How to use NavVis IndoorViewer with static laser scanners

3D laser scanning captures a lot of valuable real-world data, and that data has incredible potential to take not just objects but entire environments digital. The only problem is that the data captured by laser scanners is most often only accessible to professionals who know how to use point clouds and are trained in using the software that turns these point clouds into floorplans and BIM models.

NavVis IndoorViewer is a software that has been designed to make the 3D data captured by laser scanners accessible to a wider audience. With NavVis IndoorViewer, point clouds are turned into realistic, immersive experiences accessible in an intuitive web-based application. 

The software was originally developed to visualize the data captured by the NavVis M6 Indoor Mobile Mapping System but after strong demand from users now fully supports point cloud files from static laser scanners. Full support means that a point cloud dataset can be uploaded to NavVis IndoorViewer and the software automatically converts it into a realistic, interactive 3D walkthrough. Keep reading to find out how to use NavVis IndoorViewer with static laser scanners. 

NavVis IndoorViewer fully supports e57 point cloud files

NavVis IndoorViewer software is available as individual URL instances, and a single NavVis IndoorViewer instance supports the uploading of multiple scan datasets and scans from different devices. These datasets are combined within that single instance and converted into a virtual representation of anything from a building to an entire campus. Point clouds can be uploaded as .ptx, .ply, .pts, .xyz, and .e57 point cloud formats.

Since e57 point clouds are one of the most widely used formats, a feature was developed for NavVis IndoorViewer to extract or reconstruct panoramas from e57 point clouds captured by a static laser scanner. When you import a point cloud in e57 format, this feature renders fully immersive 360° walkthroughs from the point cloud data and, if available, images taken by the scanner. For this feature to work, the point cloud must contain structured and ideally organized color (RGB) information. If the e57 point cloud doesn’t contain color (RGB) information and it is only based on intensity values, it will still render black and white 360° walkthroughs. 

How to import e57 files to NavVis IndoorViewer

1. Go to NavVis IndoorViewer Settings -> Dataset Management and find the heading “Import Point Clouds”.

2. Click on “Upload point cloud” to open your file browser.

3. Select the point cloud file(s) to import and click “Open”. Remember, the importer supports the following point cloud formats: .ptx, .ply, .pts, .xyz, and .e57 .

4. Choose the Dataset Location and wait for the importer to upload and process the file(s).