LAZ to TXT converter for MAC

[Samuel Grainge]

How can I convert .laz files into .txt files on a mac?

I have some raw .laz files from the uk government's free LiDAR data, and want to get it onto Sketchup.  

I understand .laz files are unreadable on Sketchup so need converting to .txt files (amongst other readable file types).  I've read .txt is the simplest format.

Would much appreciate any pointers!

Thank you kindly :)

[Newcomb, Doug]

Samuel,

LAS2txt, http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/download/las2txt_README.txt will do what you need.  You may need to thin the las points points, http://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/download/lasthin_README.txt, if the LiDAR density is too high for Sketchup to handle.

Doug

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[Samuel Grainge]

Thanks doug

Ive used cloudcompare to open the laz file and sav as a txt file.

The txt file produced was 34 MB, which seems pretty handleable for my month old macbook pro.

However, sketchup fails to import it correctly.  It says there is a failure, and then only imports a few randomly spaced points that dont resemble the original file view in cloudcompare.

Ive then folllowed your advice to thin out the spacing between the points.  Ive thinned it to the optimum amount that just offers the amount of detail i need.  This made the file size 5.4 MB but it still fails to import correctly, showing the same sporadic points as before.

Do you have any advice??

Many thanks!

[Newcomb, Doug]

Samuel,

Sorry, I have not used Sketchup.  No idea what it's limitations are.

Doug