PTS (File format)

PTS is a widely used plain-text file format for storing three-dimensional point cloud data. It is commonly applied in terrestrial laser scanning and 3D documentation workflows, particularly in cases where broad compatibility between software platforms is required.

A PTS file stores each point as a line of text containing its spatial coordinates (X, Y, Z), and may also include supplementary attributes such as intensity, colour values (RGB), or normal vectors. The format is simple, human-readable, and easy to parse, making it an effective intermediary format for data exchange.

However, as a text-based format, PTS is relatively inefficient in terms of file size. Each point is stored in an uncompressed line of text, which can result in very large datasets—especially when millions of points are involved. Consequently, PTS files are often converted into binary or compressed formats like LAS, LAZ or E57 to reduce storage footprint and improve performance in processing and visualisation applications.

PTS files are used in:

• Point cloud sharing between different software tools
• Pre-processing and filtering in 3D scanning pipelines
• Construction, restoration and infrastructure modelling
• Initial alignment and registration of scan data

See also: Point Cloud, Point Cloud Formats, PTX