1. Using LiDAR Data within Smallworld
Mark Field – FCSI

2. Overview LiDAR – We have heard about it, but what is it?
How’s it collected
What data is in it
Variations of LiDAR data
How is it stored in Smallworld
Example set of tools
How this implementation can be used to develop useful data

3. What is LiDAR? Light Detection And Ranging
aka Laser Detection And Ranging (LADAR)
Can be used in side and downward-looking
Laser speed gun, weather “radar”, airborne
Data is gathered by detecting the reflection of the light
Distance, intensity, return number
Raw results are “point clouds”
Difference btw lidar & radar is basically wavelength. Longer wavelength is “radar” (

4. LiDAR Collection Illustration
Source:

5. Variations of LiDAR Raw, Unfiltered Data(LAS format)
Contains noise, artifacts
Filtered, Classified (LAS format)
Contains point cloud data
Multiple returns
Classified into ground, vegetation, building, etc.
Ground Points (LAS format)
Contains single “layer” of ground
Digital Elevation Models (DEM, DTM, TIN)
Rasterized version of ground points

6. Variations of LiDAR (cont.)
LAZ
Lossless Compressed LAS
Categorized XYZ
ASCII
Files separated into single category

7. Implementation by FCSI
Expanded FCSI’s N-Dimensional Geometry
5+ Dimensional TIN Structure (XYZTV)
TIN Node now contains all LiDAR Data
X, Y, Z
Intensity
Return
Number of Returns
Scan Direction
GPS Time
Edge of Flight?
Classification
Scan Angle
User Data
Point Source
Color (RGB)

8. Example Tools by FCSI Point Viewer DEM Updater
Points colored by return, intensity, elevation, classification
Filter points by return, intensity, classification
DEM Updater
Update DEM values based off LiDAR
Manual Feature Extraction
4’ imagery.

9. Point Viewer
4’ imagery
5000’ x 5000’ 7.7Million Points!
2-3” to 1-2’

10. DEM Update

11. Elevation Extraction

12. Issues with LiDAR Number of Points is extremely large
1000’ x 100 ‘ of Missouri contains 560,000 points!
5000’ x 5000’ 5.3 to 8.2 Million points!
5.3 Million = 463MB gdb.ds (1MB rwo.ds)
What will it be used for?
DEM/TIN – Rasterize externally
Ensure data is what you want to use
Is it classified?
Does it contain non-ground data (multiple returns)?
External tools do exist that may be more effective
Example data ranges from 2-3” to 1-2’ spacing

13. How Can LiDAR Be Used? Very accurate terrain models
TINs or DEMs
Identify features for corridor management
Buildings
Vegetation
Towers, Poles, Lines

14. Questions?/Contact Mark Field mark@field-csi.com FCSI Booth 19
Cell:
@mbfbsae90
mbfbsae90