How to Thin the Dataset

A common issue that is encountered when trying to take a bare earth surface generated from LIDAR or photogrammetric point cloud datasets into other programs is that those other programs cannot handle the volume of data. LP360 currently provides four options that can be used to thin the bare earth dataset to allow you to take it into those other software packages. For more on this subject refer to the TrueView EVO to CAD article on our website.

LDThin: (No license required) is a command line program that you can run against LAS files to remove every n^th point from the file

Learn more about using Command Line Executables for Preparing LIDAR Data

Model Keypoints (MKP): (LP360 Geospatial Advanced, LP360 Drone, or LP360 Land Standard license required) The Model Key Point routine can be used to thin a point set while maintaining a user specified level of vertical accuracy. The algorithm is based on the fact that only 3 points are needed to define a planar surface whereas a higher density of points is necessary to define an undulating surface.

Watch a using LP360 Model Keypoints (MKP) Demonstration

Export LAS: (LP360 Geospatial Basic, LP360 Drone, or LP360 Land Standard license required) The export wizard can be used to export the bare earth surface into a lattice model or raster file format at a desired grid spacing.

Learn more about the LP360 Export Wizard

Classify By Statistics: (LP360 Geospatial Standard, LP360 Drone, or LP360 Land Standard license required) Classify by statistics is primarily useful for general data thinning – especially useful for very dense data such as that derived from imagery (dense image matching, DIM, data).

Learn more about using the Classify by Statistics Point Cloud Task