Converting LAS to E57

Until Cintoo Connect supports LAS/LAZ files natively (due for mid-2023), you will need to turn your LAS files into E57 files for your drone or mobile point clouds.

Options

We suggest 3 options to turn your LAS files into E57 files:

• Manual workflow with Autodesk ReCap
• Manual workflow with CloudCompare
• Command Line workflow with CloudCompare
  • 1 file at a time only
  • For more files/batch : please contact support@cintoo.com

Using Autodesk ReCap

• Open Autodesk ReCap and select ‘Import point cloud’:

• Select the folder where your LAS file is located:

• Click on ‘Select file to import’ and select ‘Lidar LAS files (*.las)’:

• import your LAS file.
• Make sure that the decimation option is disabled in the ‘Advanced’ options:

• Click on ‘Import Files’ and ‘Launch Project’
• Then, export your file and select the E57 export option:
  

Using CloudCompare

• Get the free open-source CloudCompare software from: CloudCompare
• Install CloudCompare on your computer
• Open CloudCompare and import your LAS file.

• Then, export your file and select the E57 export option.

Using Command Line with CloudCompare

• Get the free, open-source CloudCompare software from: CloudCompare
• Install CloudCompare, even in portable version.
• You must be familiar with the use of command lines and Command Prompt DOS language.
• Known Limitation: Directory path and point cloud files names must not contain any spaces.
• Open a command prompt and use cd command to switch to the corresponding folder where the LAS or LAZ files are located.
• Run the following command by changing the path to cloudcompare.exe.
  • The path depends on your installation.
  • You must keep the quotes before and after as in the example below and choose the input LAS or LAZ file and output filename.
• Command line is:
  • “D:\your_path_to_CloudCompare_installation_folder\CloudCompare.exe” -SILENT -AUTO_SAVE OFF -O -GLOBAL_SHIFT AUTO “input_filename.las” -C_EXPORT_FMT E57 -EXT e57 -SAVE_CLOUDS FILE “output_filename.e57”
• CloudCompare will convert the file in E57 without opening the user interface of the software.

NOTE: There is a possibility to use this CloudCompare command line option in batch mode to convert multiple files instead of one only. Please contact support@cintoo.com for instructions.