{"slice":{"kind":"format","id":"pcd","label":"PCD","href":"/formats/pcd","apiPath":"/api/slices/format/pcd","lastmod":"2026-07-18"},"format":{"slug":"pcd","label":"PCD","title":"PCD","fileLabel":"PCD point-cloud file","axisLabel":"PCD","directoryBlurb":"Point Cloud Library (PCD) coverage in the reviewed AEC catalog.","relatedSlugs":["ply","e57","xyz"]},"listings":[{"tool":{"id":"cloudcompare","name":"CloudCompare","url":"https://www.cloudcompare.org/","description":"Free, open-source (GPL) desktop application for processing, comparing, registering, and analyzing 3D point clouds and meshes, with mature CLI/headless batch mode and two independent Python scripting layers.","verdict":"worth-it","composite":4.4,"verdicts":{"scan-processing":"Free, GPL-licensed, and the most agent-friendly tool in this batch by a wide margin -- mature CLI/headless batch mode plus two independent Python APIs (CloudComPy, pycc) and a real C++ plugin SDK -- though it processes and compares point clouds rather than authoring BIM, and it does not touch Autodesk's RCP/RCS format at all."},"redFlags":[],"primarySubCategory":"scan-processing","subCategories":["scan-processing"],"sectors":["agnostic"],"firmSizeFit":["solo","small-team","growing"],"agentAccess":{"mcp":false,"cli":true,"api":"none","authModel":"none (local desktop/CLI, no auth)","scripting":"Python (CloudComPy out-of-process wrapper; CloudCompare-PythonRuntime/pycc in-app) + C++ plugin SDK","webhooks":false,"agentDocs":["https://www.cloudcompare.org/doc/wiki/index.php/Command_line_mode","https://github.com/CloudCompare/CloudComPy"]},"integrations":[],"fileFormats":[{"format":"BIN","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"SBF","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"ASC/TXT/XYZ","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"LAS","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"LAZ","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"E57","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PCD","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PLY","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"OBJ","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"VTK","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"STL","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"OFF","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"FBX","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"DXF","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PTX (read-only)","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"FARO FLS/FWS (read-only)","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"}],"scores":{"c1":5,"c2":5,"c3":3,"c4":5,"c5":4},"pricing":{"model":"free/open-source","freeTier":true,"freeViewer":true,"trial":true,"entryUsd":0},"evidenceUrls":{"pricing":"https://www.cloudcompare.org/"},"platforms":["windows","mac","linux"],"lifecycle":"active","lastVerified":"2026-07-18","category":"construction-admin"},"matchedFormats":["PCD"],"directionLabel":"Listed","supportLabel":"Unknown","priceLabel":"Free viewer","freeOrPaidLabel":"Free viewer"},{"tool":{"id":"agisoft-metashape","name":"Agisoft Metashape","url":"https://www.agisoft.com/","description":"Photogrammetric processing software converting digital images into point clouds, meshes, orthomosaics, and DEMs, with a documented headless-capable Python scripting API.","verdict":"worth-it","composite":4,"verdicts":{"scan-processing":"Transparent perpetual pricing from $179 (Standard) to $3,499 (Pro) and a documented, headless-capable Python scripting API with a public community-scripts repo -- genuinely cross-platform (Windows/Mac/Linux) unlike most of this batch, though its AEC-specific integrations are thinner than Pix4D's."},"redFlags":[],"primarySubCategory":"scan-processing","subCategories":["scan-processing"],"sectors":["agnostic"],"firmSizeFit":["solo","small-team","growing"],"agentAccess":{"mcp":false,"cli":true,"api":"none","authModel":"license key (perpetual, node-locked)","scripting":"Python scripting API (bundled console + standalone module, headless-capable)","webhooks":false,"agentDocs":["https://github.com/agisoft-llc/metashape-scripts","https://www.agisoft.com/pdf/metashape_python_api_2_3_0.pdf"]},"integrations":[],"fileFormats":[{"format":"OBJ","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PLY","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"TXT/XYZ","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"LAS","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"LAZ","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"E57","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PTS","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"DXF","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PDF","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"PCD","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"Potree","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"},{"format":"Cesium 3D Tiles","direction":"unknown","support":"unknown"}],"scores":{"c1":4,"c2":5,"c3":3,"c4":5,"c5":3},"pricing":{"model":"perpetual","freeTier":false,"freeViewer":"unknown","trial":false,"entryUsd":179},"evidenceUrls":{"pricing":"https://www.agisoft.com/buy/online-store/","apiDocs":"https://www.agisoft.com/pdf/metashape_python_api_2_2_1.pdf","formats":"https://www.agisoft.com/pdf/metashape-pro_1_5_en.pdf"},"platforms":["windows","mac","linux"],"lifecycle":"active","lastVerified":"2026-07-18","category":"construction-admin"},"matchedFormats":["PCD"],"directionLabel":"Listed","supportLabel":"Unknown","priceLabel":"Paid / perpetual","freeOrPaidLabel":"Paid"},{"tool":{"id":"pypeserver","name":"PypeServer","url":"https://pypeserver.com/","description":"Fabrication-workflow software connecting CAD/BIM pipe-spool, duct, and structural-steel designs to CNC cutting/welding machines and shop-floor production tracking for MEP and specialty fabrication contractors.","verdict":"situational","composite":2.2,"verdicts":{"field-management":"Ferguson Ventures-backed ($1.5M Series A) fabrication-to-shop-floor platform with deep named CAD/BIM/ERP integrations (Revit, AutoCAD, Tekla, MSUITE, STRATUS) and an active 2025 conference/case-study presence (Trimble Dimensions), but no public API/CLI/MCP was found and pricing is only partially published."},"redFlags":["RF2"],"primarySubCategory":"field-management","subCategories":["field-management"],"sectors":["commercial"],"firmSizeFit":["small-team","growing"],"agentAccess":{"mcp":false,"cli":false,"api":"unknown -- no public developer-docs API found; integration is via desktop \"Connect\" plug-ins and a format-conversion tool (\"Cloudinator\")","authModel":"unknown","scripting":"unknown","webhooks":"unknown","agentDocs":[]},"integrations":[{"name":"Revit"},{"name":"AutoCAD"},{"name":"Inventor"},{"name":"SDS2"},{"name":"Tekla Structures"},{"name":"Advance Steel"},{"name":"BuildCentrix"},{"name":"ShipConstructor"},{"name":"MSUITE"},{"name":"STRATUS"},{"name":"SysQue"},{"name":"Victaulic"},{"name":"COMPRESS"},{"name":"SolidWorks"}],"fileFormats":[{"format":"PCF","direction":"both","support":"full","viaPlugin":true,"note":"Via the Cloudinator format-conversion tool."},{"format":"PCD","direction":"both","support":"partial","viaPlugin":true},{"format":"CSV","direction":"both","support":"partial"},{"format":"XLSX","direction":"both","support":"partial"}],"scores":{"c1":2,"c2":1,"c3":1,"c4":2,"c5":5},"pricing":{"model":"Starter Pack ($4,995 for 10 tracking licenses + 1 cut station) with per-seat licensing beyond that; enterprise pricing is quote-based","freeTier":false,"freeViewer":true,"trial":"unknown","entryUsd":4995},"evidenceUrls":{"pricing":"https://pypeserver.com/","integrations":"https://pypeserver.com/news/","signup":"https://pypeserver.com/"},"platforms":["windows"],"lifecycle":"active","lastVerified":"2026-07-04","category":"construction-admin"},"matchedFormats":["PCD"],"directionLabel":"Opens + exports","supportLabel":"Partial","priceLabel":"Free viewer","freeOrPaidLabel":"Free viewer"}]}