A number of people asked me to post the responses to my question about LiDAR software. Here they are; the latest messages are at the top.
Thanks, Luben http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/CFEApeople/bios/Dimov.htm ============================================ I think most software packages that handle small-footprint lidar would be able to be tweaked to meet your needs for forestry. I personally use a combination of TerraScan, TerraModeler and ArcGIS to extract vegetative information. I know that a group at UW and the USFS PNW Research Station have built custom forestry software that seems really cool. Hans-Erik Andersen at UW and Steve Reutebuch at USFS would be the people to contact for more information. You can find contacts on this web page: http://www.cfr.washington.edu/research.pfc.../jfsp/index.htm The other two Universities I can think of off of the top of my head involved with small-footprint lidar for forestry are at Mississippi State (David Evans), http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/fwrc/forestry/lidar.htm and University of Idaho (Alistair Smith): http://www.cnrhome.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=68471 I'm sure there are others- might want to check out the links we have on our websites/reference page. Otherwise I'm sure almost any software vendor would be willing to work with you to help get their software to meet your needs (for a price of course). Hope this helps. ================== I read your post on the USGS CLICK, you may find this useful: http://www.cloudpeaksoftware.com/download/LASEditSetupFree.exe The free version is free. If you do not have LAS formatted data, the import/export utilities will convert ASCII and ESRI point shapefiles. If you have any questions or problems please let me know. -RB Cloud Peak Software, LLC ================================ I haven't analyzed lidar data for a couple of years now, but I don't think analysis tools haven't changed much in the interim. Anything automated has to be programmed. Many people use Erda Imagine to either do analysis manually (count trees, measure crown widths or tree height) or use its modelling language to automate the process. Several papers describe the rules used for programming (what marks a tree, how to decide where to calculate height). Some has access to programmers that design custom programs. My latest analysis used a combination of Imagine and SAS. ==================================================== You might want to post your question the Forestry LiDAR Forum found at: http://igskmncnwb010.cr.usgs.gov/website/lidar/bb/ Check it out! ================================= The GIS Cafe newsletter had this item today about a commercial LIDAR package: http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&arti cleid=267108 ============================== Could you please post the responses you get back to this listserv? Also, I moderate a listserv which is specific to remote sensing, so you might want to post your question there: http://www.cstars.ucdavis.edu/starserv.htm =========================================================== What specifically are you trying to do? As for as I know there is no general package for analyzing lidar. There is at least one consultant that has some proprietary software, but it is more for inventory. ====================================== Depending on your data format, NOAA's Coastal Services Center distributes a free ESRI plug in that will process data clouds.. (as GRIDs so there is an expection that Spatial Analyst is available). http://www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/rs_apps/sensors/lidar.htm http://www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/tcm/lidar_handler.html ======================================================= You should be able to use ArcView 9.1 with a few extensions (spatial analyst, 3D analyst) ======================================== My program (county government- forest conservation) has recently evaluated some software called QT Modeler. I can't say I've compared it to much else, but it seems like it will meet our needs and has a rapid learning curve. You can download a trial, and request a key for free. http://www.appliedimagery.com/download.htm Once you download the software - you will be prompted to supply a key...just click "OK" and the 8 digit hardware fingerprint will display on the screen. Email those 8 digits (alphanumeric) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and they will get the key issued for you. ===================================================== I managed to extract/reconstruct tree tops of non-decidious trees from small footprint LiDAR data using ArcGIS 8.3. If your dataset is large (which is usually the case with small footprint LiDAR data), you may need to work your way through the ArcInfo Workstation. This would allow you to process large data volumes (up to 2GB) using AML (kind of batch files). Good luck & have fun; LiDAR data is simply awesome to work wiith. ===========================================================
