Daniel F. Huber
Jan 12, 2011
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Spie Newsroom
Abstract
Three-dimensional imaging systems (such as laser scanners) are used in a variety of domains for purposes ranging from automotive-part inspection to surveying complex pipe assemblies on oil platforms. These devices produce large data sets of 3D point measurements that are often referred to as point clouds (see Figure 1). There is currently no general-purpose, open standard for storing point-cloud data, yet there is a critical need in the 3D-imaging industry for open standards that promote data interoperability among hardware and software systems. For the past three years, a group of volunteers within the global standards organization ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) has been working on developing such an open standard.1 The volunteers are members of the E57.04 subcommittee on data interoperability, which is part of the E57 committee on 3D-imaging systems.2 The E57 committee as a whole is tasked to define standard terminology, testing methods, and best practices. The E57.04 subcommittee includes representatives from many of the major 3D-imaging-system manufacturers, software vendors, and service providers, as well as industry consultants and academic researchers. The ‘E57 file format for 3D-imaging-data exchange,’ more commonly known as the E57 format, is designed as a generalpurpose, open standard for storing 3D-imaging data. It can store point-cloud data from laser scanners but also encode data from flash light-detection and ranging (better known as lidar) systems, structured-light 3D scanners, stereovision systems, and other devices that produce 3D measurements. It can also store associated 2D imagery, such as that produced by digital cameras, as well as core metadata associated with the 2D images and 3D points. As a proof of concept of the E57 file format, an open-source reference library has been developed that is capable of reading, writing, and validating files in this format. Figure 1. Example data set that can be encoded in an E57 file. The data contains laser scans obtained from different locations. (Image courtesy of Intelisum Inc.)