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Point Cloud Loader

The EPPointCloudLoader iOS framework is convenience code that helps you load a point cloud (either PLY or E57 file) into an SCNNode so that you can display it using SceneKit within your application.

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PointCloudLoader

The PointCloudLoader class contains methods that can be used to load a PLY or E57 file into an SCNNode.

Load PLY file

static createNodeFromPlyFile(
  at path:URL)
-> SCNNode

This static method returns an SCNNode from the PLY file path that is provided. This method loads all of the points from the supplied file, so be mindful of the memory limits of the environment in which this SCNNode is getting rendered.

Parameters:

  • at path:URL - The URL path of the point cloud PLY file.

Return value:

  • An SCNNode which depicts the point cloud in the supplied PLY file.

Load PLY file preview

static createPreviewNodeFromPlyFile(
  at path:URL)
-> SCNNode

This static method returns an SCNNode from the PLY file path that is provided. This method loads a maximum of 10 million random points from the provided file, thereby showing a decimated point cloud. This method is preferred if you are working with large files and need to be mindful of memory usage limitations.

Parameters:

  • at path:URL - The URL path of the point cloud PLY file.

Return value:

  • An SCNNode which depicts the point cloud in the supplied PLY file, with a maximum of 10 million random points.

Load E57 file

static createNodeFromE57File(
  at path:URL)
-> SCNNode

This static method returns an SCNNode from the E57 file path that is provided. This method loads all of the points from the supplied file, so be mindful of the memory limits of the environment in which this SCNNode is getting rendered.

Parameters:

  • at path:URL - The URL path of the point cloud E57 file.

Return value:

  • An SCNNode which depicts the point cloud in the supplied E57 file.

Load E57 file preview

static createPreviewNodeFromE57File(
  at path:URL)
-> SCNNode

This static method returns an SCNNode from the E57 file path that is provided. This method loads a maximum of 10 million random points from the provided file, thereby showing a decimated point cloud. This method is preferred if you are working with large files and need to be mindful of memory usage limitations.

Parameters:

  • at path:URL - The URL path of the point cloud E57 file.

Return value:

  • An SCNNode which depicts the point cloud in the supplied E57 file, with a maximum of 10 million random points.