LAS Dataset toolbar—point display options

Display the LAS dataset from a variety of common lidar point renderers available from the LAS Dataset toolbar.

Displaying a LAS dataset as points allows you to quickly display, edit, and analyze directly on the lidar points managed in LAS files. Using the point display drop-down menu on the LAS Dataset toolbar, choose from several common lidar point-based symbology renderers.

Once a renderer is selected, the changes will automatically be applied to the LAS dataset listed in the active LAS dataset Layer drop-down menu.

The LAS dataset renderers available on the LAS Dataset toolbar are slightly different between ArcMap and ArcScene.

LAS Dataset toolbar point display options in ArcMap:

LAS Dataset toolbar point display options in ArcScene:

Select from any of the following point-based symbology renderers:

Point Symbology	Description
Elevation	Display LAS points based on elevation.
Class	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the LAS classification code.
Return	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the lidar pulse return number.
Intensity	The return strength of the laser pulse that generated the lidar point.
RGB	Symbolize the LAS dataset points by the RGB (red, green, and blue) bands.

Note:

• The point display renderers on the LAS dataset toolbar will only show one renderer at a time. To display more than one renderer for a LAS dataset, consider using the Symbology tab on the LAS dataset layer Properties dialog box. For more information on the Symbology tab, see LAS dataset layer properties in ArcMap.
• Surface (i.e., TIN) based views work best with airborne lidar where the laser scanner is looking in a downward direction. Side scans, often from terrestrial and mobile sources, tend to look better with point renderers, especially in 3D.

• To utilize any of the interactive 3D tools on the LAS Dataset toolbar, you require the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension license.