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 colour: Supports intensity values and RGB colour 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 | Partial | Can convert E57 to LAS |
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:
las2las -i input.e57 -o output.laz
Note: Some E57 metadata (scanner positions, panoramic images) may not be preserved in LAS/LAZ conversion, as the LAS format doesn’t have fields for this data.
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.
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:
-
Convert to LAZ + browser-based viewer: Convert your E57 to LAZ using CloudCompare or PDAL, then upload the LAZ file to a platform like Swyvl for browser-based delivery in a Potree point cloud viewer.
-
Export a 360° virtual tour: Most terrestrial scanner workflows produce 360° panoramic images from each scan position. Export these as equirectangular JPEGs and deliver them as a 360° tour — this gives non-technical clients an immersive experience of the space without needing to navigate a point cloud.
-
Deliver both: The full E57 for technical users, and a browser-based viewer for non-technical stakeholders.
FAQ
Can I open E57 on a Mac? Yes — CloudCompare runs on Mac, and Autodesk ReCap has a Mac version. The major scanner software (Cyclone, SCENE) is Windows-only.
Is E57 the same as the scan project files from my scanner?
No. Scanners typically save proprietary project files (.fls for Faro, .e57 or .fcp for Leica, etc.). 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 directly — E57 requires conversion to LAZ (or Potree format) before it can be rendered in a browser-based viewer. The recommended path is to convert to LAZ first using CloudCompare or PDAL, then upload the LAZ file to a platform like Swyvl for browser-based delivery.