An overview of the Point Cloud toolset

The Point Cloud toolset contains tools for converting LAS files and interpolating raster surfaces from point clouds.

The LAS format was designed to store discrete returns from lidar surveys in an efficient binary data structure. Over time, it has also become the destination for point clouds from sources other than lidar. The point cloud scene layer was designed to accommodate all types of point clouds with any type of attribute. The Point Cloud toolset contains tools that can interpolate a raster surface from a point cloud scene layer or a LAS dataset, and convert between different LAS file versions, point record formats, and compression types.

Tools in the Point Cloud toolset

Tool	Description
Convert LAS	Converts .las, .zlas, and .laz files between different LAS compression methods, file versions, and point record formats.
LAS Dataset To Raster	Creates a raster using elevation, intensity, or RGB values stored in the lidar points referenced by the LAS dataset.
Point Cloud To Raster	Creates a raster surface from height values in a point cloud scene layer package file (*.slpk).