[GRASS-dev] Announcing libLAS

[Dylan Beaudette]

On Saturday 03 May 2008 03:14:50 pm Mateusz Loskot wrote:
> Helena Mitasova wrote:
> > High Mateus,
> >
> > we would love to see at least a direct input of LAS data into GRASS
> > using the libLAS library! Other tools would be welcome too.
>
> Helena,
>
> That's great!
>
> > Many general GRASS modules  are great for lidar data processing and
> > analysis and there is also a set of specialized tools. But if the data
> > come in LAS format we need to use external tools (e.g. LAStools - I see
> > that libLAS is based on it) to convert to ascii and import (using
> > v.in.ascii or r.in.xyz). Having a module that reads LAS data directly
> > would be a great help.
>
> Yes, it confirms what I've read in GRASS docs and Wiki pages,
> that there is no direct support to ASPRS LAS format.
>
> > I was just invited to USGS workshop to show some applications of lidar
> > data done with open source software tools and I am sure that the first
> > question I will get is whether GRASS can read LAS data - it would be
> > great if I could say yes.
>
> I'm willing to contribute a module for LAS read/write. However, I'm not
> an experienced GRASS user nor developer, so I'll likely need to prepare
> myself a little (read docs and code) before I can start. Means, I'm not
> sure I can provide you with ready solution very soon.
>
> > But this will raise a question for GRASS dev whether we want to add
> > another dependency to GRASS in addition to GDAL and PROJ and a number of
> > optional ones?
>
> Right, that seems to be basic question.
>
> If it will help to make a decision:
> The libLAS building follows well-known *nix patterns and there is
> autotools-based builder. Optionally, users are provided with cmake
> configuration as well as project files for Visual C++ 2005.
> The library itself has no external dependencies.
>
> > Thanks for asking and I hope we will see LAS support in GRASS soon (I
> > have plenty of data to test it),
>
> I'd be happy if I could help.

While I do not have any lidar data on hand, there are several researchers at 
UCD who both use GRASS and work with lidar. I am very interested in any 
integration of libLAS into a GRASS module, and I will pass the word around 
here. Great work Mateusz!

Dylan



-- 
Dylan Beaudette
Soil Resource Laboratory
http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/
University of California at Davis
530.754.7341