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Dear Community Members,
Point clouds are becoming an increasingly common part of renovation and Scan-to-BIM workflows, but large e57 files can be difficult to navigate and often require preprocessing before they are practical to use in Archicad. This month’s tip highlights an innovative solution shared by @torben_wadlinger, who developed a free add-on that makes working with large point clouds more flexible and efficient from within Archicad.
Challenge
Large point clouds can contain millions of points, making them resource-intensive to work with. To improve performance, users often rely on external software such as CloudCompare to reduce the point cloud before importing it into Archicad. While this approach works, it adds extra steps to the workflow and may require exporting multiple versions of the same scan at different levels of detail, for example, a lightweight version for everyday modeling and a denser one for precise detail work.
Solution
Instead of creating multiple versions of the point cloud externally, this tool converts the original e57 file into an optimized gspc format and lets users adjust the displayed density directly inside Archicad, reducing the need for external preprocessing and keeping the original scan untouched.
Installing the add-on
Download the zip file attached in the original forum and choose the version matching your Archicad and operating system. The add-on is reliably supported on Archicad 27, 28, and 29 on both macOS and Windows. After installation and restarting Archicad, a new command “Punktwolken-Palette…” appears under the Design menu.
💡 Archicad 26 users can refer to the original thread for guidance, note that there are limitations for this version.
Importing an e57 file and setting the density
Open the Point Cloud Palette from the Design menu. Select your e57 file and specify the import density as a percentage. The tool converts the e57 into gspc format using the same e57 library that Graphisoft uses internally, and places the point cloud in the project. Starting with a low density keeps the project fast and easy to navigate.
💡 The point cloud is placed using the coordinates stored in the e57 file, no automatic shift to project zero. BIMcloud support is planned for a future version.
Importing a point cloud via the Punktwolken palette
Adjusting density during work
If the workflow requires more or less detail, simply change the density value in the palette and confirm. The solution regenerates the gspc file with the new values and reloads it automatically in the Library Manager, no extra copies are created and no files accumulate in the project folder.
Managing visibility per story
The tool reads each individual scan station from the e57, numbers them, and groups them by story based on their spatial position. If stories change in the project, the grouping updates automatically. From the palette, you can toggle individual stations or entire stories on and off using the Visible checkbo, keeping your view clean and the project responsive.
Result
The add-on streamlines the Scan-to-BIM workflow by:
- reducing the need for external preprocessing
- allowing point cloud density to be adjusted after import
- automatically organizing scan locations by story
- enabling users to isolate individual scan positions or entire floors for easier navigation
Give it a try and let us know how it works for you! The original discussion thread is in German, but your browser can translate it easily. You can leave kudos to @torben_wadlingerfor building and sharing this with the community, and join the discussion in the original thread.
Do you have a clever solution or a favorite tip for everyday challenges? Share it with the community and it might be published in the Insights blog!
