Decoding Your Floor Plan Report: Output Formats & Data Explained

Your job doesn’t end when the camera clicks. For a real estate photographer using advanced technology, the delivery often involves more than just JPEGs and a PDF. To truly partner with agents, builders, and architects, you need to understand the advanced data formats your system produces.

The Giraffe PRO Camera captures rich 3D data. Knowing what to do with that data; and being able to talk intelligently about it, is a massive advantage. Here’s a breakdown of the key output formats and what they mean for your business.

Why Data Formats Matter

When you simply provide a finished product (a floor plan or a virtual tour), you meet the basic need. But when you can offer the underlying raw data, you open doors to high-value commercial clients like architects, remodelers, and asset managers. These professionals need the precise geometric information for their specialized software.

Understanding the difference between an image file and a data file is how you upgrade your service from basic media provider to technical expert.

The Key Advanced Output Formats

These file types represent the data captured during the scan, not just the final marketing assets:

1. E57 (File for Point Clouds)

• What it is: This is a compact, vendor-neutral file format for storing point cloud data, which is essentially a massive collection of 3D coordinates (x,y,z). It’s standardized for data exchange between different software and hardware systems.
• Who uses it: Land surveyors, civil engineers, architects, and construction managers.
• Your Advantage: Offering an E57 file means you can provide the architect with the precise, survey-grade data they need for BIM (Building Information Modeling) software or renovation planning. This is a non-negotiable requirement for high-end projects.

2. PLY (Polygon File Format)

• What it is: Another format used for storing three-dimensional data, often including properties like color, transparency, and normals (which define the direction of a surface). It’s simpler than E57 and often used for general 3D graphics applications.
• Who uses it: Researchers, 3D modelers, and graphics programmers.
• Your Advantage: PLY is great for clients who need the 3D model data primarily for visualization or simple 3D printing and modeling, offering a flexible and readable file.

3. DXF (Drawing Exchange Format)

• What it is: Developed by Autodesk (creators of AutoCAD), DXF is a vector graphics file format used for transferring design data between various CAD (Computer-Aided Design) programs. It’s essentially the industry standard for 2D and 3D drawings.
• Who uses it: Architects, interior designers, and drafting professionals.
• Your Advantage: By delivering the floor plan as a DXF, you provide the client with a file they can immediately open and edit in their professional design software (like AutoCAD or Revit). They can drop the plan directly into their building design; a huge time-saver for them.

4. Gsplat (Gaussian Splatting)

• What it is: This is a cutting-edge technique used to generate hyper-realistic, real-time 3D reconstructions. It’s significantly faster and more accurate than older 3D rendering methods, allowing for stunningly smooth virtual experiences.
• Who uses it: Developers creating high-fidelity immersive virtual tours and AR/VR applications.
• Your Advantage: This data powers the next generation of visual tours. When you use a modern camera and processing system, you’re tapping into the most advanced visualization tech available, ensuring your tours look smoother and more realistic than the competition.

Elevate Your Pitch

You don’t need to be an engineer, but you do need to speak confidently about your deliverables. The ability to mention “We can provide the full E57 point cloud and a DXF floor plan for your architect” instantly differentiates you.

By leveraging a platform that automates the generation of these advanced output formats from a single scan, you empower your clients to use your data for everything from a quick listing presentation to a multi-million dollar renovation project. That’s the difference between being a photographer and being a true Visual Solutions Partner.

Want to improve your property marketing, photography, virtual tours and floor plans? Build your plan today.