[R-sig-Geo] Reading *.LAS format of LiDAR data In R

[Rainer Hurling]

On 26.02.2012 12:35 (UTC+1), gianni lavaredo wrote:
> Dear Researchers,
>
> is there some library to read *.LAS file format in R  to import LiDAR data?

Do you really need the data within R or is it more important to process 
them with R? For the second, one way is using package RSAGA, if SAGA GIS 
is installed on your system, see http://www.saga-gis.org .

RSAGA is some kind of a wrapper (and much more) for using the modules of 
SAGA GIS. With 'rsaga.get.libraries()' you will get a list of available 
SAGA GIS module libraries. In this list you should find 'io_shapes_las'. 
If not, you have to reconfigure and rebuild your SAGA GIS installation.

If module library "io_shapes_las" exists, you can ask this library for 
its modules:


#rsaga.get.modules(c("io_shapes_las"))
error: module
$io_shapes_las
   code             name interactive
1    0 Export LAS Files       FALSE
2    1 Import LAS Files       FALSE
3    2         LAS Info       FALSE


This module library contains three modules. The one with code 1 should 
be the right in your case. The error message is nonrelevant like in the 
subsequent items.
In a next step you can ask this module (Import LAS Files) for its 
parameters and options:


#rsaga.get.usage("io_shapes_las",1)
Unknown option 'h'
Usage: saga_cmd [-POINTS <str>] [-FILE <str>] [-T] [-i] [-a] [-r] [-c] 
[-u] [-n] [-R] [-G] [-B] [-e] [-d] [-p] [-C] [-VALID] [-RGB_RANGE <str>]
   -POINTS:<str>         Point Cloud
         Data Object (optional output)
   -FILE:<str>           Input File
         File path
   -T                    gps-time
         Boolean
   -i                    intensity
         Boolean
   -a                    scan angle
         Boolean
   -r                    number of the return
         Boolean
   -c                    classification
         Boolean
   -u                    user data
         Boolean
   -n                    number of returns of given pulse
         Boolean
   -R                    red channel color
         Boolean
   -G                    green channel color
         Boolean
   -B                    blue channel color
         Boolean
   -e                    edge of flight line flag
         Boolean
   -d                    direction of scan flag
         Boolean
   -p                    point source ID
         Boolean
   -C                    rgb color
         Boolean
   -VALID                Check Point Validity
         Boolean
   -RGB_RANGE:<str>      R,G,B value range
         Choice
         Available Choices:
         [0] 16 bit
         [1] 8 bit

error: executing module [Import LAS Files]
library path:   /usr/local/lib/saga
library name:   libio_shapes_las
module name :   Import LAS Files


 From here on it depends on your data how to proceed. You will find nice 
example in the help pages of RSAGA.

Hope this helps,
Rainer


> Thanks for all suggestions
> Gianni