idea Add Merge LAS Geoprocessing Tool to 3D Analyst Toolset in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Add Merge LAS Geoprocessing Tool to 3D Analyst Toolset

Melissa_B — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:50:06 GMT

Add a "Merge LAS" tool to the 3D Analyst Point Cloud toolset so that users can merge two or more LAS files into a single LAS file. Currently, this functionality is restricted to using the Tile LAS tool on a LASD with a tile width and tile height covering the extent of the LASD. Since the short description of the Tile LAS tool is "Creates a set of nonoverlapping LAS files whose horizontal extents are divided by a regular grid." that is not an intuitive additional function for the tool. It would be more useful to create an independent tool for merge operations that automatically finds the minimum bounding box for a LASD or series of LAS files and generates a single LAS. This would also be more useful from a scripting perspective or when using model builder to help automate data processing.

This is an operation often needed when doing LiDAR processing from drone flights since the entirety of a project area can not always be scanned in a single flight due to battery or time limitations.

Re: Add Merge LAS Geoprocessing Tool to 3D Analyst Toolset

BillFox — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 23:40:34 GMT

does making a mosaic dataset from your las dataset get you there?

Re: Add Merge LAS Geoprocessing Tool to 3D Analyst Toolset

Melissa_B — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 14:46:33 GMT

A mosaic dataset is not a suitable substitute for merging LAS files. Often, GIS is used to support other departments using non-ESRI software which have limited file type and LAS processing capabilities. When we have to merge LAS files, whether as a result of multiple drone flights or due to public LiDAR which is already tiled, it's because it's going to be used by a software with such limited capabilities.

Re: Add Merge LAS Geoprocessing Tool to 3D Analyst Toolset

BillFox — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:46:02 GMT

ok, similar to a mr. sid mosaic tool

how about using the "Mosaic datasets" along with this "Export or convert datasets" workflow?

Re: Add Merge LAS Geoprocessing Tool to 3D Analyst Toolset

Melissa_B — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:02:21 GMT

Mosaic datasets and the associated export options deal with rasters. Not every LiDAR application requires creating DEMs or surfaces and some of our applications require users to be able to see a highly detailed 3D point cloud for 3D measurements and infrastructure design. Unfortunately, not all software that uses those point clouds as references are designed for the manipulation of those point clouds like most GIS software is.