DSM from LAS Dataset

Usage Instructions

This tool is used to convert a LAS dataset into a digital surface model raster dataset.

This tool samples point cloud data from the LAS dataset and generates a continuous raster surface representing elevation information. Users can specify the sampling type, cell assignment method, void fill interpolation strategy, and coordinate system transformation parameters to control the accuracy and completeness of the output DSM. This tool is suitable for extracting elevation information from existing LAS datasets and generating digital surface models, serving fields such as terrain analysis, hydrologic analysis, and urban planning.

This tool is available from SuperMap iDesktopX 2026 onwards.

Parameter Descriptions

Parameter Name Parameter Description Parameter Type
LAS Dataset The LAS dataset to be converted to DSM. Dataset
Target Datasource The datasource that stores the resulting DSM dataset. Datasource
Result Dataset Name
(Optional)		 The name of the resulting DSM raster dataset. The default value is "dsm". String
Sampling Type
(Optional)		 Defines how the resolution (number of rows and columns) of the result raster is determined. Options: Cell Size, Number of Pixels on Longest Side. Default is Cell Size. This setting determines the meaning of the sampling value parameter:
  • Cell Size: The sampling value represents the side length of each cell;
  • Number of Pixels on Longest Side: The sampling value represents the number of cells along the longest side of the result raster.
 SamplingType
Sampling Value
(Optional)		 Determines the resolution (number of rows and columns) of the result raster based on the Sampling Type. When Sampling Type is Cell Size, this value represents the side length of a single cell in meters; when Sampling Type is Number of Pixels on Longest Side, this value represents the number of cells along the longest side. The default value is 0.1. Double
Cell Assignment
(Optional)		 Specifies how to calculate the elevation value of a cell based on point cloud data within the sampling range. The default is Maximum Interpolation. Options are as follows:
  • Mean Interpolation: Takes the arithmetic mean of all point elevation values within the sampling range.
  • Minimum Interpolation: Takes the minimum elevation value of points within the sampling range.
  • Maximum Interpolation: Takes the maximum elevation value of points within the sampling range.
  • Nearest Neighbor Interpolation: Takes the elevation value of the point closest to the sampling center.
  • Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation: Calculates an interpolated result based on the elevation values of all points within the sampling range, weighted by the inverse of their distances.
 CellAssignmentType
Void Fill Interpolation
(Optional)		 Sets the method for filling empty cells in the result raster. This parameter should be used together with the Void Fill Threshold to control the interpolation range. The default is Simple Fill. Options are as follows:
  • None: Retains null values without filling any empty cells.
  • Simple Fill: Fills empty cells using the value of the nearest valid cell.
  • Linear Fill: Performs bilinear interpolation based on surrounding valid cells; if interpolation conditions are not met, it falls back to Simple Fill.
  • Natural Neighbor Fill: Uses the natural neighbor interpolation method to calculate values for empty cells.
 VoidFillType
Void Fill Threshold
(Optional)		 Sets the search window size when interpolating empty cells. The value is an integer from 0 to 63. When the parameter is set to n, the actual search window is a rectangular area of (n+1)×(n+1) cells. Interpolation is applied to the central empty cell only if at least one valid cell exists within the window. This prevents large areas without data from being erroneously filled. The default value is 5, meaning the search window is 6×6 cells centered on the current empty cell. The specific interpolation method is determined by the "Void Fill Interpolation" parameter. Integer
Generation Category
(Optional)		 Specifies the source point cloud categories used for DSM generation. Multiple categories should be separated by commas in English. For example: 2,6,9 (2 for ground points, 6 for building points, 9 for water points). If left blank, all point cloud categories participate in DSM generation. String
Target Coordinate System
(Optional)		 Specifies the coordinate system of the resulting DSM raster data. It can be set by entering an EPSG code or a coordinate system file. If left blank, the result data uses the same coordinate system as the source point cloud.
The coordinate system file only supports *.prj and *.xml files exported by iDesktopX functions such as Export Coordinate System.		 String
Transformation Method
(Optional)		 When the coordinate system of the source LAS dataset is inconsistent with the target coordinate system, specifies the method used for coordinate transformation. The default is Geocentric Translation (3-para). Options include:
1. Geocentric Translation (3-para): Suitable for geocentric three-parameter coordinate transformation.
2. Molodensky (3-para): Molodensky three-parameter transformation method.
3. Abridged Molodensky (3-para): Simplified three-parameter transformation method.
4. Position Vector (7-para): A seven-parameter transformation method.
5. Coordinate Frame (7-para): Geocentric seven-parameter transformation method.
6. Bursa-Wolf (7-para): A commonly used seven-parameter transformation method.
7. Molodensky-Badekas (10-para): A ten-parameter spatial coordinate transformation model.
8. China 3D 7P (7-para): A three-dimensional seven-parameter transformation method used for transformations between different coordinate systems and the China Geodetic Coordinate System 2000 (CGC2000). It is applicable to control point coordinate transformations between different geodetic coordinate systems based on different Earth ellipsoid references at the national and provincial ellipsoid surface level of 3 degrees or more. The transformation method involves three translation parameters, three rotation parameters, and one scale parameter, while also considering the differences in the semi-major axis and flattening between the two Earth ellipsoids corresponding to the two geodetic coordinate systems.		 CoordSysTransMethod
Projection Transformation Parameters
(Optional)		 Sets the parameters for projection transformation of the data, including scale difference, rotation angles, offsets, rotation origin, etc. The specific parameter values are specified by the Projection Transformation Parameter tool. CoordSysTransParameter

Output Results

Parameter Name Parameter Description Parameter Type
Generated DSM The digital surface model raster dataset generated from the conversion. DatasetGrid