libLAS 1.2.1 Released

libLAS - ASPRS LiDAR data translation toolset Howard just posted announcement about patch of libLAS 1.2.1 release.

Detailed list of fixes includes:

  • #120 – support ‘comma’ as a separator in las2txt
  • #121 – las2txt and txt2las don’t work with the Point Source ID
  • #122 – las2las does not eliminate requested classifications
  • #124 – some files have pad bytes when they shouldn’t
  • #127 – Scan flags is order sensitive
  • #129 – Version.rc doesn’t make the release
  • #132 – Require libgeotiff when GDAL is requested
  • #133 – FreeBSD endian.hpp
  • #134 – GDAL transform translates the points incorrectly when there is a scale or translation on the points
  • #136 – Problem overwritting Reader’s dataoffset due to VLR
  • #139 – txt2las is not setting the point source id correctly for values > 255
  • #140 – liblas 1.2 linking problems due to –with-hide-internals gdal option
  • #141 – lasinfo in not reporting info about point source id
  • #143 – libLAS 1.2 requires GDAL 1.7 (unreleased)
  • #144 – Apps should take in filenames without -i argument
  • #145 – Memory leak from LASWriter / lasspatialreference assignment operator=
  • #148 – No prototype in core.py for LASPoint_Destroy

On behalf of the libLAS team, thanks to all who provided bug reports and patches!

Before delivering next major release of libLAS, there is one big issue that must be fixed. It is problem with large files under Windows 32-bit operating system – ticket #147. Volunteers are welcome to take care of it :-)

I would also like to see completed build configuration based on CMaketicket #52. It is already usable on Unix (GCC) and Windows (Visual C++), so testers are welcome to give it a try and give us feedback.

Translating TerraSolid .bin to ASPRS LAS

New LiDAR data translator has been added to the collection of libLAS utilities (docs). Two days ago, Howard submitted first version of ts2las program which can be used to convert .bin files produced with TerraScan software from TerraSolid to .las file in ASPRS LAS 1.2 format:

ts2las -i input.bin -o output.las

The nice thing is that users will be are able to translate files in TerraSolid .bin format without loading MicroStation software.

The ts2las is expected to be included in libLAS 1.3 release. In the meantime, testers are strongly welcome and all feedback is greatly appreciated.

LAS Data Triangulation Tool

Two days ago Martin Isenburg announced new tool added to LASTools package (Martin’s tools where used as an inspiration and foundation to build libLAS package). It’s las2tin program:

A little tool available that triangulates LIDAR in LAS format and stores the result either as a (self-contained) OBJ file or as a list of indexed triangles in ASCII format

Using LibLAS with GRASS

Hamish has announced a short tutorial about how to libLAS and GRASS together to process LiDAR data encoded in ASPRS LAS format:

It is actually quite a simple task, but sometimes the incantations and programs to use are not so obvious if you haven’t used the software extensively.

Indeed, I’m sure many of us will find Hamish’s writing helpful. I still have a hope to find time to instrument GRASS with libLAS support implemented as a module. Another option is to find someone who would be interested in doing it – I’m good in delegating, aren’t I? If there would be anyone, please don’t hesitate to drop a message on liblas-devel.

libLAS 1.0.0 Beta 2

The libLAS project is getting closer to final release of 1.0.0 version. Today, Howard announced that 1.0.0 Beta 2 has been released. Source package is available at las-1.0.0b2.tar.bz2 (MD5).

libLAS is a BSD library for reading and writing LIDAR data encoded in ASPRS LAS File Format

The libLAS package include a bunch of command line utilities for processing LAS files.

The Beta 2 version, includes API for C, C++ and Python programming language. Recently, Martin Rodriguez from STEREOCARTO has contributed libLAS bindings for .NET and Mono platforms. It’s available in SVN trunk with bunch of tutorials provided. Kudos to Martin for his great work!

To everybody who works with ASPRS LAS data, we would appreciate your help in testing usability and stability of libLAS software. Don’t hesitate to post your comments to the liblas-devel mailing list.