   
libLAS - LAS 1.0/1.1 ASPRS LiDAR data translation toolset
==============================================================================

libLAS is a C/C++ library for reading and writing ASPRS LAS version 1.0 and 1.1 
data.  LAS-formatted data is heavily used in `LiDAR`_ processing operations, and 
the LAS format is a sequential binary format used to store data from sensors 
and as intermediate processing storage by some applications.  

libLAS is available under the terms of the `BSD License`_. It builds on work 
by `Martin Isenburg and Jonathan Shewchuk`_ of the  University of North 
Carolina in their `LAStools`_ project.  libLAS' base C++ library that reads 
and writes LAS 1.0/1.1 data was replaced with new development, and Martin's 
tools were ported to use this new code.

libLAS' initial development was supported by the `IGSB`_ of the Iowa DNR 
for use in its state-wide `LIDAR`_ project.


Download
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 1.0.0 version of libLAS can be downloaded from http://liblas.org/wiki/1.0.0

Older releases may be obtained from http://liblas.org/wiki/Releases

Binaries
..............................................................................


Windows binaries of libLAS are provided in two forms.  The easiest form is 
to obtain `OSGeo4W`_ and select the libLAS package to install.  Alternatively, 
you can download a Windows package with full spatial reference support from 
the release page.  GDAL support is only provided with the `OSGeo4W`_ package, however.

Linux, Mac OS X, and Solaris binaries are not provided.  The source code 
uses the standard GNU autotools/automake stack for compilation and installation.


Documentation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

`LAStools`_ / libLAS Command-line Utilities
..............................................................................

* `lasinfo`_
* `lasmerge`_
* `las2las`_
* `las2txt`_
* `txt2las`_
* `las2ogr`_

Software Development with libLAS
..............................................................................

* `FOSS4G 2008`_ presentation that provides a basic overview of the design and philosophy of libLAS
* `Tutorials`_ - tutorials on using libLAS from C++, Python and .NET/Mono languages
* `LAS C API`_- doxygen docs that describe the libLAS C API
* `dotnetLibLAS API`_ - docs for the .NET API
* `LAS Doxygen Docs`_ - doxygen docs of the entire C/C++ API
* `LAS Format Elements`_ - comparison of elements of LAS Format 1.0 and 1.1  
* `Software`_ - a list of geospatial software with reading and writing capabilities of LAS Format
* `Resources`_ - a list of general LiDAR/LAS resources

LAS Format Specifications
..............................................................................

The LAS Format Standard is maintained by `ASPRS Standards Committee`_. LAS 
format standard documents are available in PDF format:

* `LAS 1.2 Format Standard`_ (2008-09-02)
* `LAS 1.1 Format Standard`_ (2005-05-07)
* `LAS 1.0 Format Standard`_ (2003-05-09)

License
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

libLAS is available under the terms of the `BSD License`_. 
See `License`_ for a copy.

FAQ
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The FAQ is available from http://liblas.org/wiki/FAQ

Features of libLAS
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Open Source
..............................................................................

libLAS is open source software.  You can embed it in your own applications 
(and even resell it) as long as you follow the crediting restriction of the BSD 
license.  

Multiple APIs
..............................................................................

libLAS has C, C++, .NET, and Python APIs.   

Spatial Reference System Support
..............................................................................

Linked against the latest version of `libgeotiff`_, you can set and get the spatial reference 
systems of LAS files using simple `proj.4`_ coordinate system definitions.  

Simple Variable Length Record Abstraction
..............................................................................

libLAS provides a sensible abstraction for working with variable length records (VLR) 
in LAS files, and it transparently manages the VLRs related to spatial referencing 
systems for you.  

Command-line Utilities
..............................................................................

libLAS provides ports of the `LAStools`_ utilities by Martin Isenburg for doing 
things like translating from one version of the LAS format to another, inspecting 
header information, and translating LAS data to and from text.

Cross-platform operation
..............................................................................

libLAS is known to work on all editions of Microsoft Visual C++ 7.1+ (Windows) and 
GCC 4.1+ (Mac OS X and Linux) platforms on both big- and little-endian architectures.


Development
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authors
..............................................................................

The libLAS development team are:

 * `Howard Butler`_
 * `Mateusz Loskot`_
 * `Phil Vachon`_
 * Martin Vales
 * `Frank Warmerdam`_

Special thanks to `Martin Isenburg and Jonathan Shewchuk`_ for their
`LAStools`_ pioneering implementation of the ASPRS LAS standard that made 
development of the libLAS library possible.

Subversion Tree
..............................................................................

The SVN repository URL is available at http://liblas.org/svn

::

    svn checkout http://liblas.org/svn/trunk/

Information about Trac
..............................................................................

* `Trac <http://trac.edgewall.org/>`_ Open Source Project
* `TracGuide <http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracGuide>`_ - Built-in Documentation
* `TracFaq <http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracFaq>`_ - Frequently Asked Questions
* `TracSupport <http://liblas.org/wiki/TracSupport>`_ - Trac Support
* `reStructuredText Support in Trac <http://bitten.edgewall.org/wiki/WikiRestructuredText>`_


Community
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IRC
..............................................................................

Find the libLAS developers on IRC on #liblas at `Freenode`_.

Mailing Lists
..............................................................................

* liblas-devel - http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/liblas-devel
* liblas-commits - http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/liblas-commits


.. _`LIDAR`: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIDAR
.. _`IGSB`: http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/
.. _`Martin Isenburg`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/
.. _`LAStools`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/
.. _`Martin Isenburg and Jonathan Shewchuk`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/
.. _`LAS Format`: http://www.lasformat.org/
.. _`LAS 1.2 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/asprs_las_format_v12.pdf
.. _`LAS 1.1 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/asprs_las_format_v11.pdf
.. _`LAS 1.0 Format Standard`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/asprs_las_format_v10.pdf
.. _`ASPRS Standards Committee`: http://www.asprs.org/society/committees/standards/lidar_exchange_format.html
.. _`Howard Butler`: http://hobu.biz
.. _`Mateusz Loskot`: http://mateusz.loskot.net
.. _`Phil Vachon`: http://www.geoscan.info
.. _`Frank Warmerdam`: http://home.gdal.org/warmerda/
.. _`BSD license`: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php
.. _`LAS Format Elements`: http://liblas.org/wiki/LASElements
.. _`Tutorials`: http://liblas.org/wiki/Tutorial
.. _`Software`: http://liblas.org/wiki/Software
.. _`Resources`: http://liblas.org/wiki/Resources
.. _`License`: http://liblas.org/wiki/License
.. _`las2las`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/las2las.txt
.. _`las2txt`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/las2txt.txt
.. _`lasinfo`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/lasinfo.txt
.. _`lasmerge`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/lasmerge.txt
.. _`txt2las`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/txt2las.txt
.. _`las2ogr`: http://liblas.org/browser/trunk/doc/las2ogr.txt
.. _`Freenode`: http://freenode.net
.. _`Library Design`: http://liblas.org/wiki/LibraryDesign
.. _`FOSS4G 2008`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/liblas_foss4g_2008.pdf
.. _`LAS C API`: http://liblas.org/doxygen/liblas_8h.html
.. _`LAS Doxygen Docs`: http://liblas.org/doxygen/
.. _`How To Release libLAS`: http://liblas.org/wiki/HowToRelease
.. _`libgeotiff`: http://www.remotesensing.org/geotiff/geotiff.html
.. _`7/28/2008`: http://lists.maptools.org/pipermail/geotiff/2008-July/000501.html
.. _`proj.4`: http://proj.maptools.org/
.. _`GDAL`: http://www.gdal.org
.. _`OSGeo4W`: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Win32_Installer
.. _`dotnetLibLAS API`: http://liblas.org/wiki/dotnetapi
.. _`FOSS4G 2008`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/liblas_foss4g_2008.pdf
