pdal

The Point Data Abstraction Library (PDAL) provides command line tools and a library for the manipulating and translating point cloud data.

pdal

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Point cloud data is similar to vector point data, but optimized for the large data collection volume produced my modern data collection devices where a cloud of points are used to capture three dimensional structures, and processing chains are tailored to work with the billions of points.

PDAL provides point cloud data translation workflows, providing a common API freeing you from worrying about the many different data collection formats. PDAL provides the greatest selection of point cloud format drivers.

To unlock the power of PDAL:

  • Command line tools are provided
  • Python processing is supported using Numpy
  • Developers are provided with a direct C++ API

For more information please visit our website.

Core features

  • Learning PDAL

    • Quickstart using pre-constructed Dockr image to try out PDAL at your convenience.
    • PDAL workshop with hands-on examples using PDAL applications for point cloud data processing

  • Processing

    • From the most basic format translation, to multi-stage transformations PDAL pipeline models your intended workflow
    • JSON representation of PDAL processing pipeline

  • Readers

    • The most extensive format support in the industry with over 20 supported formats
    • Provide a common representation of dimensions like X,Y,Z along with intensity to represent LiDAR pint clouds
    • Support everything from text representations, databases readers and network services

  • Writers

    • Capture your processed results with everything from text, to sqlite to geowave.

  • Filters

    • Inline operations to process your point cloud data
    • Remove, modify, reorganize and add data on the fly to your data stream