If you’re working with terrestrial laser scanners — Leica, Faro, Trimble, Riegl — you’ve almost certainly encountered E57 files. It’s the standard exchange format for this class of scanner data, but it’s less well-known than LAS/LAZ and often causes confusion.
Here’s what it is, what it contains, and what to do with it.
What is E57?
E57 is a file format standard for storing point cloud data and associated imagery, primarily from terrestrial LiDAR scanners. It was developed by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) and published as ASTM E2807 in 2011.
Unlike LAS/LAZ, which was designed primarily for airborne LiDAR, E57 was designed with terrestrial scanning workflows in mind. Its key features:
- Scanner position data: Each scan in an E57 file can store the scanner position at the time of capture
- Intensity and color: Supports intensity values and RGB color from co-registered cameras
- Multiple scans in one file: A single E57 can contain hundreds of registered scan positions
- Spherical coordinate support: Stores data in the scanner’s native spherical coordinates (azimuth, elevation, range) as well as Cartesian XYZ
E57 vs LAS/LAZ: what’s the difference?
| Feature | E57 | LAS/LAZ |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Terrestrial scanning | Airborne LiDAR |
| Multiple scan positions | Yes (in one file) | No (one file per strip/scan) |
| Scanner images | Can embed panoramic images | No |
| File size | Variable (can be very large) | Variable |
| Coordinate types | Spherical + Cartesian | Cartesian only |
| Classification standard | Limited | ASPRS classification codes |
| Compression | Basic internal compression | LAZ (LASzip) is excellent |
| Industry adoption | Terrestrial scanner vendors | Airborne/UAV, photogrammetry |
In practice: if your data comes from a Leica BLK360, Faro Focus, or Trimble TX series, you’ll likely have E57. If it comes from a drone, UAV LiDAR, or airborne survey, you’ll have LAS/LAZ.
What software opens E57?
| Software | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CloudCompare | Free | Excellent E57 support; open source |
| Leica Cyclone | ~$3,000+ | Industry standard for Leica scanner workflows |
| Faro SCENE | ~$3,000+ | Standard for Faro scanner workflows |
| Trimble RealWorks | ~$3,000+ | Standard for Trimble scanner workflows |
| Autodesk ReCap | $360/yr | Good general E57 viewer and processor |
| QGIS | Free | Basic E57 support via PDAL |
| LAStools (e572las) | Free to use, not open source | Converts E57 to LAS/LAZ |
For most users who just need to view E57 data (without the full processing workflow), CloudCompare is the best free option. It handles E57 well and can also convert to LAS/LAZ if needed.
Converting E57 to LAS/LAZ
If you need to work with E57 data in tools that prefer LAS/LAZ (like Potree Converter for browser-based delivery), conversion is straightforward:
Using CloudCompare:
- Open the E57 file
- File → Save As → LAS format
- CloudCompare will export all points in Cartesian XYZ format
Using PDAL:
pdal translate input.e57 output.laz
Using LAStools:
e572las -i input.e57 -o output.laz
Use PDAL 2.10 or later: older versions fail with “E57 exception” on files from current exporters. Converting drops the scanner positions and the 360° photos, because LAS and LAZ have nowhere to store them. More options and the settings that matter (such as keeping millimeter precision) are in convert E57 to LAS, LAZ or COPC with PDAL.
E57 file sizes
Terrestrial scanner data tends to be extremely dense — millions of points per scan position, often with embedded HDR panoramic images. E57 files are frequently large:
| Scenario | Approximate E57 size |
|---|---|
| Single scan position (small room) | 100-500 MB |
| Building interior (10-20 positions) | 1-5 GB |
| Large facility (100+ positions) | 10-50 GB |
| Industrial complex | 50-200+ GB |
For large E57 files, consider whether clients actually need the full file or whether a converted LAZ (without embedded images, often 50-80% smaller) meets their requirements.
Delivering E57 data to clients
E57 data delivery has the same fundamental problem as LAS/LAZ delivery: clients rarely have the software to open it. (We cover the scanner-specific workflow in how to share FARO and Leica scan data.)
Leica Cyclone and Faro SCENE each cost several thousand dollars. CloudCompare is free but requires technical knowledge to use. Neither is a reasonable expectation for a non-specialist client.
Options for professional E57 delivery:
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Upload the E57 to a browser-based viewer: Swyvl takes the E57 as it is, converts it on upload, and opens it in a point cloud viewer in any browser. No conversion step on your side.
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Use the 360° photos already in the file: Many terrestrial scanners save a 360° photo at each scan position inside the E57. Swyvl extracts them automatically and opens each one side by side with the point cloud. Sync view turns both views together, and clicking the ground, in the cloud or in the photo, walks to the next photo. Leica Cyclone REGISTER 360, FIELD 360 and Matterport E57s, which store each 360 as six cube faces, are stitched into proper 360 photos too. Non-technical clients get the photos they understand, with the measurable scan right beside them.
Because the photos line up with the scan, the photo becomes a way to work on the scan. Measure distance, area or height from the photo and the numbers come from the points behind it. Pin a note on the valve you can read in the photo and it lands on the valve in the scan, showing in the cloud and the nearby photos. Add a sketch, a capture of the view you draw on, to mark it up. Clients you invite by email reply on the notes for free, with no account. Why that matters.
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Export a separate 360° tour: If your E57 has no embedded photos, export equirectangular JPEGs from your scanner software and deliver them as a 360° tour alongside the scan. Standalone 360s place on a map by GPS and take notes, but they have no scale, so there is nothing to measure against.
Not sure what your E57 holds? The free point cloud tool reads its index in your browser and lists the scans, points and 360° photos, without uploading anything. The step-by-step version of all this is in how to share an E57 file with a client.
FAQ
Can I open E57 on a Mac? Yes: CloudCompare runs on Mac. Most scanner software (Cyclone, SCENE, ReCap Pro) is Windows-only. To view one without installing anything, upload it to a browser-based platform like Swyvl.
Is E57 the same as the scan project files from my scanner?
No. Scanners typically save proprietary project files (.fls for FARO, project databases for Leica Cyclone, and so on). E57 is a neutral exchange format — you typically export to E57 from your scanner’s native software when you need to share data with others or work in third-party tools.
Can I view E57 in a browser? Not natively: a browser can’t read E57 on its own, so it has to be converted for a browser-based viewer. Platforms like Swyvl do that conversion for you on upload, so you can upload the E57 directly.
Can I see the 360° photos stored in an E57? Yes, in Swyvl. When an E57 contains 360° photos, they’re extracted on upload and each one opens side by side with the point cloud, with notes and measurements showing in both.
How do I check whether my E57 has 360° photos? Drop it on Swyvl’s free point cloud tool, which reads the file’s index in your browser and counts the scans, points and 360° photos without uploading it, or open it in the free desktop app E57 Inspector and look for an Images section. If there are none, turn on the image or panorama option in your scanner software’s E57 export.
Can I measure on the 360° photos in an E57? In Swyvl, yes. Point, distance, area and height work in the photo view, with each click placed on the 3D point the photo shows. A standalone 360° photo has no scale, so it has no measuring tools.