LAS 1.0/1.1 LiDAR data format translation
Project description
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
Binaries
Windows binaries of libLAS are provided in two forms. The easiest form is to obtain OSGeo4W and select the libLAS package to install. Alternatively, you can download a Windows package with full spatial reference support from the release page. GDAL support is not provided with either package, however. We hope to resolve this by the 1.0.0 final release.
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, and it provides support for copying variable length records from one file to another. As of 1.0.0-beta-3, support for creating your own variable length records is limited to the C and C++ APIs. libLAS concentrates on reading and writing point data for processing pipelines from C++, C, and Python. Contact the Authors if you have money burning a hole in your pocket to implement more sophisticated support for LAS format items.
libLAS also provides support for reading and writing spatial reference system descriptions from LAS 1.0 and 1.1 files as of version 1.0.0-beta-1. libgeotiff 1.2.5 (released in 7/28/2008) must be linked with libLAS to provide reading support for spatial reference systems. GDAL is required to use the las2ogr command-line utility for creating shapefiles, etc out of a .LAS file.
Features of libLAS
Open Source
libLAS is open source software. You can embed it in your own applications (and even resell it) as long as you follow the crediting restriction of the BSD license.
Multiple APIs
libLAS supports has C, C++, and Python APIs. This allows you to easily embed libLAS in your own programs, or use the Python API for some one-off scripting.
Spatial Reference System Support
Linked against the latest version of libgeotiff, you can set and get the spatial reference systems of LAS files using simple proj.4 coordinate system definitions.
Simple Variable Length Record Abstraction
libLAS provides a sensible abstraction for working with variable length records (VLR) in LAS files, and it transparently manages the VLRs related to spatial referencing systems for you.
Command-line Utilities
libLAS provides ports of the LAStools utilities by Martin Isenburg for doing things like translating from one version of the LAS format to another, inspecting header information, and translating LAS data to and from text.
Cross-platform operation
libLAS is known to work on MSVC 7.1+ (Windows) and GCC4.1+ (OS X and Linux) platforms on both big- and little-endian architectures.
Documentation
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)
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
Development
Subversion Tree
The SVN repository URL is available at http://liblas.org/svn
svn checkout http://liblas.org/svn/trunk/
Development Documentation
Information about Trac
Trac Open Source Project
TracGuide - Built-in Documentation
TracFaq - Frequently Asked Questions
TracSupport - Trac Support
Community
IRC
Find the libLAS developers on IRC on #liblas at Freenode.
Mailing Lists
liblas-devel - http://mail.hobu.net/mailman/listinfo/liblas-devel
liblas-commits - http://mail.hobu.net/mailman/listinfo/liblas-commits
License
libLAS is available under the terms of the BSD License. See License for a copy.
Release history Release notifications | RSS feed
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