Aura Cloud is the online sharing and visualization layer of the Emesent ecosystem, designed for anyone who needs to view, store and share point cloud scans without installing desktop software.
What is it?
Aura Cloud is a browser-based platform for sharing and visualizing point cloud data captured with an Emesent scanner and processed in Aura. It provides a single online location to view, navigate, and share scan results without installing software or transferring large files.
Aura Cloud is the final step in turning a scan into something a team or client can open in a browser. Data is captured in the field with an Emesent scanner, processed in Aura, then uploaded to Aura Cloud for online viewing and sharing.
The Emesent workflow
Aura Cloud sits at the end of a three-stage capture-to-share workflow. Each stage has a distinct role:
Product | Role | Used for |
|---|---|---|
Emesent scanner | Captures the scan in the field. | Mapping or autonomy missions. |
Aura | Processes the scan into a finished point cloud. | Windows desktop application. |
Aura Cloud | Shares and visualizes the finished point cloud. | Web browser. |
Scans must be processed in Aura 2.2 or later before they can be uploaded to Aura Cloud.
What's included
The platform includes a 3D point cloud viewer, project and folder organization, 360° panoramas for panoramic navigation, public sharing links, and point cloud downloads. Scan processing happens in Aura, not in the cloud.
Why it matters
Aura Cloud removes the friction between capturing a scan and getting it in front of the people who need it. Without an online platform, sharing a scan means installing desktop software on every reviewer's machine and moving large point cloud files around. Aura Cloud replaces that with a browser link.
Key benefits
View any uploaded scan from a browser, with no software to install.
Share scans with clients and stakeholders through a public link, with no account required for the recipient.
Keep work organized across sites, clients, and jobs in projects and folders.
Navigate scans with a 3D viewer or step through them with 360° panoramas.
Access scans from any modern web browser on a desktop or laptop.
How it works
A point cloud reaches Aura Cloud through a three-step pipeline. An Emesent scanner captures raw scan data in the field. Aura processes that data into a finished point cloud. The processed point cloud is then uploaded to Aura Cloud, either sent directly from Aura or uploaded manually through the browser.
Once uploaded, the point cloud is processed for online viewing and made available in the project. Scans pass through several statuses during this process: uploading, processing, ready, and failed. The 3D viewer becomes available once a scan reaches the ready status.
Common use cases
Aura Cloud is used across the project lifecycle by teams in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC).
Reviewing a finished scan
After a site capture, a project lead opens the scan in the browser to confirm coverage and quality, without needing Aura installed.
Sharing a site capture with a client
A surveyor uploads the processed point cloud, generates a public link, and sends it to the client. The client opens the link in any browser and navigates the scan without creating an account.
Referencing a scan during modeling
A BIM designer keeps the Aura Cloud viewer open in a browser tab as a reference while building digital models in separate software.
Walking through a site remotely
A non-technical stakeholder uses 360° panoramas to step through scan locations and understand the site without visiting in person.
Best practices
Do | Don't |
|---|---|
Organize scans into projects and folders that match how the team works (by site, client, or job). | Upload scans into a flat list with no project structure. |
Use Aura to send scans directly when possible; it is the most reliable upload path. | Upload manually as a default path; reserve manual upload for cases where direct upload is not possible. |
Generate public links for external sharing. | Add external recipients to the account just so they can view a scan. |
Delete the sample data once it is no longer needed. | Leave sample data mixed in with real project work. |
Important considerations
Aura Cloud is a sharing and visualization platform. It does not perform scan processing; processing happens in Aura on a local machine.
Measurements, annotations, and project-level access controls beyond public links are not part of the platform.
The full application is best used on a desktop or laptop computer. Aura Cloud can be used on a mobile device, but it is not officially supported. Recipients of public links can view scans on mobile devices.
Data is stored in one of three regions (Australia, the United States, or Europe), assigned at account creation. Data stays in that region.