1. Efrat Frank, Ashraf Memon, Vishu Nandigam, Chaitan Baru
The GEON LiDAR Workflow: An Internet-Based Tool for the Distribution and Processing of LiDAR Point Cloud Data
Christopher J. Crosby, J Ramón Arrowsmith, Jeffrey Connor, Gilead Wurman
Efrat Frank, Ashraf Memon, Vishu Nandigam, Chaitan Baru

2. LiDAR Introduction Survey Interpolate / Grid Process & Classify
R. Haugerud, U.S.G.S
LiDAR Introduction
Survey
Interpolate / Grid
Process & Classify
D. Harding, NASA
Point Cloud
x, y, zn, …
Analyze / “Do Science”

5. Project goal:
Democratize access to LiDAR point cloud data using cyberinfrastructure available through the GEON project.

6. ~1.1 million data points interpolated to produce this DEM
Data typically viewed as DEM
Creation of DEMs require interpolation of huge quantities of point data.
Currently difficult to access and process these data volumes.

7. ~1.2 billion data points Example Data Set:
Northern San Andreas fault and associated marine terraces.
Flown February 2003
Funded by NASA in collaboration w/ USGS.
~418 Square Miles
~1.2 billion data points

8. The Computational Challenge:
LiDAR/ALSM generates massive data volumes - billions of returns are common.
Distribution of these volumes of point cloud data to users via the internet represents a significant challenge.
Processing and analysis of these data requires significant computing resources not available to most geoscientists.
Interpolation of these data challenges typical GIS / interpolation software.
our tests indicate that ArcGIS, Matlab and similar software packages struggle to interpolate even a small portion of these data.

9. “GEON was designed as an equal collaboration between Information Technology (IT) and Geoscience researchers, with the goal of developing an enabling IT platform to facilitate the next generation of Geoscience research.”
Distributed network:
ASU node “Agassiz”:

10. The Vision: Conceptual GEON LiDAR Workflow
Utilize the cyberinfrastructure developed by GEON to offer online data distribution, interpolation to grid, and analysis of large LiDAR datasets.
Utilize modular web services to complete a variety of processing and analysis tasks.
Completely internet-based workflow:
Point cloud to visualization
Offer users control of interpolation and analysis parameters.
Conceptual GEON LiDAR Workflow

11. Triangular Interpolation Network (TIN) Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW)
Kriging
Regularized Spline with Tension and smoothing (RST)
Figure from Helena Mitasova (NCSU):

12. Goal = interactive processing environment for iteration and exploration of various interpolation and processing options.
Optimize landscape representation based upon application of the data.
By using distributed computing resources, user is able to quickly run multiple jobs and compare results.
Similar iteration may take days or weeks on a single local machine.
Leave computationally intensive data processing to resources available through GEON and offer user downloadable products in common file formats.

15. Products:
Hillshade of DEM
Slope Map
Aspect Map
Profile Curvature Map

16. Implementation Overview:
Internet-based LiDAR processing workflow that utilizes advanced spatial databases (IBM DB2), GRASS Open Source GIS, Kepler Workflow manager and web service technology to distribute, interpolate, and analyze LiDAR data.
GRASS GIS

17. GLW Status Three datasets online: Northern San Andreas Fault
West Rainier Seismic Zone
Eastern California Shear Zone NCALM / Mike Oskin PI
Total of ~2.5 billion LiDAR returns available via GLW.
~60 registered users
More data sets in the queue:
Southern San Andreas Laser Scan (B4 Project)
Hector Mine EQ
NCALM Napa Valley
Others…

18. Areas of Development:
Interactive vegetation filtering / feature extraction (implement open source algorithms)
Additional interpolation algorithms (TIN, Kriging, moving window etc.)
Additional analysis tools (Hillshade, Watershed analysis)
New products/formats
Web-based Viz:
Interface with GEON web-based mapping (2 & 3D)
Terrestrial LiDAR specific workflow

19. LViz Download LViz version 1.2: http://lidar.asu.edu/LViz.html
Visualization of LiDAR point cloud data & interpolated surfaces
FREE
Download LViz version 1.2:

20. More information on the GLW and LViz is available @:
GEON LiDAR Workflow could be adopted as a valuable infrastructure resource for democratizing access to future LiDAR point cloud datasets for the geoscience community
More information on the GLW and LViz is
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