Types of data supported in LAS datasets Page 1 of 3

Types of data supported in LAS datasets

ArcGIS 10.1

Locate topic

There are two major data sources to LAS datasets: lidar data stored in LAS files and surface
constraints stored in shapefiles or feature classes.

Lidar
Lidar (light detection and ranging) is an optical remote-sensing technique that uses laser light
to densely sample the surface of the earth producing highly accurate x,y,z measurements.
General characteristics of lidar include:
l Lidar point clouds stored in LAS format
l Not surface specific
l Sampled to required nominal point spacing, varying from 1 to 15 feet (approximately 0.3
to 5 meters) depending on application
l Often, but not always, filtered to bare earth points
l Every point contains attributes that are stored with the x,y,z data
l Large quantities of point data
A LAS dataset is designed and optimized to support LAS files from an airborne lidar collection.
The LAS dataset can support lidar data in LAS format from a terrestrial collection, however,
they should only be displayed as points. With an airborne collection you can visualize the LAS
dataset in ArcMap, ArcScene, and ArcCatalog as points or as a triangulated surface.

Surface constraints
Surface constraints are surface features stored in either geodatabase feature classes or
shapefiles, which are usually derived from some sort of remote sensing technique like
photogrammetry.
Photogrammetrically derived breaklines:
l Surface-specific breaks in slope along linear features
l Natural landforms (for example, ridges and valleys)
l Terrain features resulting from earthworks (for example, bulldozed)
l Lake shorelines, creeks, river shorelines
l Edge of road pavement
l Delineation of void areas (usually obscured by vegetation)
l Minimal attribution
l Typically moderate quantities
GPS Points:
l Irregularly spaced
l May or may not represent surface-specific peaks and pits
l Used for control, QA, and benchmarking other data
l Property boundary control points

mk:@MSITStore:C:\PROGRA~2\ArcGIS\DESKTO~1.1\Help\LAS_DA~1.CHM::/015w0... 6/13/2017
Types of data supported in LAS datasets Page 2 of 3

l Potentially significant attribution per point

l Typically small quantities
Surface
Feature Z-value source in the feature Thematic data type
constraint
class class examples
type

Points (x,y,z Point l Shape geometry; x,y,z per l Spot heights

locations) feature vertex l Survey points
class or l GPS points
l Attribute column holding
one z-value per shape
Polygon l Shape geometry; x,y,z per l Shoreline
feature vertex delineation
class or
l Attribute column holding
one z-value per shape
Breaklines Line l Shape geometry; x,y,z per l Contours
(hard or soft) feature vertex l Edge of pavement
class l Attribute column holding l Water lines
one z-value per shape (streams, rivers,
l No height source; z-values canals, and
interpolated for each shorelines)
feature from the surface
before being added
Shape geometry; x,y,z per Lake shoreline
Polygon
l l

feature vertex
class l Attribute column holding
one z-value per shape
(such as a shoreline)
l No height source; z-values
interpolated for each
feature from the surface
before being added
Shape geometry; x,y,z per Study area
Clipping Polygon
l l

polygons feature vertex boundary

(hard or soft) class l Attribute column holding
one z-value per shape
(such as a shoreline)
l No height source; z-values
interpolated for each
feature from the surface
before being added
Shape geometry; x,y,z per Lake shoreline
Erase Polygon
l l

polygons feature vertex l Obscured areas

(hard or soft) class l Attribute column holding (dense forest
one z-value per shape canopy)
l No height source; z-values
interpolated for each
feature from the surface
before being added
Shape geometry; x,y,z per Water bodies
Replace Polygon
l l
vertex
polygons feature
(hard or soft) class l Attribute column holding
one z-value for all vertices

mk:@MSITStore:C:\PROGRA~2\ArcGIS\DESKTO~1.1\Help\LAS_DA~1.CHM::/015w0... 6/13/2017
Types of data supported in LAS datasets Page 3 of 3

in each shape

Related Topics
Creating a LAS dataset

Copyright © 1995-2012 Esri. All rights reserved.

mk:@MSITStore:C:\PROGRA~2\ArcGIS\DESKTO~1.1\Help\LAS_DA~1.CHM::/015w0... 6/13/2017