npoint

Npoint is a cross-platform software framework for processing, analyzing, and visualizing large-scale point cloud data. Designed for performance and extensibility, it provides a modular core library complemented by a range of plugins and a visualization toolset.

Originating as an open-source project in 2014 by Npoint Technologies, the platform has grown into a community-driven ecosystem. It offers Python and JavaScript bindings, enabling rapid integration into data pipelines and applications.

Architecture features include a core written in C++, an octree-based spatial index, and GPU-accelerated processing paths. The system emphasizes streaming workflows, enabling data to be ingested and processed in chunks without loading entire datasets into memory.

Npoint supports common point cloud formats such as LAS, LAZ, PLY, and OBJ, and provides operations for filtering, registration, segmentation, classification, meshing, and attribute management (color, intensity, return number). It includes tools for coordinate transforms, alignment, and export to interoperable formats.

Typical applications include geospatial mapping, urban planning, forestry, archaeology, construction, and robotics. It is used in research and industry to extract surfaces, model environments, and support autonomous perception pipelines.

The project is released under an open-source license with options for commercial use and enterprise support. A growing ecosystem of plugins, tutorials, and documentation accompanies ongoing development and community governance.