E57 is a compact and vendor-neutral format, specified by within the ASTM E2807 standard. It is used for storing point clouds produced by 3D images systems such as room scanners. This is a preferred format and includes both intensity and color information. Additional specifics about the format can be found here: http://www.libe57.org/
Several software products offer e57 export including:
Faro Scene
Leica Cyclone
Topcon ScanMaster
Timble RealWorks
Z+F LaserControl
When importing an E57 file you will be presented with the following dialog control:
He import process is a two step process:
First the file is converted into an SA native format and saved in the Converted File directory.
The file is then loaded into the SA application.
Choose from the following selections:
Save Converted File. Unchecking this option will automatically delete the conversion file from your system.
User Sqareroot of Intensity. This offers an option to normalized the value of intensity.
Automatically close converter. Checking this option will close the dialog automatically when import is complete.
Partition Cloud Into Scan Blocks. This option allows an E57 file exported containing a selection of separate point clouds to be imported as separate clouds. Naming can be [filename.e57]_0, [filename.e57]_1 ,..., [filename.e57]_n for "n" scans.
Set Color Highest Priority / Set intensity Highest Priority.SA currently can only display either intensity or color. E57 format files can contain both. This means that selection is necessary at the time of import and the radio buttons offer selection between these two priorities.
SA currently does not support E57 export, only *.ptx export.