LiDAR Tools for LAS files

  • BCAL (Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory Lidar Tools)
  • LASTools (Martin Isenburg)
  • FUSION (Robert McGaughey, USDA-FS)
  • Quick Terrain Reader (Applied Imagery)
  • PDAL - Point Data Abstraction Library for translating and manipulating point cloud data
  • GRASS GIS - Open source GIS software suite
  • OPALS (Orientation and Processing of Airborne Laser Scanning Data)
  • LiDAR360 (GreenValley International)
  • Cloud Compare (Open Source; 3D point cloud and mesh processing software)
  • LP360 for ArcGIS and Windows (GeoCue Group)

Open Source GIS for GeoTIFF Files

Quantum GIS (QGIS)

Data compression

gzip (.gz extension)

IZArc (freeware archive utility for Windows and Mac OS)

Conversion tool for horizontal/vertical datums

VDatum is a free software tool being developed jointly by NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), and Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS).

An example can be found here.

Imaging Spectroscopy

MultiSpec is a data analysis software system implemented for Macintosh and Windows computers. MultiSpec is intended for the analysis of multispectral image data, such as that from the Landsat series of Earth observational satellites or hyperspectral data such as from AVIRIS, MODIS, Hyperion, and other systems which contain many bands.

HyperCube is a Macintosh and Windows application program specifically directed to the analysis and display of multi and hyperspectral imagery. This includes the static and dynamic display of the image cube and the generation of spectral classifications using both imagery and spectral libraries. In addition, HyperCube contains functions to filter, warp, mosaic, reformat, calibrate, combine, photogrammetrically project, stereo compile and to perform arithmetic on imagery and data.

GLIMPS (ReSe) is free software for viewing and analyzing G-LiHT's ENVI image products.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

References in this manuscript to any specific commercial products, processes or services or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name are for the information and convenience of the reader and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the US government or National Aeronautics and Space Administration.