Map of Pernambuco in LAS format
A map built from OpenStreetMap data, ready to download
Customize the map
Open this place's area in the constructor and adjust everything to your needs
Open in constructor →Map passport
What this map contains by default
This is how the map is built as-is — every setting can be changed in the constructor.
About LAS
Map of Pernambuco in LAS — an export of real OpenStreetMap data for the selected area.
LAS is the binary ASPRS industry standard for point clouds that has underpinned LiDAR data exchange for two decades: each point carries XYZ, intensity, and a classification code (ground, vegetation, buildings). An honest note about our export: we do NOT capture LiDAR from an aircraft — a real point cloud comes from a sensor, not from OpenStreetMap tags. Our exporter builds a structural cloud from OSM vector geometry: a building centroid plus a roof point at height get class 6 (Building), points along roads get class 2 (Ground), and POIs get class 1. The output is a valid LAS 1.2 (Point Data Record Format 0) that opens in CloudCompare, QGIS, and PDAL, but it represents schematic OSM points rather than a dense surface scan.
Which layers are in the file
This file for the selected area contains:
- Roads
- Water
- Greenery
Coordinate systems
WGS 84 (EPSG:4326), selectable in the wizard
Units
Meters (projected in the chosen coordinate system)
| Category | GIS |
| File extension | .las |
| Tier | Open Beta |
How to use LAS for Pernambuco
- CloudCompare (free) — drag the .las into the window; on loading, keep the offset it suggests, otherwise the points will drift far from the center of the scene.
- PDAL — pdal info map.las shows the header and statistics, and a filter on Classification[6:6] leaves only the buildings.
- QGIS (free) — Layer → Add Point Cloud Layer; the points can be colored by class or by height.
Programs that open LAS
FAQ: LAS for Pernambuco
Is this a real LiDAR scan?
No. A real point cloud is captured by a laser sensor from an aircraft or drone. We generate a structural cloud from OSM vector geometry: building centroids, roof points, and points along roads. It is a geometrically valid LAS, but it is a city schematic, not a dense surface scan.
Which LAS version and point format?
LAS 1.2 with Point Data Record Format 0 — a minimal 20-byte record: XYZ, intensity, return, classification, scan angle. Enough for CloudCompare, QGIS, and class filtering in PDAL.
Where do I get real LiDAR to combine with this export?
National open-data portals: USGS 3DEP (USA), AHN (Netherlands), swissSURFACE3D (Switzerland). Download a LAZ tile, classify via PDAL, and overlay our OSM vectors as ground truth for building checks.
How many points end up in the file?
Export is capped at 500,000 points. Each building yields 1–2 points, each road segment up to 10. Enough for a city center; very large areas will be clipped.
Do the points have color?
No. A format zero record does not store RGB: a point has coordinates, intensity, class and service fields. Coloring by class or by height is done afterwards in CloudCompare or QGIS.
