LAS Point Statistics As Raster (Data Management)

Summary

Creates a raster whose cell values reflect statistical information about measurements from LAS files referenced by a LAS dataset.

Usage

• The LAS dataset layer can also be used to control the enforcement of surface constraint features that may be referenced by the LAS dataset. The constraints are enforced when displaying or processing the LAS dataset as a triangulated surface.

• The LAS format supports the classification of each point based on the specifications defined by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). The ArcGIS platform applies the classification scheme specified for LAS file version 1.4:

  Classification Value	Classification Type
  0	Never Classified
  1	Unassigned
  2	Ground
  3	Low Vegetation
  4	Medium Vegetation
  5	High Vegetation
  6	Building
  7	Low Noise
  8	Model Key / Reserved
  9	Water
  10	Rail
  11	Road Surface
  12	Overlap / Reserved
  13	Wire – Guard
  14	Wire – Conductor
  15	Transmission Tower
  16	Wire – Connector
  17	Bridge Deck
  18	High Noise
  19 – 63	Reserved for ASPRS Definition (LAS 1.1 to 1.3 support up to class code 31)
  32 – 255	User Definable (Only supported in LAS 1.0 and certain versions of 1.4)

  Note:

  While the bulk of new class code assignments introduced with LAS 1.4 were previously designated as Reserved, class codes 8 and 12 were changed from Model Key and Overlap to Reserved.

• Consider using PREDOMINANT_LAST_RETURN for the Method parameter to identify locations with higher return values that could indicate the presence of vegetation.

• Consider using Z_RANGE for the Method parameter to determine locations with potential outliers.

Syntax

LasPointStatsAsRaster(in_las_dataset, out_raster, {method}, {sampling_type}, {sampling_value})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_las_dataset	The LAS dataset to process.	LAS Dataset Layer
out_raster	The location and name of the output raster. When storing a raster dataset in a geodatabase or in a folder such as an Esri Grid, no file extension should be added to the name of the raster dataset. A file extension can be provided to define the raster's format when storing it in a folder, such as .tif to generate a GeoTIFF or .img to generate an ERDAS IMAGINE format file. If the raster is stored as a TIFF file or in a geodatabase, its raster compression type and quality can be specified using geoprocessing environment settings.	Raster Dataset
method (Optional)	The type of statistics collected about the LAS points in each cell of the output raster. PULSE_COUNT —The number of last return points. POINT_COUNT —The number of points from all returns. PREDOMINANT_LAST_RETURN —The most frequent last return value. PREDOMINANT_CLASS —The most frequent class code. INTENSITY_RANGE —The range of intensity values. Z_RANGE —The range of elevation values.	String
sampling_type (Optional)	Specifies the method used for interpreting the Sampling Value to define the resolution of the output raster. OBSERVATIONS —Defines the number of cells that divide the lengthiest side of the LAS dataset extent. CELLSIZE —Defines the cell size of the output raster. This is the default.	String
sampling_value (Optional)	Specifies the value used in conjunction with the Sampling Type to define the resolution of the output raster.	Double

Code sample

LasPointStatsAsRaster example 1 (Python window)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in the Python window.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.LasPointStatsAsRaster_3d("test.lasd", "lidar_intensity.img", 
                             "INTENSITY_RANGE", "CELLSIZE", 15)

LasPointStatsAsRaster example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in a stand-alone Python script.

'''**********************************************************************
Name: LAS Point Statistics As Raster
Description: Identifies the most frequently occurring return value for
             each pulse in a given set of LAS files.
             Designed for use as a script tool.
**********************************************************************'''
# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set Local Variables
lasD = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
inLas = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1) #input las files
sr = arcpy.GetParameter(2) #spatial reference of las dataset
statsRaster = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(3)

# Execute CreateLasDataset
arcpy.management.CreateLasDataset(inLas, lasD, 'RECURSION', '', sr)
# Execute LasPointStatsAsRaster
arcpy.management.LasPointStatsAsRaster(lasD, statsRaster,
                                       "PREDOMINANT_RETURNS_PER_PULSE",
                                       "CELLSIZE", 15)

Environments

Current Workspace, Extent, Output Coordinate System, Geographic Transformations, Cell Size, Pyramid, Raster Statistics, Output CONFIG Keyword, Auto Commit

Licensing information

• Basic: Requires 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst
• Standard: Yes
• Advanced: Yes