Reducing LiDAR Data Size
Updated February 20, 2025
This article applies to:
- Terrain 3D
- Terrain Forestry
- RoadEng Civil
- RoadEng Forestry
Thinning LiDAR data is essential for improving performance and managing memory usage in RoadEng’s Terrain module. Users can apply thinning at the time of import or simplify data post-import using the available tools. Choosing the appropriate method depends on the desired balance between speed and accuracy. This article outlines both options.
NOTE: We recommend trying to keep the modeled data set size under 10 million points.
Thinning Data on Import
Thinning data at the time of import is a useful approach to reduce file size and improve software performance.
Thinning Data After Import
Users can apply additional thinning techniques after importing the data to further optimize performance. These thinning techniques are more accurate than those used at import, but require that you import the data at full resolution first, which is sometimes not computionally possible.