Point clouds

A point cloud is a dense collection of 3D data points representing the external surface of an object or environment with sub-centimeter precision.

Point clouds serve as the foundational dataset for modern reality capture, generated through LiDAR scanning or photogrammetry to record millions of individual X, Y, and Z coordinates. These datasets provide a high-fidelity digital snapshot of physical assets, such as the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas or complex industrial piping, enabling engineers to perform clash detection and create precise digital twins. By importing raw formats like E57 or LAS into specialized software like Autodesk ReCap or the open-source Point Cloud Library (PCL), teams can extract exact measurements and convert spatial noise into actionable CAD models. This technology eliminates manual surveying errors and provides a verifiable ground truth for construction, robotics, and historic preservation projects.

https://pointclouds.org