I’ve been meaning to write about these LIDAR Tools for a while, but since Google Earth Blog has just posted on their Google Earth visualization capabilities, I’ll jump in with my two cents. Posted by Martin Isenburg of the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, these tools allow quick conversion of LIDAR data into contour and DEM Google Earth KMZ files for “quick” basic visualization of the data. The process involves taking the original LIDAR data, simplifying it down a bit for contours, then converting it directly to either transparent contour overlays, or high-resolution DEM reflectance overlays. Here’s a screenshot of a set of contours from their showcase overlay gilmer.kmz (click on the image for a larger view):

Note: To see the contours for a grid square, you’ll have to click on the placemark icon for a square, then click on the “load contours” link in the info balloon that pops up.
Here’s a screenshot of the interior of Mt. St. Helens from Google Earth:

And here’s the same view with the high-resolution LIDAR DEM reflectance view loaded in from the saint_helens.kmz file:

All the tools used to create these overlays are downloadable from the website; they’re all command-line tools (ouch), but there’s an example of usage given to make figuring them out a bit easier.
Also available are a basic set of LIDAR tools to:
- Convert text ASCII LIDAR data to the more efficient LAS format
- Print the LIDAR data
- View the LIDAR data
- Compress it losslessly
Other posts in the Google Earth Data Tools series
- KML Editors
- Diagramming In Google Maps And Google Earth With Smoot
- Plotting Data In Google Earth Using GE-Graph
- Drawing Grids, Paths And Polygons In Google Earth Using GE-Path
- Online Google Earth Utilities For Buffering And Area Calculations
- Easy Display Of Thematic Data In Google Maps And Google Earth
- Using GIF/PNG Transparency In Displaying Raster Graphics In Google Earth
- Adding Vector Graphic Objects To Google Earth
- Animated GIFs In Google Earth
- Creating A Network KML Link To A Google Spreadsheet
- LIDAR Tools
- EarthPlot Software Tools For Google Earth
- Geographic Time Animations
- Convert TIGER Polygons To KML Files
- Putting Time Data Into A KML File
- Using The KML Time Embedder To Stamp Time Data Into A Google Earth File
- Using The KML Time Embedder, Concluded
- KML Time Embedder Improved With Hour-Minute-Second Ability
- Grid Creation And Path/Polygon Measurements: Two New Online KML Tools
- Google Earth PhotoOverlay Tool
- KML Random Placemark Generator
- Update For Online Google Earth Utilities
- KML Time Code Utility
- Screen Overlays In Google Earth
- The KML Screen Overlay Maker Utility
- KML Screen Overlay Maker Utility, Concluded
- KML Circle Generator
- Creating Google Earth Screen Overlays With EarthPaint
- Text Editor With KML Validation
- Online Spreadsheet To KML Converter
- Version 2.0 Of Google’s Online KML Spreadsheet Mapper Tool Released
- Creating Google Earth Ground Overlays From Georeferenced Images
- Google Earth Ground Overlays With GIF Transparency
- Creating "Transparent" Topo Map Overlays For Google Earth
- Using Google Earth Ground Overlays To Display Shapefile Data
- Converting 3D Objects Into Google Earth Format
- Thematic Mapping In Google Earth
- An Online KML Validator
- Modify A KML Polygon File With Excel Data
- US Nautical Chart Overlay For Google Earth
- Plot Google Analytics Geographic Data In Google Earth/Maps


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