Introducing LP360

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology has revolutionized the collection of digital terrain models (DTM). High point densities and increasing accuracies of LiDAR systems are allowing for the generation of more detailed DTM"s than ever before as well as the utilization of bathymetric sensors, and hyperspectral fusion technology generally found in traditional image based remote sensing.

The advances of LiDAR over the past decade has brought with it a huge array of applications spread throughout a vast array of industries. LiDAR can be used not only for traditional topographic purposes dealing with the ground surface but also for features above the ground such as utilities, and forest canopies (DSM, digital surface models). However, many of these applications of LiDAR have yet to be realized by the end user due to the lack of software and algorithm development designed with the end user in mind. Simply, LiDAR software development has not kept up with the pace of LiDAR hardware advancements to support its full potential of applications.

Primarily, LiDAR software and algorithm development has been focused on LiDAR processing such as classifying, filtering, and feature extraction. The end result for the end user is a slim set of choices for simple QA/QC of their deliverables much less using the data effectively for other applications. In many cases, LiDAR is delivered mutually exclusive from the attributes that are stored for each point either originating from the sensor or produced by the filtering and classification routines.

QCoherent Software, LLC introduces LP360, a first of its kind LiDAR plug-in, for the ArcGIS environment. LP360 uses a specially-designed ArcMap data layer to draw points directly from LAS files, thereby closely integrating LiDAR data with the multitude of GIS data types supported by ArcGIS. The following are a few of the benefits and features of LP360:

At QCoherent Software, we are dedicated to providing high quality and capacity LiDAR software. Our goals include providing foundational LiDAR tools to support the visualization, navigation, and rapid on-demand access to raw LiDAR points from within the industry standard LAS format. This core functionality is an excellent source to serve as a foundation and gateway to further developments of end user based applications that require quick access to LiDAR points and visualization.

The success of future developments of end user applications utilizing raw LiDAR data such as hydrology or flow modeling hinges primarily on the accessibility of the software and technology produced by QCoherent Software. QCoherent Software understands that out-of-the-box software can not meet the needs of all industries requiring applications of LiDAR data. The development of Automated Programming Interfaces (API) based especially on Component Object Model (COM) technology will play an important role in making many of the QCoherent Software technologies available for third party development. We believe that such an open architecture for on-demand access and visualization of raw LiDAR points will allow LiDAR technologies to reach its fullest potential of applications that it has yet to be fulfilled.

QCoherent Software is excited and looks forward to providing and delivering LiDAR software that can serve as a foundation for future development of end user applications in the industry. The ArcGIS plug-in, LP360, will be available in May of 2006.

LP360 is available now, see the LP360 product page