Cloud Optimized Point Cloud

[wiesehahn]

Would it be possible and does it make sense to implement the processing (read/write) of Cloud Optimized Point Cloud Data?

https://copc.io/

[Jean-Romain]

Does it make sense? Yes definitively. Do I plan to make it? No.

lidR uses rlas to read/write LAS/LAZ files. rlas is only a wrapper for R around LASlib by Martin Isenburg. I already discussed about copc with Howard Butler. If Martin Isenburg was still alive he may have added the support of copc in LASlib. On my side it is beyond my skills to implement such a complex thing within LASlib. LASlib and LAStools are now maintained by somebody else, somehow related to Martin's family for what I've heard. The support of copc in lidR will come automatically if it is added in LASlib. So it is a discussion you should have with https://github.com/LAStools/LAStools . I'd like to work on it but I will waste my time on an unsuccessful project if I try.

[youngdjn]

It looks like LAStools (and thus presumably LASlib) now supports COPC: https://github.com/LAStools/LAStools?tab=readme-ov-file#open-source-tools
How would this be accessed via lidR?

[Jean-Romain]

rlas supports COPC in read not in write yet. lasR does. I did the implementation in LASlib a year ago

[youngdjn]

Ah that's awesome! I needed a nudge to switch to lasR and I think this is it! Thanks for all your work developing these tools.

[Jean-Romain]

You don't need to switch to lasR. lasR does not come in replacement of lidR. It is another approach it suits better for practitionner but less for research. Two different approches, two different strategies, two different usages.

[youngdjn]

OK I see, thank you. I'm moving toward more practitioner uses anyway. I'll look more closely at the differences.