LIDAR point cloud "solutions" in ArcGIS

The ESRI Geoprocessing blog has a series of articles (three so far) on how to use ArcGIS to manage LIDAR point cloud data. The articles are quite detailed and are a good resource for folks who want to put their point cloud data into Arc. The articles available so far are:

- Assessing Lidar Coverage and Sample Density
- Creating raster DEMs and DSMs from large lidar point collections
- Data Area Delineation from Lidar Points
- Estimating Forest Density and Height (added 03/23/09)
- Creating Intensity Images from Lidar (added 05/21/09)
- Updating a portion of a terrain dataset with new measurements (added 07/06/09)
- Minimizing noise from lidar for contouring and slope analysis (added 09/02/09)

I've experimented a bit with ArcGIS' LIDAR point cloud capability and generally was frustrated with how long it took to complete the various operations.

I plan to revisit LIDAR point data in Arc using these posts as a guide.

Does anyone use ArcGIS to manage their LIDAR point cloud data? If so, what has been your experience?

I've been dabbling a little bit with point cloud data in ArcGIS, both converting the point clouds to rasters, and then recently I worked through building a terrain from a point cloud dataset. Sure it's slow and clunky, but since I use Arc as my main tool for building maps and managing my geospatial data, and I'm not constantly processing new point clouds, it is more than adequate for my simple point cloud management needs.

Thanks for posting those links.

Thanks for the feedback. Like all things ESRI, I'm sure once you've figured out the necessary steps and worked through the many quirks, it can be quite powerful. When I get some time I'll explore the capability more.

Another post in ESRI Geoprocessing blog series on LiDAR point cloud data in ArcGIS:

Estimating Forest Density and Height

I'll add this to the first post above too.

I have to agree with sbemis, the program is pretty slow and clunky, but it has handled all of my projects in the past and I am sure I will continue to use it in the future. I am sure there will be improvements to the speed and functionality, as well as lightening it up a bit as time goes on.

------------
I specialize in commercial software and data encryption software.

Part 5 of the "LiDAR Solutions in ArcGIS" has been posted to the Geoprocessing Blog

Creating Intensity Images from Lidar

I've also added the link to the first post in this thread.

Part 6 of the "LiDAR Solutions in ArcGIS" series on the Geoprocessing Blog

Updating a portion of a terrain dataset with new measurements

I've also added the link to the first post in this thread.

Part 7 of the "LiDAR Solutions in ArcGIS" series on the Geoprocessing Blog

Minimizing noise from lidar for contouring and slope analysis

I've also added the link to the first post in this thread.