.. _home:

******************************************************************************
libLAS - LAS 1.0/1.1/1.2 ASPRS LiDAR data translation toolset
******************************************************************************

libLAS is a C/C++ library for reading and writing the very common `LAS`
`LiDAR`_ format. The `ASPRS LAS format`_ is a sequential binary file format
used to store data from LiDAR sensors and by LiDAR processing software for
data interchange and archival.  See :ref:`features` for more details on what
libLAS can provide a LiDAR software developer.  See :ref:`start` for how to
get started using the library.

libLAS supports the ASPRS LAS format specification versions: 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.

libLAS' initial development was supported in 2007-2008 by the `IGSB`_ of the
Iowa DNR for use in its state-wide `LIDAR`_ project. Later support for
libLAS was provided by a number of organizations including the
`U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory`_.

As of 2018, libLAS has been replaced by the `PDAL`_ project and it is in
hibernation or maintenance mode. libLAS does not provide support for LAS or LAZ
1.4, which PDAL does. PDAL also provides support for many more formats, the
notion of `PDAL pipelines`_, Python support, and has packages for OSGeo4W,
Docker/Ubuntu/Alpine, and OSX Homebrew.  Additionally, libLAS' Python
capabilities are much better expressed by the pure-Python laspy
http://laspy.org library, and if manipulating LAS data in Python is your
ultimate desire, use that instead of libLAS.

In short, if you are starting fresh, start with PDAL.

.. _`PDAL`: https://pdal.io

.. _`PDAL pipelines`: https://www.pdal.io/pipeline.html





.. _`U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory` : http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/

.. _`LASlib`: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/download/laslib.zip





.. _`free-as-in-beer`: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_Libre#.22Free_beer.22_vs_.22free_speech.22_distinction




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

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











.. _`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/
.. _`ASPRS Standards Committee`: https://www.asprs.org/divisions-committees/lidar-division/laser-las-file-format-exchange-activities
.. _`ASPRS LAS format`: https://www.asprs.org/divisions-committees/lidar-division/laser-las-file-format-exchange-activities

.. _`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
.. _`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
.. _`ASPRS Workshop Demo`: http://liblas.org/raw-attachment/wiki/WikiStart/ASPRS-Workshop-NOAA-Demo.pdf
.. _`vertical coordinate systems`: http://liblas.org/wiki/VerticalCS
.. _`Python howto`: http://liblas.org/wiki/PythonHowTo
