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Classify LAS By Height

  • Summary
  • Usage
  • Syntax
  • Code Sample
  • Environments
  • Licensing Information

Summary

Reclassifies lidar points based on their height from the ground surface.

Usage

  • This tool requires the presence of LAS points classified as ground with the class code value of 2 or 8. If points that represent the ground were assigned a different class code value, consider using the Change LAS Class Codes tool to conform the class code definition to the latest LAS file format specifications.

  • Consider using this tool to reclassify vegetation in lidar data collected over remote areas with minimal presence of buildings. Exercise caution when using this tool to reclassify points into class codes other than vegetation.

  • Consider applying a processing extent to review the appropriateness of the designated Z-range values on a subset of LAS points. Once the reclassified region is deemed satisfactory, it can then be applied to a larger extent.

  • The LAS format supports the classification of each point based on the specifications defined by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). The ArcGIS platform applies the classification scheme specified for LAS file version 1.4:

    Classification Value Classification Type

    0

    Never Classified

    1

    Unassigned

    2

    Ground

    3

    Low Vegetation

    4

    Medium Vegetation

    5

    High Vegetation

    6

    Building

    7

    Low Noise

    8

    Model Key / Reserved

    9

    Water

    10

    Rail

    11

    Road Surface

    12

    Overlap / Reserved

    13

    Wire – Guard

    14

    Wire – Conductor

    15

    Transmission Tower

    16

    Wire – Connector

    17

    Bridge Deck

    18

    High Noise

    19 – 63

    Reserved for ASPRS Definition (LAS 1.1 to 1.3 support up to class code 31)

    32 – 255

    User Definable (Only supported in LAS 1.0 and certain versions of 1.4)

    Note:

    While the bulk of new class code assignments introduced with LAS 1.4 were previously designated as Reserved, class codes 8 and 12 were changed from Model Key and Overlap to Reserved.

Syntax

ClassifyLasByHeight_3d (in_las_dataset, ground_source, height_classification, {noise}, {compute_stats}, {extent}, {process_entire_files})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_las_dataset

The LAS dataset that will be processed. Only LAS points with class codes 0 and 1 will be reclassified.

LAS Dataset Layer
ground_source

The source of ground measurements that will be used to determine height above ground.

  • GROUND —LAS points designated with the ground classification code value of 2 and model key code value of 8 will be used.
  • MODEL_KEY —Only LAS points designated with the model key classification code value of 8 will be used.
String
height_classification
[class_code, height_from_ground]

The class code value that will be assigned to LAS points that fall within the range of values derived from the specified height from ground. The order of entry influences the height ranges that are used to define the reclassification of LAS points. The first entry's Z-range will span from the ground surface to the specified height_from_ground value. The Z-range of subsequent entries will span from the upper limit of the preceding entry to its own height_from_ground value.

Value Table
noise
(Optional)

Indicates whether to reclassify points as noise based on their proximity from the ground. Noise artifacts in lidar data can be introduced by sensor errors and the inadvertent interception of aerial obstructions like birds in the path of the lidar pulse.

  • ALL_NOISE —Both low and high noise will be classified.
  • HIGH_NOISE —Only points that are above the maximum height in the LAS classification table will be reclassified as high noise.
  • LOW_NOISE —Only points below the ground surface will be reclassified as noise. This is only available when all ground points are used to define the ground surface.
  • NONE —No points will be reclassified as noise.
String
compute_stats
(Optional)

Specifies whether statistics should be computed for the LAS files referenced by the LAS dataset. The presence of statistics allows the LAS dataset layer's filtering and symbology options to only show LAS attribute values that exist in the LAS files.

  • COMPUTE_STATS —Statistics will be computed.
  • NO_COMPUTE_STATS —Statistics will not be computed. This is the default.
Boolean
extent
(Optional)

Specify the extent of the data that will be evaluated by this tool.

Extent
process_entire_files
(Optional)

Specify how the processing extent is applied.

  • PROCESS_ENTIRE_FILE —Only LAS points that are within the processing extent will be evaluated. This is the default.
  • PROCESS_EXTENT —All points in the LAS files that intersect the processing extent will be evaluated.
Boolean

Code Sample

ClassifyLasByHeight example 1 (Python window)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in the Python window.

arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:/data'
arcpy.ClassifyLasByHeight_3d('lidar.lasd', 'Ground', 
                             [[3, 5], [4, 17], [5, 120]], 'HIGH_NOISE')
ClassifyLasByHeight example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in a stand-alone Python script.

arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:/data'
arcpy.ClassifyLasByHeight_3d('lidar.lasd', 'Ground', 
                             [[3, 5], [4, 17], [5, 120]], 'HIGH_NOISE')

Environments

  • Current Workspace
  • Extent

Related Topics

  • An overview of the Data Management toolset
  • Fundamentals of Surfaces
  • Surface formats
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