At the 2009 International ESRI user conference, Seattle-based LizardTech Corp. introduced users to their latest offering - Lidar compressor - a solution for those needing to be more efficient in working with Large LIDAR datasets.

I found this to be a very timely launch, particularly when you notice that many of the ESRI business partners on the exhibition hall floor were touting the merits of using LIDAR within the GIS workflow.

Why Lidar Compressor?

• Working in the cloud is inherently difficult
• People aren’t working with their point data many aren’t even getting it or asking for it
• LIDAR files are big
• Hundreds of millions or billions of points
• Higher res sensors out there collecting data
• Seeing statewide data collection efforts, currently 8 states doing this
• LIDAR files are tough to compress
• Random data, not a regular grid, compression was “zipping” must be decompressed for use
  Most commonly requested feature from users over past couple of years (compressing lidar data)

The solution - LIDAR compressor

• Easy to use, requires little training
• Compress LAS and ASCII files to MrSID generation 4 - 4:1 lossless virtual lossles at about 10:1
• Reduce files by 75%
• selective decoding, no need to decompress the entire file to view one portion
  windows UI
• combine multiple point cloud files to individual MG4 mosaic
• Lossy - 10:1 virtually lossless - positional error is less than the sensor that acquired it
• Traditionally customers have not even taken delivery of the entire point cloud
• Patent pending technology
• $2995 standalone license

For more about LIDAR Compressor see:

http://www.lizardtech.com/products/lidar/