Comments on: 5 Best Free LiDAR Software Tools and Viewers

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:53:51 +0000

Blender, Meshlab and Siemens Solid Edge Community Edition are missing ;)
Also Leica has Cyclone 3DR Viewer (Solid memory, management if you want to open multiple files and formats) e.g. 10GB e57files and a dwg in the background no problem.
Faro used to have a free viewer as well but I forgot the name.
Sketchup when is was still in Googles hands also was free e.g. Version 7.0.10247
With these programs you can be on the same level as payed programs, just a little more time to invest for sure.

cheers

By: Robert Frankmann

Robert Frankmann — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:48:30 +0000

LAStools should definitly be on this list. There is an open-source & a licensed part, but all licensed tools can be used for free up to the point limit. The new visualizer (laslook) is also free (without point limits). https://rapidlasso.de/.

By: John Harris

John Harris — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 02:25:59 +0000

The true value of LiDAR is unlocked through post-processing, if you’re really looking for valuable analysis of your data, then paid is still the way to go. I use LiDAR360 by GreenValley International, honestly, it’s really affordable and I’ve made comparisons with all the major software (Terrasolid, Riegl et.) and LiDAR360 is by far the easiest to get started with. Highly recommended.

By: Richmond Atsu

Richmond Atsu — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 10:08:58 +0000

Great resource platform. I’m a geoscientist ( mineral exploration geologist)

By: Cesar Ortega

Cesar Ortega — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 04:32:23 +0000

I think PDAL must be on the list.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:29:41 +0000

Cloud Compare beats all these for functionality (as far as I can tell by looking at the descriptions written up) and is free.

By: Jeroen Arends

Jeroen Arends — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 06:10:57 +0000

Perhaps you can also have a look at FUSION with its LDV viewer developed by the Forestry Service of the USDA. It is free, can work with LAS (for this is relies on las tools) and LAZ files as well its own uncompressed LDA format and comes with a host of online command tools such as for instance the conversion of formats.
see:
http://forsys.sefs.uw.edu/fusion/fusion_overview.html
http://forsys.sefs.uw.edu/fusion/fusionlatest.html

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 18:02:28 +0000

Thanks for the helpful post.

I found ArcGIS and GrassGIS as great tools for geospatial data management, geoprocessing, spatial modeling, and visualization.
GrassGIS has an online browser version too.

By: GISGeography

GISGeography — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:54:42 +0000

In reply to Martin Dobias.

Yes, I am very excited about this update.

I will be writing about it. Also, I’ll include in this list of 5 best free LiDAR software.

Thanks, Martin!

By: Martin Dobias

Martin Dobias — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 21:14:23 +0000

To be released in a couple of weeks, QGIS 3.18 will allow viewing of lidar data in 2D and 3D:
https://github.com/qgis/QGIS-Enhancement-Proposals/issues/194

And hopefully later this year QGIS will also integrate lots of algorithms from PDAL!