R: Convert full waveform data into a regular point cloud

interpret_waveform {lidR} | R Documentation

## Convert full waveform data into a regular point cloud

### Description

Full waveform can be difficult to manipulate and visualize in R. This function converts a LAS object with full waveform data into a regular point cloud. Each waveform record becomes a point with XYZ coordinates and an amplitude (units: volts) and an ID that records each original pulse. Notice that this has the effect of drastically inflating the size of the object in memory, which is likely already very large

### Usage

    interpret_waveform(las)

### Arguments

`las` | An object of class LAS with full waveform data

### Value

An object of class LAS 1.2 format 0 with one point per records

### Full waveform

With most recent versions of the 'rlas' package, full waveform (FWF) can be read and 'lidR' provides some compatible functions. However, the support of FWF is still a work-in-progress in the 'rlas' package. How it is read, interpreted and represented in R may change. Consequently, tools provided by 'lidR' may also change until the support of FWF becomes mature and stable in 'rlas'. See also rlas::read.las.
Remember that FWF represents an insanely huge amount of data. It terms of memory it is like having between 10 to 100 times more points. Consequently, loading FWF data in R should be restricted to relatively small point clouds.

### Examples

    ## Not run:
    LASfile <- system.file("extdata", "fwf.laz", package="rlas")
    fwf <- readLAS(LASfile)
    las <- interpret_waveform(fwf)
    x <- plot(fwf, size = 3, colorPalette = "red")
    plot(las, color = "Amplitude", bg = "white", add = x, size = 2)

    ## End(Not run)

[Package lidR version 3.2.2 Index]