LIDAR analysis

Question

Hello
I would like to know how to use ArcGIS tools (3D) especially for filtering and interpolation of LiDAR (LAS 1.2).  I would be grateful if anyone would help me
Sisira

GordonSumerling · Answer

Sisira,

Check out the following white paper:
http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/lidar-analysis-forestry-10.pdf
It will step you through taking lidar data from LAS 1.2 files through to a geodatabase terrain to perfornining analysis with 3D Analyst.

Cheers
Gordon

MIchalBularz · Answer

unless your .las (lidar file) came pre-classified by the source, or has intensity values then the method is a lot more difficult. 
Depending on what you are trying to do you can logically extract components such as buildings with the slope tool (building walls have steep slopes) or differentiating trees from buildings with the curvature tool (trees turn into less smoother surfaces) etc. These kinds of things are partially what the third party extensions use.

SisiraEdiriweera · Answer

For interpolation you will need to convert your LAS data to a terrain feature class. Unfortunately, I am not aware of filtering or classification algorithms available in ArcGIS without 3rd party extensions.

Here are some lidar processing software options that you may want to investigate.

FREE

ALDPAT
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/aldpat/index.html

FUSION 
http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/fusion/

Multiscale Curvature Classification (MCC) 
http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/mcclidar/

COMMERCIAL

LP360 for ArcMap 
http://www.qcoherent.com/

Toolbox for Lidar Data Filtering and Forest Studies (TIFFS) 
http://globalidar.com/default.aspx

VG4D Production Manager
http://www.virtualgeomatics.com/solutions2.html

VLS lidar Analyst 
http://www.featureanalyst.com/lidar_analyst.htm

Hi Jeffrey
Thanks for your reply. let me look over the software. Thanks again