LASRead

Reads in files in LAS 1.1 format and outputs comma delimited text files.

Description

Lidar or laser scanning data are often provided by vendors in binary LAS format. Though GIS softwares can be used to read in and display data, the attributes of the points are sometimes not accessible.

LASRead reads in files in LAS 1.1 format and outputs comma delimited text files with X coordinates, Y coordinates and Z coordinates (option 1), X coordinates, Y coordinates, Z coordinates and Intensity (option 2) or X coordinates, Y coordinates, Z coordinates, Intensity, Return number and Number of returns (option 3).

Large datasets (say, more than 3000000 points, depending on the system) may have to be split into smaller files to avoid errors related to available memory.

Reference: ASPRS LAS Specification Version 1.1, March 07, 2005
http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/asprs_las_format_v11.pdf

• MATLAB release: MATLAB 7.4 (R2007a)

[leonel solano]

Can you attach a .las file to your post so I can see how it works, I'm completely confused :S I'm new at this with MatLab. Thanks.

[Sukuchha]

Do you have also written Las writer in matlab ?

[Amy Farris]

This is a very helpful file. Are you planning on unp-dating it to read LAS 1.2?

[Amy Farris]

LAS file formats 1.1 and 1.2 are so similar, that this m-file can read LAS1.2 files. Just change line 35 from:

if VersionMajor ~= 1 || VersionMinor ~= 1

to:

if VersionMajor ~= 1

and it will work!