(ASTM: West Conshohocken, PA) -- Three-dimensional laser scanning is an emerging technology that holds great promise for capturing dimensionally accurate information about an object or scene by collecting millions of dense measurements quickly. ASTM International Committee E57 on 3-D imaging systems is developing new standards for this technology, including ASTM E2761—“Specification for 3D Imaging Data Exchange.”
ASTM E2761, which is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E57.04 on data interoperability, will have important applications in the 3-D imaging systems industry, according to E57 committee members.
“Currently, each hardware vendor uses a proprietary format for the files they produce,” says Fred Persi, president, Persi Consulting and an E57 member. “A standardized data exchange format would provide users with significantly greater flexibility in working with 3-D point clouds than is currently possible. Doing so will lower costs and increase applications for 3-D imaging, with commensurate benefits to industry and society.”
Gene V. Roe, principal, MPN Components Inc., and chair of E57.04, says that ASTM E2761 will help the design world in its current transition from 2-D to 3-D technology.
“The new ASTM data exchange standard will allow hardware vendors to export their data in a neutral, binary format that can be imported by the design software,” says Roe. “This has the potential to move the entire industry along the technology-adoption curve by allowing the mass market access to laser-scanned data.”
Persi notes that industry adoption is important in spreading the use of ASTM E2761. “We believe it will ultimately be the end-users of the data who will have to encourage the vendors to support the standard,” Persi says.
Hardware manufacturers, software development companies, consumers of 3-D imaging services, as well as anyone with general interest are welcome to join E57. “We have a good mix of small and commercial vendors, researchers and consultants,” says Roe. “We continue to seek individuals who have the time to be active contributors to the efforts.”
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