<p>Given that <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000418.shtml" rel="nofollow noreferrer">LAS/LAZ</a> is LiDAR point cloud data, there is a GIS tool called <a href="https://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/download/las2tin_README.txt" rel="nofollow noreferrer">las2tin</a> to convert these files to a triangle based mesh called Triangular irregular networks or TIN by the GIS community. Other GIS tools should be able to do the same, for example <a href="http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/tool-reference/3d-analyst/las-dataset-to-tin.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ArcGIS</a>.</p>

<p>Once you have the mesh, Google should be able to help you find a way to convert the TIN to an STL. You will need to scale down the STL after creation, as the TIN will probably be at 100% scale.</p>

<p>One example workflow for converting LAS data into an STL is:</p>

<ul>
<li>Using ArcScene: open DEM > convert to TIN > export to VRML</li>
<li>Using MeshLab: open VRML > export to STL</li>
<li>Using Meshmixer: extrude base > scale to fit standard printing parameters > save as finished STL</li>
</ul>

<p>More details for the process that I got from Google are available <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=sites&amp;srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzZ2NjYXJ0fGd4OjY5ZDk1OTY3MjY4OTY4NWM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-21T03:42:17.180Z
2018-09-21T10:19:58.653Z
2018-09-21T10:19:58.653Z
Samveen
<p>I would like to know if there is any tool/library (preferably python based) that could be used in parsing a Laz file to extract info that is normally found in 3d object files such as vertices. Which could be used to create printable 3d mesh.
I already tried Laspy and I could get the  x,y,z data from it but it is not a vertices info but rather a scale info. So I would either need a tool to give that or an algorithm for getting vertices from the data  from laspy.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-13T14:30:04.763Z
It is working @Durodola Opemipo ?
boxsters
<3d-models><scanning><file-formats><python>
Is it possible to convert a Las /Laz file into an STL or OBJ file?
Durodola Opemipo
# Is it possible to convert a Las /Laz file into an STL or OBJ file?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-03)

I would like to know if there is any tool/library (preferably python based) that could be used in parsing a Laz file to extract info that is normally found in 3d object files such as vertices. Which could be used to create printable 3d mesh.
I already tried Laspy and I could get the x,y,z data from it but it is not a vertices info but rather a scale info. So I would either need a tool to give that or an algorithm for getting vertices from the data from laspy.

**Tags:** 3d-models, scanning, file-formats, python

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It is working @username_0 ?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-09-21. Score: 2

Given that [LAS/LAZ](https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000418.shtml) is LiDAR point cloud data, there is a GIS tool called [las2tin](https://www.cs.unc.edu/~isenburg/lastools/download/las2tin_README.txt) to convert these files to a triangle based mesh called Triangular irregular networks or TIN by the GIS community. Other GIS tools should be able to do the same, for example [ArcGIS](http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/tool-reference/3d-analyst/las-dataset-to-tin.htm).

Once you have the mesh, Google should be able to help you find a way to convert the TIN to an STL. You will need to scale down the STL after creation, as the TIN will probably be at 100% scale.

One example workflow for converting LAS data into an STL is:

* Using ArcScene: open DEM > convert to TIN > export to VRML
* Using MeshLab: open VRML > export to STL
* Using Meshmixer: extrude base > scale to fit standard printing parameters > save as finished STL

More details for the process that I got from Google are available [here](https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzZ2NjYXJ0fGd4OjY5ZDk1OTY3MjY4OTY4NWM)


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