Create an ortho mapping workspace from LAS files in ArcGIS Pro

Summary

Ortho mapping workspaces are specifically designed to manage the data and processing required for ortho mapping. These workspaces help to configure and manage datasets to remove image distortions caused by sensor tilt, topographic relief, and the Earth’s curvature. The workspace can also incorporate digital elevation models (DEMs) to enhance the accuracy of orthorectified imagery, allowing precise alignment and measurement capabilities across various applications. This article describes the workflow to create an ortho mapping workspace from LAS files in ArcGIS Pro.

Procedure

Note:
The workflow below requires the ArcGIS Pro Advanced license.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project.
2. Use the Create LAS Dataset geoprocessing tool in ArcGIS Pro to create a LAS dataset. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Create a LAS dataset using the Create LAS Dataset geoprocessing tool for instructions.
3. Create an empty mosaic dataset in the file geodatabase. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Create a mosaic dataset for instructions.
4. Add the LAS dataset to the mosaic dataset using the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool.
   1. On the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
   2. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset (Data Management Tools).
   3. In the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset pane, for Mosaic Dataset, select the mosaic dataset created in Step 3 from the drop-down list.
   4. For Raster Type, configure the following settings.
      1. From the drop-down list, select LAS Dataset.
      2. Click the Properties button to open the Raster Type Properties dialog box.
      3. Click the LAS Dataset tab and specify the Pixel Size. In this example, the pixel size is 50.
      4. Click OK.
   5. For Input Data, click Browse and navigate to the LAS dataset created in Step 2.
   6. Click Run.

5. Create an ortho mapping workspace to manage the mosaic dataset. Configure the following settings.
1. On the Imagery tab, in the Ortho Mapping group, click the New Workspace drop-down list and click New Workspace.
2. On the Workspace Configuration page, specify the Name.
3. For Sensor Data Type, select the preferred sensor data from the drop-down list. In this example, Satellite is selected.
4. For Basemap, select the preferred basemap. In this example, Imagery is selected.
5. Check the Import and use existing image collection check box. Click Next.

6. In the Import Data page, for Image Collection, click Browse and navigate to the output mosaic dataset in Step 4.
7. Click Finish.

The map shows the ortho mapping workspace created from the LAS files.