Change the appearance of LAS dataset layers

You can adjust the display and appearance of LAS dataset layers on the LAS Dataset Layer tab. Select a LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane to access the LAS Dataset Layer contextual tab.

Visibility range

Use the In Beyond and Out Beyond settings to limit the visibility of a layer to be between specific scales. Choose one of the preset options from the drop-down menu or provide a scale in the text box. Use the Clear Limits button to remove the visibility settings.

Effects

The following Effects options allow you to compare two overlapping layers:

• Transparency slider —Increase the transparency of the selected layer, revealing underlying features.
• Layer Blend modes—Visually blend the feature layer with the layers below it in the drawing order.
• Feature Blend modes—Visually blend the features in the feature layer with each other, for example, to change the properties of overlapping features.
• Swipe tool —Remove the layer on top, revealing the layer that's under it. To deactivate Swipe, on the Home tab, click the Explore button .

Compare

Use the following Compare options to compare overlapping feature layers:

• Swipe tool —Remove the layer on top, revealing the layer that's under it. To deactivate Swipe, on the Home tab, click the Explore button .
• Flicker button —Turn the selected layer's visibility off and on continuously. The number of milliseconds (thousandths of a second) defines the flicker rate. You can use flicker regardless of the active tool. It stays on until you turn it off, switch to another view, or select a different layer. Flicker is useful for detecting change in imagery layers, data quality comparison, or other analysis in which you want to see the difference between layers. Flicker is available for feature layers in maps and scenes but is not available for 2D layers in a scene.

Symbology

You have several options available for displaying or symbolizing a point cloud layer. You can quickly change the display of a LAS dataset layer from the Symbology drop-down menu or in the Symbology pane. The display renderers on the Symbology drop-down menu only show one renderer at a time. To display more than one renderer for a LAS dataset, use the Symbology pane.

The Symbology options for a LAS dataset layer honor any applied LAS dataset filters.

Symbology for a single .las or .zlas file is supported in the same way as a LAS dataset.

When a LAS dataset, .las file, or .zlas file is added to a 2D map or 3D scene in ArcGIS Drone2Map, the points are drawn with an elevation renderer.

Use the symbology drop-down menu

Use the Symbology drop-down menu to quickly change the symbology of a LAS dataset between common point and surface symbology renderers. The appearance of the LAS dataset automatically changes with each selection from the Symbology drop-down menu.

Follow these steps to access the Symbology drop-down menu:

1. Select a LAS point cloud layer in the Contents pane and click the LAS Dataset Layer tab.
2. On the LAS Dataset Layer tab, in the Point Drawing group, click the Symbology drop-down arrow.
3. Select the applicable symbology for the selected LAS dataset layer.

There are several common triangulated irregular network (TIN)-based symbology renderers you can use to display a LAS dataset. Once a selection is made, the changes apply to the LAS dataset listed in the active LAS dataset Layer drop-down menu.

Select from any of the following point-based symbology renderers:

Point symbology	Description
Elevation	Symbolize LAS points based on elevation.
Class	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the LAS classification code.
Return	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the lidar pulse return number.
RGB	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by RGB values assigned to each point.
Intensity	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by intensity values assigned to each point.

Select from any of the following surface-based symbology renderers:

TIN surface symbology	Description
Elevation	Symbolize TIN using elevation.
Aspect	Symbolize TIN using aspect values.
Slope	Symbolize TIN using slope values.

Select from the following line-based symbology renderers:

Line symbology	Description
Contour	Symbolize TIN using contours.
Edges	Symbolize TIN using edges.

Use the symbology pane

The Symbology pane for LAS dataset layers allows you to draw a LAS dataset as points, contours, edges, or a surface, as well as any combination of these symbology renderers. Only the types of symbology that are valid for the LAS dataset you have selected will be available.

1. Select a LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and click the LAS Dataset tab.
2. On the Appearance tab, in the Point Drawing group, click the Symbology button .

   The Symbology pane appears.

3. Modify the applicable symbology for the LAS dataset selected in the Contents pane.

You can also select other LAS dataset layers in the Contents pane, and without closing the Symbology pane, you can apply the same symbology to them.

Symbolize using points

Clicking the Symbolize your layer using points button opens the Points pane. The options below become available once you check the Draw using check box. The following table provides the available point symbology attributes from the Draw using drop-down menu. Once the point-based attribute is selected from the Draw using drop-down menu, the symbology options provided in the Symbology pane show either classify, stretch, or unique value symbology options.

Point symbology attribute	Description
Elevation (classified)	Symbolize points based on point elevation using classified options.
Elevation	Symbolize points based on point elevation using stretch options.
RGB	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by RGB values assigned to each point if available.
Intensity	Symbolize the points by intensity values assigned to each point if available.
Scan angle	Symbolize the points based on the scan angle.
Classification	Symbolize the points by the LAS classification code if available.
Return number	Symbolize the points based on the return number.
Number of return	Symbolize the points by the lidar pulse return number if available.
User data	Symbolize the points with user data.
Point source ID	Symbolize the points by the point source ID.

• Classify—Group points together in a specified number of classes when displaying Elevation values.
  • Symbol scale—Increase or decrease the size of the points based on minimum and maximum values.
  • Modulate using intensity—Darken the base color computed by the renderer based on the intensity value for each point. High-intensity values leave the base color unchanged, while low-intensity values may darken the base color. The amount of modulation is proportional to the intensity value within an intensity range representative of the dataset where extreme intensity values (low or high) have been excluded.
  • Method—Show the available options used to classify the points.
  • Classes—Change the number of classes used.
  • Color scheme—Choose a color scheme to apply.
  • Class breaks—Define the range of values to display.
• Stretch—Define how the values will be stretched between minimum and maximum values that are associated with a color scheme for Elevation, RGB, Intensity, and Scan angle values.
  • Symbol Scale—Increase or decrease the size of the points based on minimum and maximum values.
  • Draw—Switch between Elevation and Intensity values.
  • Modulate using intensity—Darken the base color computed by the renderer based on the intensity value for each point. High-intensity values leave the base color unchanged, while low-intensity values may darken the base color. The amount of modulation is proportional to the intensity value within an intensity range representative of the dataset where extreme intensity values (low or high) have been excluded.
  • Color scheme—Set the color scheme.
  • Stretch—Define the range of values to display.

  Note:

  You can only change the size of the RGB rendered points.

• Unique Values—Assign a color to each value in a dataset. LAS files of a LAS dataset layer can be attributed with additional information. A unique values renderer allows the points to be rendered with individual colors for the following point attributes: Classification, Return number, Number of returns, User data, and Point source ID.
  • Symbol scale—Increase or decrease the size of the points based on minimum and maximum values.
  • Modulate using intensity—Darken the base color computed by the renderer based on the intensity value for each point. High-intensity values leave the base color unchanged, while low-intensity values may darken the base color. The amount of modulation is proportional to the intensity value within an intensity range representative of the dataset where extreme intensity values (low or high) have been excluded.
  • Color scheme—Modify the current color scheme.
  • Values—Define the range of values to display.

Symbolize using contours

Click the Symbolize your layer using contours button to open the Contours pane. The following options become available once you check the Draw contours check box:

• Contour interval—The interval between the contour lines.
• Reference height—The starting z-value from which the contour interval is either added or subtracted to delineate contours. The default value is 0.0.
• Index factor—A cartographic aid for assisting in the visualization of contour lines. The index factor is typically five times larger than the contour interval.
• Contour types—The Symbol, Type, and Label values for the contours.

Symbolize using edges

A TIN is used to display a LAS dataset as a surface. Edges are line features using the triangle edges of a TIN dataset.

Click the Symbolize your layer using edges button to open the Edges pane. Once you check the Draw using check box , use the drop-down menu to select either Simple or Edge Type to symbolize the edge lines of the TIN.

Symbolize using a surface

A TIN is used to display a LAS dataset as a surface. A LAS dataset rendered as a TIN can be symbolized using Simple, Elevation, Slope, or Aspect symbology.

Click the Symbolize your layer using a surface button to open the Surface pane. The following options become available once you check the Draw using check box:

TIN surface symbology	Description
Simple	Symbolize a TIN using a single symbol.
Elevation	Symbolize a TIN using elevation.
Aspect	Symbolize a TIN using aspect values.
Slope	Symbolize a TIN using slope values.

Reset Legend Elevation Range

You can reset the elevation symbology range classes for a LAS dataset layer based on the current display extent. You can redefine the class breaks using this option so that you get the full range of colors for that area of interest.

The Reset Legend Elevation Range option for a LAS dataset layer is on the context menu of the layer.

1. Select a LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and right-click to access the context menu.
2. Select the Reset Legend Elevation Range option. The elevation will be reset based on the current display extent.

Note:

The Reset Legend Elevation Range option is only available in a 2D map.

Point Thinning

The Point Thinning group on the LAS Dataset Layer tab controls the resolution of the LAS dataset. The Point Thinning group is available in a 2D or 3D map.

Typically, LAS points are displayed as a thinned representation of the full resolution point set. You can quickly zoom in to full resolution using the Zoom To Full Resolution option from the context menu of the LAS dataset layer. Right-click the LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane and select Zoom To Full Resolution. The Zoom To Full Resolution option is only available in a 2D map.

• Full Resolution (only available in a 2D map)—A scale threshold can be set in the Full Resolution Scale window. This is a scale threshold used to control when the LAS dataset renders itself without thinning, using 100 percent of the LAS points. It is used when the map scale is equal to or greater than the scale you specify. The point limit is still honored; if the number of estimated points for the current extent exceeds the limit, the LAS dataset thins itself and does not draw using all the data. When this occurs, an asterisk appears next to the data percentage listed for the layer in the table of contents. When the map display scale is less than the full resolution scale, thinning occurs based on the Point Density slider bar setting.

• Display Limit—Applying a point limit sets a size limit to the number of points used in the triangulation of the LAS dataset layer surface. The default value is 800,000. If, for a given display extent, use of the settings results in a surface that exceeds the specified point count, the layer switches to be more generalized.
• Density—The density of points enforced by the LAS dataset. This is set interactively using the slider bar. Move the slider to the left for a coarse surface and to the right for a more fine or full-surface resolution. As you move the slider bar, the density of the points on-screen changes from minimum to maximum.

Point Filters

The Point Filters group on the LAS Dataset Layer tab allows you to change the display of the data contributing to the LAS dataset in Drone2Map. A LAS dataset can reference many LAS files and surface constraints. You can adjust which lidar points and surface constraints are drawn using the Point Filters group. The Point Filters group contains Predefined and Surface Constraints filters. The Predefined and Surface Constraints buttons provide quick access to filtered display options and the LAS dataset Layer Properties window.

Once you choose the filter options, any further analysis or symbology changes will honor the selected filters.

Follow these steps to access the LAS dataset Point Filters group:

1. Select a LAS dataset layer in the Contents pane.
2. On the LAS Dataset Layer tab, in the Point Filters group, click the Predefined button and select a filter option.

Note:

The same filter options also apply to a single .las or .zlas file.

Change LAS point filters

A lidar pulse can be reflected from one or many features and can return more than one laser pulse. You can use these separate laser pulse returns to display the lidar data referenced by the LAS dataset. The most common filters are Ground and Non-Ground, basically meaning ground laser returns and feature laser returns, respectively. Separating lidar data based on different laser returns allows you to analyze and visualize lidar data quickly and efficiently for various applications.

The Predefined filter drop-down menu provides access to the common lidar filters described below. There are several other options available in Drone2Map to filter lidar data referenced by the LAS dataset. Use the LAS Filters option on the Layer Properties window for the LAS dataset to access more advanced point filter options.

Point or surface filter	Description
All Points	Use all the lidar points to display the LAS dataset.
Ground	Use only the lidar points flagged as ground points to display the LAS dataset.
Non-Ground	Use all the lidar points that are not flagged as ground points to display the LAS dataset.
First Return	Use only first-return lidar points to display the LAS dataset.

Turn surface constraints on and off

Surface constraints are surface features stored in either geodatabase feature classes or shapefiles that are usually derived from a remote-sensing technique such as photogrammetry. If you added surface constraints to your LAS dataset, you can turn them on or off.

1. Click the Surface Constraints button in the Point Filters group to open the Surface Constraints options on the Layer Properties window.
2. Check the appropriate check boxes to turn the surface constraints on or off.