who need a higher density point cloud than the MatterPak. The XYZ point cloud file helps complete complex workflows.You can easily import E57 3D point cloud data into many 3D architectural, engineering, and design applications, including Autodesk Revit, using the Matterport for Revit® add-in.
What is a Point Cloud?
A point cloud is a 3D description of spatial data consisting of geometric points in the area measured by specialized cameras. These points often represent the 3D shape of physical objects. Each point position has its own set of Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, Z). Point clouds are most commonly used to capture the existing conditions of a structure. Point cloud data is also commonly used to analyze the structure from which the images were taken and to import it into the workflows of 3D design and BIM software.
How Does E57 Differ from MatterPak?
E57 is a single file containing a colored point cloud, unlike the MatterPak package, which has various components such as a colored point cloud, reflected ceiling plan, high-resolution floor plan, and 2D mesh file. MatterPak is designed to provide reduced point cloud information on the camera to create a lightweight solution accessible from anywhere, including a phone or tablet.
E57, on the other hand, is a higher-density point cloud that can handle much larger datasets, providing more than 10 times the detail from the camera and derived from the MatterPak file. You can compare the examples below for a visual example:
MatterPak Point Cloud Density
E57 Point Cloud Density
Examples
Check out the links below to see what E57 files look like. Downloads may take some time as the samples range in size from 1.15 GB to 4.6 GB. Make sure you have enough hard drive space to download the files.
- Pro3 Model
- E57 sample file (1.15 GB)
- Pro2 Model
- E57 sample file (1.96 GB)
- MatterPak sample file (for comparison)
- Leica BLK360 G1 Model
- E57 sample file (1.22 GB)
