libLAS LAS 1.0/1.1 LiDAR data format translation libLAS - LAS 1.0/1.1 ASPRS LiDAR data translation toolset ============================================================================== libLAS is a BSD library for reading and writing ASPRS LAS version 1.0 and 1.1 data. LAS-formatted data is heavily used in `LiDAR`_ processing operations, and the LAS format is a sequential binary format used to store data from sensors and as intermediate processing storage by some applications. libLAS is available under the terms of the `BSD License`_. It builds on work by `Martin Isenburg and Jonathan Shewchuk`_ of the University of North Carolina in their `LAStools`_ project. The base C++ library that reads and writes LAS 1.0/1.1 data was replaced with new development, and Martin's tools were ported to use this new code. libLAS' initial development was supported by the `IGSB`_ of the Iowa DNR for use in its state-wide `LIDAR`_ project. Download ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The latest version of libLAS can be downloaded from http://liblas.org/wiki/Releases FAQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The FAQ is available from http://liblas.org/wiki/FAQ State of the Library ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ libLAS provides excellent coverage of the ASPRS LAS 1.0 and 1.1 specifications, but it only provides weak support for the concept of variable length records. Notably, libLAS concentrates on reading and writing point data for processing pipelines and it does not concentrate on vendor-specific items for which variable length records would likely be used. It is hoped that libLAS' coverage of these items will be improved in the future. Contact the `Authors`_ if you have money burning a hole in your pocket to implement these items :) Another deficiency with libLAS as of version 0.9.6 is lack of support for coordinate reference systems descriptions and storage. These are also part of the variable length header operations, but they are required as specified in the 1.0 and 1.1 spec. It is hoped that libLAS will support these operations through the optional linkage of libgeotiff by the time 1.0 is released. LAS Format Specifications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The LAS Format Standard is maintained by `ASPRS Standards Committee`_. LAS format standard documents are available in PDF format: * `LAS 2.0 Format Standard`_ (2007-08-17) - *Proposed* * `LAS 1.2 Format Standard`_ (2008-05-02) - *Proposed* * `LAS 1.1 Format Standard`_ (2005-05-07) * `LAS 1.0 Format Standard`_ (2003-05-09) Documentation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Library Documents .............................................................................. * `LAS Format Elements`_ - comparison of elements of LAS Format 1.0 and 1.1 * `Software`_ - list of geospatial software with reading and writing capabilities of LAS Format * `Resources`_ - list of LiDAR/LAS resources * `Tutorials`_ - Tutorials on C++ and Python APIs Utilities .............................................................................. * `las2las`_ * `lasinfo`_ * `las2txt`_ * `txt2las`_ * `lasmerge`_ Authors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The libLAS development team are: * `Howard Butler`_ * `Mateusz Loskot`_ * `Phil Vachon`_ Special thanks to `Martin Isenburg and Jonathan Shewchuk`_ for their `LAStools`_ pioneering implementation of the ASPRS LAS standard that made development of the libLAS library possible. Mailing Lists ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * liblas-devel - http://mail.hobu.net/mailman/listinfo/liblas-devel * liblas-commits - http://mail.hobu.net/mailman/listinfo/liblas-commits Subversion Tree ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The SVN repository URL is available at http://liblas.org/svn :: svn checkout http://liblas.org/svn/trunk/ License ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ libLAS is available under the terms of the `BSD License`_. See `License`_ for a copy. About Trac ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * `Trac <http://trac.edgewall.org/>`_ Open Source Project * `TracGuide <http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracGuide>` - Built-in Documentation * `TracFaq <http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracFaq>`_ - Frequently Asked Questions * `TracSupport <http://liblas.org/wiki/TracSupport>` - Trac Support * `reStructuredText Support in Trac <http://bitten.edgewall.org/wiki/WikiRestructuredText>`_ .. _`LIDAR`: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIDAR .. _`IGSB`: http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/ .. _`Martin Isenburg`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/ .. _`LAStools`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/ .. _`Martin Isenburg and Jonathan Shewchuk`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/ .. _`LAS Format`: http://www.lasformat.org/ .. _`LAS 2.0 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/incitsl1_las_format_v20.pdf .. _`LAS 1.2 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/LAS1_2_Final.pdf .. _`LAS 1.1 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/asprs_las_format_v11.pdf .. _`LAS 1.0 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/asprs_las_format_v10.pdf .. _`ASPRS Standards Committee`: http://www.asprs.org/society/divisions/ppd/standards/standards_comm.htm .. _`Howard Butler`: http://hobu.biz .. _`Mateusz Loskot`: http://mateusz.loskot.net .. _`Phil Vachon`: http://www.geoscan.info .. _`BSD license`: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php .. _`LAS Format Elements`: http://liblas.org/wiki/LASElements .. _`Tutorials`: http://liblas.org/wiki/Tutorial .. _`Software`: http://liblas.org/wiki/Software .. _`Resources`: http://liblas.org/wiki/Resources .. _`License`: http://liblas.org/wiki/License .. _`las2las`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/las2las.txt .. _`las2txt`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/las2txt.txt .. _`lasinfo`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/lasinfo.txt .. _`lasmerge`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/lasmerge.txt .. _`txt2las`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/txt2las.txt Howard Butler 0f8389ac1b1e74aa5796225dfacdae555b65e9f4 0.9.6