OpenTopography Tool Registry

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The OpenTopography Tool Registry provides a community populated clearinghouse of software, utilities, and tools oriented towards high-resolution topography data (e.g. collected with lidar technology) handling, processing, and analysis. Tools registered below range from source code to full-featured software applications. We welcome contributions to the registry via the Contribute a Tool page.

Appearance of a tool in the OpenTopography Tool Registry does not imply endorsement, recommendation, or support, by the NSF OpenTopography Facility and is meant simply as a service to our users. OpenTopography does not guarantee the completeness or accessibility of specific content and links contributed by users. If you have been directly involved with the development of a registered tool and are not the original contributor of the tool to the registry, please email info@opentopography.org to supply updates or modifications to its entry.
Tool Name   Date Tool Type Rating
1   APP_DIP_MLH 20 Mar 2024 DEM Analysis
Keywords: lisp, strike, dip, Azimuth, altitude
License: Free to use/Unspecified

Description: LISP routine for apparent dip calculations for algorithmic use.

2   BCAL LiDAR Tools 8 Mar 2011 Software Suite
Keywords: lidar, visualization, filtering, value-added products
License: GNU General Public License

Description: BCAL LiDAR Tools are open-source tools developed by Idaho State University, Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (BCAL). These tools can be used for processing, analyzing and visualizing LiDAR data. They are written in IDL programming language and is intended to be used as add-on in the ENVI remote sensing software package.

3   CHaMP Topo Processing Toolbar 4 Sep 2014 DEM generation
Keywords: total station surveys, topographic
License: GNU General Public License

Description: The CHaMP Topo Processing Toolbar exists to take raw data from CHaMP ground-based topographic surveys and run these through steps of 1) survey data evaluation, 2) generating topographic surfaces, 3) DEM derived products and metrics (including, detrending, derivation of cross sections, profiles, thalwegs, bankfull, etc.), 4) QA/QC. Although the overall workflow of the tool is focused on CHaMP topographic data, many of the individual commands and steps will be more generically useful to some.

4   CHaMP Transformation Tool 4 Sep 2014 Data Management / Handling
Keywords: transformation, georeferencing point cloud
License: GNU General Public License

Description: The Ecogemorphology & Topographic Analysis Lab (ET-AL) and the RSGIS Laboratory developed this ArcGIS Add-in for the transformation and projection of CHaMP field survey data (Bouwes et al. 2011) into real world coordinates given hand-held GPS coordinates from just three benchmarks. The CTT will work with any unprojected data in a file geodatabase, and gives you multiple ways to do an afine transformation based on a simple shift and rotation. Although other transformation tools exist in ArcGIS, there is not a simple sequence of geoprocessing tools, which allow you to transform vector data in a manner that preserves the high relative accuracy of a total station survey. See Wheaton et al. (2012) and the ReadMe page for more background.

5   Civil Maps 19 Mar 2015 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, Data Management / Handling
Keywords: deep learning, artificial intelligence, point cloud streaming protocol
License: Other

Description: Civil Maps allows users to upload their survey data, then specify the assets of interest and mapping specification. Upon upload, Civil Maps indexes all of the spatial information as defined in the mapping specification into a query-able format. The maps can then be dynamically generated on demand and exported to various tools such as AutoDesk Map3D from Civil Maps, which is useful for integrating into the customers workflow. The biggest pain point in the industry is the time to annotate 3D scans. Currently, processing huge 3D survey datasets is limited by the point­ and ­click annotation speed of the user and the limited resources of the users computer (I/O, CPU, Network, Memory).

By circumventing these bottlenecks, Civil Maps is introducing a paradigm shift in the workflow of annotating 3D survey data. Advancements in parallel computing and deep learning allows Civil Maps to reduce 2 years of manual annotation work down to 2 days of processing using our cloud infrastructure


6   CloudCompare 3 Nov 2011 Point Cloud Analysis
Keywords: 3D point cloud mesh comparison editing processing lidar laser scanner
License: GNU General Public License

Description: CloudCompare is a 3D point cloud and triangular mesh processing software. It has been originally designed to perform fast cloud/cloud or cloud/mesh comparison on huge datasets such as those acquired by laser scanners). Afterwards, it has been extended to a more generic 3D data editing and processing software.

7   DEM.Net Elevation API 21 Apr 2019 Visualization, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling
Keywords: 3D, heightmaps, elevation, gpx
License: MIT license / X11 license

Description: Free .Net Open Source library for DEM access and analysis (elevation queries, height maps, 3D exports textured)

8   DielmoOpenLidar 7 May 2011 Point Cloud Analysis
Keywords: pointcloud, visualization, data management analysis
License: GNU General Public License

Description: DielmoOpenLiDAR is an open source software with GNU GPL license based in gvSIG for the management of LiDAR data. It allows access, visualization and analysis of the original LiDAR data, toguether with the possibility of visualizing at the same time big volumes (hundreds of GigaBytes) of original LiDAR data (irregular points in formats LAS and BIN) along with other geographic data. In the near future, it will also generate basic final products such as (DSM, DTM, intensity images, etc) and new added value final products.

Developing open source software for the management of LiDAR data, we hope to make this technology more accessible to standard GIS users and scientific communities, having as final objective increase the use of LiDAR data.

For developing this application, we had the collaboration of the Regional Valencia Council for Infrastructures and Transportation - CIT and National Geographic Institute of Spain - IGN


9   Drainage Structures Mapping Algorithm (DSMA) 8 Mar 2021 Point Cloud Analysis
Keywords: bridges, culverts, ALS point clouds, road centerlines
License: BSD license

Description: Mapping bridges and culverts locations and orientations using classified ALS point clouds and road centerline information.

10   Eduard 6 Feb 2023 Visualization
Keywords:
License: Commercial License

Description: Eduard creates beautiful and accurate Swiss-style shaded relief images for maps. Machine learning in Eduard produces high-quality shaded relief within seconds from digital elevation models. Eduard includes a convenient tool for downloading and exporting ALOS, NASA DEM and SRTM elevation models form OpenTopography.org. Eduard is available for macOS on the Mac App Store.

11   elevatr: Access elevation data from various APIs 21 Nov 2020 Data Management / Handling
Keywords: R Package, elevation data access
License: Other

Description: The R package, elevatr, provides access to several APIs for elevation data. Starting with version 0.3.1, elevatr provides access to the Open Topography Global Datasets API allowing R users to directly access the GL3, GL1, and ALOS datasets by using a common geospatial workflow in R.

12   ENVI LiDAR 17 Dec 2012 Software Suite
Keywords: LiDAR, Point Cloud, DSm, DTM, Feature Extraction
License: Commercial License

Description: ENVI LiDAR is an interactive geospatial software environment that allows you to create realistic 3D visualizations and easily extract important features (trees, powerlines, buildings) from LiDAR point cloud data. Elevation information contained within LiDAR can be included in your geospatial analysis projects such as viewshed and line-of-sight studies, forest inventories, right-of-way analyses, and urban planning applications. With ENVI LiDAR, you have the software tool to quickly prepare LiDAR data, accurately extract 3D features, fine-tune results, and export your results to your existing tools, such as ENVI or ArcMap, for further analysis or inclusion in your geospatial products.

13   fleurdelas 21 Nov 2014 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, Data Management / Handling
Keywords: las, idl, envi, waveform, point
License: GNU General Public License

Description: The fleurdelas class is an IDL/ENVI implementation of a LAS file reader/writer. The class object can read, write and manipulate points and/or full waveforms contained in the binary LAS file format. It can handle any LAS 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 with point format from 0 to 10. This class object therefore is very well suited to access the point structure information or the waveform information for further process. It can also filter the point cloud and generate new LAS file. However, if you need to manipulate; the Variable Length Records or the Coordinates System we will recommend you to use LAStools as it is more adapted for this purpose.

14   FME 9 Nov 2011 Data Management / Handling
Keywords: transform, convert, translate, extract, integrate, automated, repeatable
License: Commercial License

Description: FME empowers users at leading organizations worldwide to transform spatial data so that they can use and share it wherever, whenever, and however its needed. FMEs unmatched capabilities and support for 250+ spatial and non-spatial formats enable you to quickly overcome any challenge related to the use and sharing of spatial data, so you can focus your energies on your objectives, instead.

Specifically, FME supports LiDAR data formats, enabling you to leverage the wealth of information in your LiDAR assets by enabling you to quickly prepare your LiDAR data to suit your specific needs.

Safe Software, the maker of FME, is the pioneering global leader in the spatial data transformation technology market.


15   FUSION 4 Aug 2015 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Software Suite
Keywords: LIDAR, visualization, processing
License: Free to use/Unspecified

Description: The FUSION/LDV analysis and visualization system consists of two main programs, FUSION and LDV (LIDAR data viewer), and a collection of task-specific command line programs. The primary interface, provided by FUSION, consists of a graphical display window and a control window. The FUSION display presents all project data using a 2D display typical of geographic information systems. It supports a variety of data types and formats including shapefiles, images, digital terrain models, canopy surface models, and LIDAR return data. LDV provides the 3D visualization environment for the examination and measurement of spatially-explicit data subsets. Command line programs provide specific analysis and data processing capabilities designed to make FUSION suitable for processing large LIDAR acquisitions.

Command line utilities and processing programs, called the FUSION LIDAR Toolkit or FUSION-LTK, provide extensive processing capabilities including bare-earth point filtering, surface fitting, data conversion, and quality assessment for large LIDAR acquisitions. These programs are designed to run from a command prompt or using batch programs.

FUSION runs on all current versions of Windows and has been successfully used on LINUX systems using WINE. The FUSION/LDV visualization system is GUI based. The command line tools require the use of batch files to be most effective.


16   GDAL - Geospatial Data Abstraction Library 3 Dec 2010 Data Management / Handling
Keywords: DEM, osgeo, coordinates, file formats
License: MIT license / X11 license

Description: GDAL is a translator library for raster geospatial data formats that is released under an X/MIT style Open Source license by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. As a library, it presents a single abstract data model to the calling application for all supported formats. It also comes with a variety of useful commandline utilities for data translation and processing.

GDAL is a powerful tool for converting digital elevation model (DEM) formats, performing coordinate system conversions, and the gdaldem utility provides basic processing functionality such as generation of hillshades and slope maps.


17   Geographic Calculator 5 Mar 2015 DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling
Keywords: vertical datum transformation, horizontal datum, image resampling, geoid support, HTDP
License: Commercial License

Description: The Geographic Calculator is THE Global Coordinate Transformation tool for any coordinate or geomatic challenge. A powerful windows solution with particular strength in survey, seismic and energy exploration, it is available in 32 or 64 bit versions. This highly accurate transformation software includes tools such as Canadian DLS (Dominion Land Survey) Land Grid tools, Seismic Survey Conversion tools, Area of Use tools for guiding users, and much more. The Geographic Calculator supports a wide range of file formats with support from the largest geodetic parameter database available anywhere. Display and reproject your DEMs into the right coordinate systems.

18   Geomorphic Change Detection Software 4 Sep 2014 DEM Analysis
Keywords: DEM error modelling, change detection, DEM uncertainty, geomorphic interpretation
License: Other

Description: The GCD software was developed primarily for morphological sediment budgeting in rivers. The volumetric change in storage is calculated from the difference in surface elevations from digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from repeat topographic surveys. As each DEM has an uncertain surface representation (which might vary in space and time), our ability to detect changes between surveys is highly dependent on surface representation uncertainties inherent in the individual DEMs. The fundamental problem is separating out the changes between the surveys that are due to geomorphic change as opposed to noise in the survey data. GCD provides a suite of tools for quantifying those uncertainties independently in each DEM and propagating them through to the DEM of difference. The program also provides ways for segregating the best estimates of change spatially using different types of masks. The overall suite of tools is more generically applicable to many different spatial raster-based change detection problems.

19   GeoNet 4 Sep 2014 DEM Analysis
Keywords: channel heads, channel networks, nonlinear filtering, geodesic curves, curvature analysis
License: GNU General Public License

Description: Computational tool for the automatic extraction of channel networks and channel heads from high resolution topography

20   GeoSync - Z tools 5 Feb 2020 Visualization, DEM generation, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
Keywords: Find, Download, Colorize, Visualize, Extract and Filter Point Cloud and public domain lidar data
License: Commercial License

Description: Easy to use 3D toolbox for finding, filtering, clipping and visualizing point cloud data. Designed by surveying professionals to streamline point cloud workflows and reduce processing time, often by 50% or more. Find, Download, Colorize, Visualize, Extract and Filter Point Cloud and public domain lidar data for all 50 states

21   Global Mapper 26 Jan 2015 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis
Keywords: GIS, LiDAR, file format translation, data analysis, 3D, Vector Raster, image rectification, contour
License: Commercial License

Description: Global Mapper is an affordable and easy-to-use GIS application that offers access to an unparalleled variety of spatial datasets and provides just the right level of functionality to satisfy both experienced GIS professionals and beginning users. Equally well suited as a standalone spatial data management tool and as an integral component of an enterprise-wide GIS, Global Mapper is a must-have for anyone who deals with maps or spatial data.
Global Mapper is more than just a utility; it has built in functionality for distance and area calculations, raster blending, feathering, spectral analysis, elevation querying, line of sight calculations, cut-and-fill volume calculations, as well as advanced capabilities like image rectification, contour generation from surface data, view shed analysis, watershed delineation, sea level rise modeling, terrain layer comparison, and triangulation and gridding of 3D point data.
Users can now simulate fly-through recordings in high-definition with various sky models in the 3D viewer. This new Skybox tool enables users to choose from a handful of existing sky templates or custom designs. Support for 3D textures and meshes have also been added to give data a more realistic look, including support for a host of new 3D formats. Live GPS data can also now be viewed and tracked in the 3D Viewer. Version 16 features dramatically faster processing speeds for analyzing large amounts of data.


22   Global Mapper LiDAR Module 5 Mar 2015 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis
Keywords: automatic point cloud classification, feature extraction, cross-sectional viewing and editing, drama
License: Commercial License

Description: The Global Mapper LiDAR Module is an optional enhancement to the software that provides numerous advanced LiDAR processing tools, including automatic point cloud classification, feature extraction, cross-sectional viewing and editing, dramatically faster surface generation, and much more. At a fraction of the cost of comparable applications, it is a must-have for anyone using or managing LiDAR data.

23   GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) 24 Nov 2010 Software Suite
Keywords: grass, gis, osgeo
License: GNU General Public License

Description: GRASS is free Geographic Information System (GIS) software used for geospatial data management and analysis, image processing, graphics/maps production, spatial modeling, and visualization. GRASS is currently used in academic and commercial settings around the world, as well as by many governmental agencies and environmental consulting companies. GRASS is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation.

GRASS has a number of functions related to lidar and high-resolution DEM processing and analysis. lidar specific elements of GRASS are discussed here: http://grass.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR


24   l3dt 26 Nov 2015 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
Keywords: solo
License: Other

Description: esto es una muy buena idea

25   Landlab 18 Jan 2016 DEM Analysis, Software Suite
Keywords: model, water, erosion, routing
License: MIT license / X11 license

Description: Landlab is a Python-based modeling environment that allows scientists and students to build numerical landscape models. Landlab was designed for disciplines that quantify earth surface dynamics such as geomorphology, hydrology, glaciology, and stratigraphy, but can also be used in related fields.

Landlab provides components to compute flows (such as water, sediment, glacial ice, volcanic material, or landslide debris) across a gridded terrain. With its robust, reusable components, Landlab allows scientists to quickly build landscape model experiments and compute mass balance across scales.


26   LAStools 6 May 2012 Software Suite
Keywords: filtering, clipping, reprojecting, compression, classification, DSM, DTM, TIN, contours, bare-earth
License: Other

Description: LAStools are a collection of highly-efficient, batch scriptable, multi-core command line tools for processing LiDAR that is built upon LASlib (with LASzip).
  • lasground.exe extracts the bare-earth by classifying all ground points
  • lasoverlap.exe checks overlap & vertical/horizontal alignment of flight lines
  • lascontrol.exe quality checks elevations for a list of control points
  • lasclassify.exe find buildings and the trees above the ground
  • lasgrid.exe rasters very large LAS files into elevation or intensity grids
  • lasboundary.exe extracts a boundary polygon that encloses the points
  • lasheight.exe computes for each point its height above the ground
  • lasclip.exe clips points against building footprints / swath boundaries
  • lastile.exe tiles huge amounts of LAS points into square tiles
  • laszip.exe compresses the LAS files in a completely lossless manner
  • lasinfo.exe prints out a quick overview of the contents of a LAS FILE
  • lasindex.exe creates a spatial index LAX file for fast spatial queries
  • txt2las.exe converts LIDAR data from ASCII text to binary LAS format
  • las2txt.exe turns LAS into human-readable and easy-to-parse ASCII
  • lasmerge.exe merges several LAS files into one
  • lassplit.exe splits points of one (or many) LAS files into flight lines
  • lassort.exe sorts points by gps_time, point_source, or into spatial proximity
  • las2las.exe extracts last returns, clips, subsamples, translate

  • 27   libLAS 20 Nov 2010 Data Management / Handling
    Keywords: LAS, point cloud, libLAS
    License: BSD license

    Description: libLAS is a C/C++ library for reading and writing the very common LAS LiDAR format. The ASPRS LAS format is a sequential binary format used to store data from LiDAR sensors and by LiDAR processing software for data interchange and archival. First, libLAS focuses almost completely on providing an easy-to-program-with library for software developers wishing to implement the LAS specification in their own software. Second, libLAS exists to provide a truly open source library. Third, libLAS exists to provide advanced functionality and concentrate almost solely on the specification  not LiDAR data processing in general. libLAS a building block for developers to use to implement their own LiDAR data processing when working with ASPRS LAS data.

    28   lidar2dems 29 Jul 2015 DEM generation
    Keywords: DEM, DSM, DTM, CHM, PDAL, points2grid, gridding
    License: BSD license

    Description: The lidar2dems project is a collection open-source (FreeBSD license) command line utilities for supporting the easy creation of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) from LiDAR data. lidar2dems uses the PDAL library (and associated dependencies) for doing the actual point processing and gridding of point clouds into raster data.

    29   Lidar360 5 Jul 2018 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
    Keywords: Point Cloud Processing, Terrain Classification, ALS Forestry, TLS Forestry, Lidar Power line Survey
    License: Commercial License

    Description: Lidar360 is a comprehensive point cloud post-processing software suite developed by GreenValley International Inc (GVI). It offers a huge collection of tools and functions, from basic point cloud management tools like outlier removal, normalization, projection, and extraction, to advanced algorithms for industry-specific applications, e.g. Terrain, ALS/TLS Forestry, and Powerline Survey. The Lidar360 suite consists of 5 modules (as of June 2018):
    1. Framework -- contains a number of core toolsets to effectively visualize and interact with lidar point cloud including display modes, statistics, data management, classification tools, vector editing and strip adjustment;
    2. Terrain -- a suite of GIS tools for calculating slope, roughness, aspect & contours from surface models. Additionally, it contains tools for repairing surface models, i.e., spikes, holes and extraneous values;
    3 & 4. ALS/TLS Forestry -- The ALS Forestry functions allow users to calculate essential forest metrics including elevation, intensity, canopy cover, LAI etc., and provides regression models and segmentation algorithms such as CHM Segmentation & Point Cloud Segmentation. The TLS Forestry tools are specifically designed to work with terrestrial lidar data. It offers a wealth of tools including Gaussian Mixture Model Classification and TLS Point Cloud segmentation, enabling the users to better classify ground, leaf and trunk points and segment individual trees from TLS point cloud data; and,
    5. Power


    30   LIDAR Analyst 20 Mar 2014 Software Suite
    Keywords: LIDAR, Automated Feature Extraction
    License: Commercial License

    Description: LIDAR Analyst® software is the premier feature extraction solution for airborne LIDAR data, allowing geospatial analysts to unlock the value of LIDAR by automatically extracting 3D objects such as bare earth, trees or buildings. Now the software has been upgraded with a major enhancement: an integrated 3D Viewer that delivers mission-critical high-resolution 3D exploitation and further establishes LIDAR Analyst as the Gold Standard. Enjoy the performance of viewing and manipulating LIDAR data containing over a billion points.
    LIDAR Analyst has eight years of proven heritage as one of the first commercially released LIDAR applications. The power, speed, accuracy and broad selection of tools enable users to get real work accomplished. Thats why LIDAR Analyst is so widely respected and used daily by military forces, federal agencies, local governments, academic universities and GIS services providers around the globe. Since LIDAR Analyst is an extension for Esri ArcGIS®, the products familiar environment makes it easy to install and learn.
    Use the 3D Viewer to manipulate, filter and edit LIDAR point clouds displayed in stunning color. Rapidly inventory all the buildings across a city or area of interest by using LIDAR Analysts advanced algorithms to detect, recognize, and extract complex 3D building shapes. Count the trees in a forest or scattered throughout a neighborhood. Strip away the buildings and shrubbery to reveal the true ground level for detailed terrain.


    31   LIDAR Widgets 6 May 2016 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
    Keywords: contour map, mesh, grid, DXF, AutoCAD, ArcInfo, ESRI, point cloud, terrain, LAS, LAZ
    License: Commercial License

    Description: LIDAR Widgets is a suite of programs that will process LAS/LAZ point files and generate 3D terrain models and contour maps. Output formats include AutoCAD DXF, ESRI ArcInfo grids, and QwtPlot3D viewable meshes with real-time pan, zoom and rotation. Converts LAS/LAZ point clouds into DXF point clouds. Also batch converts LAS/LAZ files into viewable mesh files, contour maps, 3D models, DXF point clouds or ArcInfo meshes.

    32   LiForest(LiDAR Forest Software) 9 Mar 2014 Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: Forest metrics, regression models, individual tree segmentation, point cloud segmentation
    License: Commercial License

    Description: LiForest (LiDAR software for forestry applications) provides a platform that enables users to freely manipulate the LiDAR point cloud and extract useful information specially for forest studies. It consists of several primary modules for LiDAR point cloud data processing, including point cloud I/O, LiDAR-based forest metric calculation, digital model generation, regression models and individual tree segmentation.

    33   LiVoxGen 28 May 2015 Data Management / Handling
    Keywords: LiDAR, voxels, free and open source software (FOSS)
    License: MIT license / X11 license

    Description: LiVoxGen is a C++ program that voxelizes LiDAR data. It outputs a flat file containing voxel (volumetric pixel) information based on the user's parameters and may also output a flat file of metric information for the voxel column centroids. LiVoxGen's purpose is to analyze point densities and forest structure by dividing LiDAR data into voxels.

    34   LP360 for ArcGIS, LP360 for Windows 9 Apr 2013 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Software Suite
    Keywords: LIDAR, Classification, Breaklines, Visualization, Automatic Extraction, Volumetric Analysis
    License: Commercial License

    Description: LP360 for ArcGIS is an extension to ArcMap that allows visualizing and processing of very large point clouds (LIDAR and dense image matching) in a familiar GIS desktop environment. Available in three levels of capability, LP360 provides tools from rapid visualization and derived product generation through advanced features such as automatic ground classification and building footprint extraction.

    LP360 adds to the native viewing capabilities of ArcGIS 10.1 by providing the capability to work with very large projects such as county-wide aerial LIDAR data sets. From Quality Check to advanced feature extractions, LP360 is the tool of choice for LIDAR professionals throughout the world.


    35   LViz: 3D LiDAR Visualization Tool 19 Nov 2010 Visualization
    Keywords: point cloud, lidar, viz, ascii
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: LViz is a tool designed for 3D visualization of LiDAR point cloud and interpolated data, the tool offers import of LiDAR point cloud data (delimited text file) or interpolated surfaces (in ascii or arc ascii grid formats). LViz also offers texture mapping and user control over display settings such as data and background color. LViz was originally written for visualization of outputs from the GEON LiDAR Workflow system and is designed to run on Windows platforms. Although originally conceived for the 3D visualization of LiDAR data, LViz can be used to view any 3D point cloud data such as seismicity or gravity.

    36   Makai Voyager 18 Aug 2011 Visualization
    Keywords: visualization, terrain, lidar, volume
    License: Commercial License

    Description: Makai Voyager is an advanced 3D/4D visualization platform that allows you to fly anwhere in the world to view geospatial data, including: terrain imagery, elevation, LIDAR, volumetric and flow data, and more.

    37   MCC-LIDAR 9 Jun 2011 Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: classification, filter, curvature, ground, interpolation
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: Multiscale Curvature Classification of ground returns in 3-D lidar point clouds (las files), designed for forested environments

    38   MCC-LIDAR GUI 23 May 2017 Data Management / Handling
    Keywords: Classification, Ground
    License: Commercial License

    Description: This is a GUI version of the MCC LIDAR ground classification tool. It has been compiled for 64-bit editions of Windows and has successfully classified LAS files with over 83 million points successfully. This version includes all the necessary binaries and DLL files. The original MCC LIDAR homepage (non-gui) can be found here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mcclidar/
    The installer is 880KB in size. Installed binaries are 2.29MB in size.


    39   NERC-ARF DEM Scripts 7 Jul 2016 DEM generation
    Keywords: DTM, DSM, LAS, GRASS
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: A collection of scripts developed by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Airborne Research Facility Data Analysis Node (NERC-ARF-DAN; formerly ARSF) for generating DEMs from point clouds.
    Through command line tools or Python functions the ARSF DEM Scripts provide a common interface to generate DSMs or DTMs from LAS files using GRASS, SPDLib, points2grid, FUSION or LAStools. When using SPDLib, FUSION or LAStools will classify ground returns to produce a DTM (note license required to produce a DTM using LAStools).
    Additional utilities are available for manipulating DEMs (e.g., patching with a courser resolution DEM to fill in gaps) using GRASS.


    40   OpenAthena for Android 7 Mar 2024 DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
    Keywords: UAS, drone, drones, DJI, geodesy
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: OpenAthena allows common drones (UAS) to spot precise locations

    41   Optimized Pit Removal 18 Feb 2013 DEM Analysis
    Keywords: Pit Removal, Sink Removal, Fill, Cut, Hydrologic Conditioning, Flow Direction, Flow Accumulation
    License: BSD license

    Description: ArcGIS (version 10.1) geoprocessing script tools for removing pits (or sinks) from Digital Elevation Models using a combination of cut and fill. This alternative to the standard Fill tool provides more realistic flow paths with less required manual adjustment. Ideal for high-resolution datasets such as LiDAR.

    The tool also allows users to mark specific depressions to be left unmodified by setting the lowest cell to have a value of No Data. This feature can be used to establish reservoirs as well as known drainage features such as storm sewer inlets.

    Also contains a C++ executable that can be run via command line inputs independent of ArcGIS, and which operates on ASCII grid files.


    42   PDAL 31 Jul 2018 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
    Keywords:
    License: BSD license

    Description: PDAL is the Point Data Abstraction Library. PDAL allows you to compose operations on point clouds into pipelines of stages. These pipelines can be written in a declarative JSON syntax or constructed using the available API. PDAL is available on Ubuntu, Conda (OSX/Windows), and Homebrew.

    43   PDAL Ground Classification Tool (GUI Enabled) 29 Jun 2017 DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling
    Keywords: ground return classification PDAL SMRF PMF GUI automatic automated
    License: Commercial License

    Description: This is a GUI enabled version of the PDAL ground classification tool which supports both SMRF and PMF ground classification methods. It provides for automated ground return classification and supports both LAS and LAZ files. Code base is PDAL version 1.5 and has been compiled for 64-bit editions of Windows 7 or greater. All necessary exe's and DLL's are included in the installer.

    44   planlauf/TERRAIN 12 Jan 2017 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis
    Keywords:
    License: Commercial License

    Description: planlauf/TERRAIN is an easy-to-use application for Windows 7/8/10 to visualize Digital Elevation Models. It uses state-of-the-art techniques from the gaming industry like 'Mesh Decimation', 'Normal Mapping' and 'Level of Detail' to reduce the size of the models significantly while preserving the visual details of the original model. A 30 day trial version without any restrictions is available.

    45   Point Cloud Library (PCL 13 Aug 2011 Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: point clouds, visualization, processing, segmentation, filtering, feature estimation, registration
    License: BSD license

    Description: The Point Cloud Library (or PCL) is a large scale, open project for point cloud processing.

    The PCL framework contains numerous state-of-the art algorithms including filtering, feature estimation, surface reconstruction, registration, model fitting and segmentation.

    PCL is released under the terms of the BSD license and is open source software. It is free for commercial and research use. The project is financially supported by multiple companies, including: Willow Garage, NVidia, Google, and Toyota


    46   PointCloudViz Free Edition 25 Nov 2014 Visualization, DEM generation
    Keywords: 3D, LiDAR, DEM, orthoimage, WMS, LiDAR server
    License: Free to use/Unspecified

    Description: PointCloudViz is a free 3D LiDAR display and processing tool supporting input LAS, LAZ and ASCII formats. It provides very interactive visualization and attribute symbology without data size limits, as well as single or multiple orthoimage draping and grid DEM export.
    LiDAR data can be imported from multiple files, and also multiple processed datasets can be displayed simultaneously.
    PointCloudViz FE is available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
    Version 2.0 includes linear measurement and information tools, Web Map Service image draping and connection to Mirage's Web LiDAR server.


    47   Points2Grid 23 Jun 2011 DEM generation
    Keywords: gridding, P2G, point cloud, binning, local gridding, DEM
    License: BSD license

    Description: Points2Grid is a robust and scalable tool for gridding LIDAR point cloud data to generate Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Points2Grid uses a local gridding method to compute grid cell elevation using a neighborhood defined around each cell based on a search radius provided by the user (see image below). Points2Grid offers two processing modes - in-core and out-of-core - to allow it to handle generation of rasters larger than available memory.

    48   Points2Grid Utility (winP2G) 20 Nov 2010 DEM generation
    Keywords: point cloud, lidar, DEM, gridding, binning
    License: Free to use/Unspecified

    Description: The Points2Grid Utility is a simple tool for the generation of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) from lidar point cloud data. The Points2Grid Utility is a Windows application that utilizes the same local binning algorithm deployed in the OpenTopography lidar system to offer rapid generation of DEMs from large volumes of LiDAR point return data. Note that winP2G is no longer supported - information about newer implementations of the algorithm can be found here: https://opentopography.org/otsoftware/points2grid

    49   Potree 30 Dec 2014 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: WebGL, Viewer
    License: Other

    Description: Potree is a free and open source WebGL based viewer for large point clouds. ( 20 billion and more )
    Some of its features include distance & area measurements, height profiles, clip volumes, various point rendering qualities (square, circle, interpolation, splats) and different types of materials.


    50   Qgis 10 Aug 2024 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling, Software Suite
    Keywords:
    License: BSD license

    Description: Programa para criação de mapas

    51   River Bathymetry Toolkit (RBT) 18 Mar 2011 Software Suite
    Keywords: LiDAR, bathymetry, river, raster, detrending, water, RBT
    License: Free to use/Unspecified

    Description: The (RBT) is available for free and is under active development. Tools exist for cutting cross sections and longitudinal profiles into high resolution DEMs to extract hydrologic parameters such as wetted area, bankfull width, hydraulic radius, gradient and sinuosity. It is possible to save the cross section properties as a ShapeFile and then add them to a map. Using an automated detrending algorithm we are able to remove the overall valley slope. Tools are being created that use the detrended raster to investigate flooding outside a main channel at any prescribed discharge or flow stage.

    52   RiverTools 22 Feb 2014 Software Suite
    Keywords: DEMs, terrain, river network extraction, contributing area, curvature
    License: Commercial License

    Description: RiverTools is a user-friendly GIS application that contains a wide variety of tools specifically designed for terrain and watershed analysis and visualization. Version 4.0 supports the latest versions of Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

    53   SAGA GIS 3 Apr 2011 Software Suite
    Keywords: GIS, Terrain Analysis, Visualization, Raster, Vector, Pointcloud, LAS
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: SAGA GIS is a FOSS which is, besides common GIS tasks, specialized on digital terrain analysis. The software provides a lot of analysis tools which you will not find in any other software package, e.g. for morphometric or hydrologic analysis. SAGA supports various raster and vector (including LAS and SAGA point clouds) formats, DEM generation, analysis and visualization (e.g. 3D point cloud viewer, bare earth extraction). One of SAGA's main objectives is to provide scientists an easy to use API to implement own algorithms (C++) but it is also used in commercial environments. SAGA provides a GUI and can be scripted in various ways (e.g. batch/bash, python). SAGA runs on Windows, Linux and FreeBSD, both 32 and 64bit. The software is licensed under the GPL (GUI, most of the modules) and the LGPL (API).

    54   scarplet 3 Dec 2018 DEM Analysis
    Keywords: Python, fault scarp, edge detection, image processing, diffusion dating
    License: MIT license / X11 license

    Description: scarplet is a Python package for detecting and relatively dating landforms like fault scarps in DEMs. It implements curvature based landform templates that can be used to estimate the maturity of a feature by diffusion dating or detect distinctive topographic features.

    55   SCIMAP 23 Jul 2018 DEM Analysis
    Keywords: diffuse pollution, non-point source pollution, connectivity, critical source areas
    License: Other

    Description: SCIMAP is a diffuse / non-point pollution risk mapping tool design to identify where within a catchment the pollutants are most likely to be come from. The tool work for sediment, nutrients and microbial pollution and enables the effective targeting of mitigation measures. SCIMAP identifies the critical source areas for the pollutant by the joint consideration of the mobilisation and hydrological connectivity patterns across the landscape. The tool can use both LiDAR and drone derived detailed topographic data.

    56   SPD Software Library (SPDLib) 24 May 2012 Software Suite
    Keywords: SPD, SPDLib, LiDAR, TLS, ALS, Full, waveform, Discrete, return, points
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: SPDLib is a set of open source software tools for processing laser scanning data (i.e., LiDAR), including both discrete return and waveform data captured from airborne and terrestrial platforms. The aim of the software is provide you, the user, with the tools you need to process these data. The software has grown from research carried out at Aberystwyth University and Queensland University concerning the processing of LiDAR data for vegetation analysis and has continued to grow. One of the key features which differentiates this software from other LiDAR software is the ability to process and store full waveform datasets alongside traditional discrete return data

    57   TerEx 23 Sep 2014 DEM Analysis
    Keywords: terrace, mapping, feature extraction, floodplain
    License: Free to use/Unspecified

    Description: The TerEx Tool automates the process of mapping terraces and floodplains from high resolution topography data (works best on <3m grid resolution). The tool maps terraces and floodplains from user-defined parameters including, a local-relief threshold selected by a variable-size moving window, minimum area threshold, and maximum distance from the channel to identify and map discrete terrace and floodplain surfaces. Subsequently, the tool automatically measures planform area, absolute elevation, and height relative to the local river channel for each terrace polygon. TerEx can be run in a Python environment or as a GUI plugin for ArcMap. See Stout and Belmont, 2014 and the users manual for explanations of tool functionality and several test cases that provide guidance on parameter values for a wide range of landscapes.

    58   terrainShadingMask 6 Jul 2016 Visualization, DEM Analysis
    Keywords: terrain, shading, mask, profile, horizon, angle, Meteonorm, PVSOL, PVsyst, IES VE, Trnsys 3D
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: terrainShadingMask is a free collection of terrain masks for various locations. They are given in geometrical (.obj files) and textual (.hor files) forms.
    A terrain shading mask is a diagram which maps the silhouette of the surrounding terrain (hills, valleys, mountains, tree tops...) around the chosen location.
    Building simulation softwares (IES VE, Trnsys 3D, Design Builder...) can use the .obj geometry files, while solar-photovoltaic-thermal software (PV*SOL, PVsyst...) can use .hor files.


    59   ToPCAT = Topographic Analysis Toolkit 4 Sep 2014 Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: TLS, SFM, point cloud statistics, point cloud decimation
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: Topographic Point Cloud Analysis Toolkit (ToPCAT) is a software package developed by Brasington et al. (2012) used to decimate (or thin) a point cloud and calculate meaningful statistics for grid defined areas. The process of decimation can reduce computation time and produce meaningful summary outputs (e.g. zMin for modeling bare earth elevations; and detrended standard deviation for modelling surface roughness).

    60   TopoToolbox 21 Jul 2015 Visualization, DEM Analysis
    Keywords: MATLAB, tectonic geomorphology, DEM analysis
    License: BSD license

    Description: TopoToolbox is a suite of MATLAB functions for topographic analysis. The major aim of TopoToolbox is to offer helpful analytical GIS utilities in a non-GIS environment in order to support the simultaneous application of GIS-specific and other quantitative methods. Key methods include advanced methods of flow direction derivation, stream network extraction and manipulation, slope-area analysis, chiplots, and swath profiles.

    61   uniDEM 29 May 2019 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, DEM generation, DEM Analysis, Data Management / Handling
    Keywords: DEM editing, automated workflows, Point Cloud Classification and DEM generation, DTM creation, QC
    License: Commercial License

    Description: uniDEM specializes in post-processing DEMs of all resolutions. This release includes the capability to automate workflows based on graphical programming (scripting), the automated “Bare Ground Classification” tool and the “LiDAR Point Cloud Classification” tool. uniDEM is an efficient but comprehensive solution for standardized large-area DEM creation as well as for generating customer tailored DEMs over small areas. Creates DEMs from LIDAR (las, laz, e57) and completes a DSM or DTM in minutes.

    62   uniTank 4 Nov 2019 Visualization, Point Cloud Analysis, Data Management / Handling
    Keywords: laser scan data, LIDAR, point cloud, data registration, classification, storage tank analysis, tank
    License: Commercial License

    Description: uniTank is a comprehensive, highly automated software solution for near real-time 3D storage tank analysis and reporting based on 3D LiDAR data. The data registration tool is robust and versatile and does not rely on targets in field. uniTank‘s in-depth structural tank analysis includes precise data classification and feature extraction, manway and nozzle detection for tank calibration and all features to perform the analysis of shell roundness, verticality, peaking and bending, shell and edge settlement, roof, floor and floating roof settlement, floating roof rim space, girder, rafter and column deflection as well as tank calibration and berm survey. The graphic and textual reports are generated instantly and offer rapid access to critical decision making information the same day.

    63   VRMesh Survey: LiDAR Point Cloud Classification Tool 30 Mar 2011 Software Suite
    Keywords: lidar, bare earth, point cloud, classification
    License: Commercial License

    Description: Vrmesh Survey is an intelligent solution for automatic point cloud classification and bare-earth extraction. It automatically and accurately classifies LIDAR point clouds into ground, vegetation, building, and others. More than 90% identification jobs will be done in a one-click process. Manual adjustments can be easily performed in a cross section view. It also provides comprehensive functionalities to generate accurate triangle meshes.

    64   Whitebox Geospatial Analysis Tools 27 May 2014 Software Suite
    Keywords: GIS, LAS file reader, interpolation, geospatial analysis
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: Whitebox GAT is a full-blown GIS with extensive analysis capabilities for handling LiDAR data, including specialized interpolation algorithms for LAS data, removal of off-terrain objects, and plenty of tools for processing DEMs, e.g. hydrological tools, geomorphometry, etc. Here is a description for handling LiDAR:
    http://whiteboxgeospatial.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/working-with-lidar-data-in-whitebox-gat/


    65   xyzRotatorDH 30 Nov 2010 Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: rotation, translation, georeferencing, point cloud
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: A MATLAB script that takes an unreferenced 3-column xyz dataset (e.g., a TLS point cloud) and places it in a Cartesian global coordinate system (e.g., UTM) given at least one known global point (e.g. from a hand-held GPS unit).

    66   xyzRotatorDH_Linux 30 Nov 2010 Point Cloud Analysis
    Keywords: rotation, translation, georeferencing, point cloud
    License: GNU General Public License

    Description: A Linux (Korn) shell script that takes an unreferenced 3-column xyz dataset (e.g., a TLS point cloud) and places it in a Cartesian global coordinate system (e.g., UTM) given at least one known global point (e.g. from a hand-held GPS unit).