LIDAR data conversion and visualization

• Main Author: Yang, Jie
• Other Authors: Lu Yilong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/18012
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), being one of the latest optical remote sensing technologies has gained increasing acceptance for topographic mapping due to its high degree of precision and minimum human dependence. DSO (Defense Science Organization) National Laboratories in Defense Ministry of Singapore is showing great interests in further exploring LIDAR technology and its potential applications probably in the area of surveillance and warfare. In this project, we researched into LIDAR format information, its commercial/free software available and develop tools for LIDAR data conversion and visualization which will facilitate the feature extraction process in the later stage. Based on our research, it is clear that LAS (Log ASCII Standard) File has become the standard format for LIDAR data. Despite LAS format has several advantages, it is not human readable codes and commercial supporting software for LAS are expensive. In order to push development of open source code infrastructure and facilitate people who interested in LIDAR area to participate, we have developed a LAS2TXT converter using MATLAB that allows users to convert machine-readable LAS file into a human-readable TXT file which supports by many free plotting software. In addition, we also devised a visualization tool using MATLAB which could generate image similar to DEM (digital elevation model) file for fundamental feature extraction.