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Convert LAS (Conversion)

In this topic

  1. Summary
  2. Usage
  3. Parameters
  4. Environments
  5. Licensing information

Summary

Converts LAS format files between different compression methods, file versions, and point record formats.

Usage

  • This tool can convert between LAS, ZLAS, and LAZ formats by selecting either the individual file, a folder containing the files to be processed, or a LAS dataset to reference a collection of .las and .zlas files.

  • Data in the source .las file will be lost if the output file version and point record format do not support the information. It is recommended that the input files have the same LAS format file version and point record format when the output is being assigned to a specific version.

  • Rearranging the LAS points will improve display and analysis performance but requires the generation of a scratch .las file. Statistics will be automatically computed when the LAS points are rearranged.

  • Only uncompressed .las files can be edited. However, .zlas files can be used as inputs to geoprocessing tools that perform analysis operations.

Parameters

DialogPython

LabelExplanationData Type
Input LAS

The LAS data that will be converted. A folder can be specified to process all of the .las files contained therein.

Layer File; LAS Dataset Layer; Folder; File
Target Folder

The existing folder to which the output .las files will be written.

Folder
File Version
(Optional)

The LAS format file version of the output files.

  • Same As Input —The output file version will be the same as the input. This is the default.
  • 1.0 —The base version for the LAS format that supported 256 class codes.
  • 1.1 —The output file version will be 1.1. Class codes were reduced to 32, but support for classification flags was added.
  • 1.2 —The output file version will be 1.2. Support for red-green-blue (RGB) color channels and GPS time was added.
  • 1.3 —The output file version will be 1.3. Storage of lidar waveform data for point record formats that are not supported in the ArcGIS platform was added.
  • 1.4 — The output file version will be 1.4. Support for coordinate system definition using Well Known Text (WKT) convention, 256 class codes, up to 15 discrete returns per pulse, higher precision scan angle, and overlap classification flag was added.
String
Point Format
(Optional)

Specifies the point record format of the output .las files. The available options will vary based on the output LAS format file version.

  • 0 —The base type for storing discrete LAS points that supports attributes such as lidar intensity, return values, scan angle, scan direction, and edge of flight line.
  • 1 —GPS time is added to the attributes supported in point format 0.
  • 2 —RGB values are added to the attributes supported in point format 0.
  • 3 —RGB values and GPS time are added to the attributes supported in point format 0.
  • 6 —The preferred base type for storing discrete LAS points in LAS file version 1.4.
  • 7 —RGB values are added to the attributes supported in point format 6.
  • 8 —RGB and near-infrared values are added to the attributes supported in point format 6.
String
Compression
(Optional)

Specifies whether the output .las file will be in a compressed format or the standard LAS format.

  • No Compression —The output will be in the standard LAS format (*.las). This is the default.
  • zLAS Compression —Output .las files will be compressed in the zLAS format (*.zlas).
  • LAZ Compression —Output .las files will be compressed in the LAZ format (*.laz).
String
LAS Options
(Optional)

Specifies modifications that will be made to reduce the size of the output .las files and improve their usability and performance in display and analysis operations.

  • Rearrange Points —Points will be rearranged to improve display and analysis performance. Statistics will be automatically computed during this process. This is the default.
  • Remove Variable Length Records —Variable-length records that are added after the header as well as the points records of each file will be removed.
  • Remove Extra Bytes —Extra bytes that may be present with each point from the input file will be removed.
String
Output LAS Dataset
(Optional)

The output LAS dataset referencing the newly created .las files.

LAS Dataset
Define Input Coordinate System
(Optional)

Specifies whether the spatial reference of input .las files will be defined by the Define Input Coordinate System parameter.

  • No LAS Files —The spatial reference of input .las files will not be defined as an input argument. This is the default.
  • All LAS Files —The spatial reference of input .las files will be defined as an input argument.
  • LAS Files with No Spatial Reference —The spatial reference of input .las files that have no projection information in the header will be defined.
String
Input Coordinate System
(Optional)

The coordinate system that will be used to define the spatial reference of the input .las files. This parameter is only active if the Define Input Coordinate System parameter is set to All LAS Files or LAS Files with No Spatial Reference.

Coordinate System

arcpy.conversion.ConvertLas(in_las, target_folder, {file_version}, {point_format}, {compression}, {las_options}, {out_las_dataset}, {define_coordinate_system}, {in_coordinate_system})
NameExplanationData Type
in_las

The LAS data that will be converted. A folder can be specified to process all of the .las files contained therein.

Layer File; LAS Dataset Layer; Folder; File
target_folder

The existing folder to which the output .las files will be written.

Folder
file_version
(Optional)

The LAS format file version of the output files.

  • SAME_AS_INPUT —The output file version will be the same as the input. This is the default.
  • 1.0 —The base version for the LAS format that supported 256 class codes.
  • 1.1 —The output file version will be 1.1. Class codes were reduced to 32, but support for classification flags was added.
  • 1.2 —The output file version will be 1.2. Support for red-green-blue (RGB) color channels and GPS time was added.
  • 1.3 —The output file version will be 1.3. Storage of lidar waveform data for point record formats that are not supported in the ArcGIS platform was added.
  • 1.4 — The output file version will be 1.4. Support for coordinate system definition using Well Known Text (WKT) convention, 256 class codes, up to 15 discrete returns per pulse, higher precision scan angle, and overlap classification flag was added.
String
point_format
(Optional)

Specifies the point record format of the output .las files. The available options will vary based on the output LAS format file version.

  • 0 —The base type for storing discrete LAS points that supports attributes such as lidar intensity, return values, scan angle, scan direction, and edge of flight line.
  • 1 —GPS time is added to the attributes supported in point format 0.
  • 2 —RGB values are added to the attributes supported in point format 0.
  • 3 —RGB values and GPS time are added to the attributes supported in point format 0.
  • 6 —The preferred base type for storing discrete LAS points in LAS file version 1.4.
  • 7 —RGB values are added to the attributes supported in point format 6.
  • 8 —RGB and near-infrared values are added to the attributes supported in point format 6.
String
compression
(Optional)

Specifies whether the output .las file will be in a compressed format or the standard LAS format.

  • NO_COMPRESSION —The output will be in the standard LAS format (*.las). This is the default.
  • ZLAS —Output .las files will be compressed in the zLAS format (*.zlas).
  • LAZ —Output .las files will be compressed in the LAZ format (*.laz).
String
las_options
[las_options,...]
(Optional)

Specifies modifications that will be made to reduce the size of the output .las files and improve their usability and performance in display and analysis operations.

  • REARRANGE_POINTS —Points will be rearranged to improve display and analysis performance. Statistics will be automatically computed during this process. This is the default.
  • REMOVE_VLR —Variable-length records that are added after the header as well as the points records of each file will be removed.
  • REMOVE_EXTRA_BYTES —Extra bytes that may be present with each point from the input file will be removed.
String
out_las_dataset
(Optional)

The output LAS dataset referencing the newly created .las files.

LAS Dataset
define_coordinate_system
(Optional)

Specifies whether the spatial reference of input .las files will be defined by the define_coordinate_system parameter.

  • NO_FILES —The spatial reference of input .las files will not be defined as an input argument. This is the default.
  • ALL_FILES —The spatial reference of input .las files will be defined as an input argument.
  • FILES_MISSING_PROJECTION —The spatial reference of input .las files that have no projection information in the header will be defined.
String
in_coordinate_system
(Optional)

The coordinate system that will be used to define the spatial reference of the input .las files. This parameter is only enabled if the define_coordinate_system parameter is set to ALL_FILES or FILES_MISSING_PROJECTION.

Coordinate System

Code sample

ConvertLas example 1 (Python window)

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

import arcpy
arcpy.conversion.ConvertLas('2014_survey.zlas', '2014_unclassified_collection', 
                            '1.4', 7, 'NO_COMPRESSION',
                            ['REMOVE_VLR', 'REMOVE_EXTRA_BYTES', 'REARRANGE_POINTS'], 
                            '2014_unclassified_collection/2014_Survey_Collection.lasd')

Environments

Current Workspace, Scratch Workspace

Licensing information

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

Related topics

  • An overview of the LAS toolset
  • Find a geoprocessing tool
  • Use lidar in ArcGIS Pro
  • Create LAS Dataset
  • LAS To Multipoint
  • Point File Information

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In this topic
  1. Summary
  2. Usage
  3. Parameters
  4. Environments
  5. Licensing information