Create and export footprints of a LAS dataset in ArcGIS Pro

Summary

Mosaic datasets are used to manage, display, serve, and share imagery and raster datasets in ArcGIS Pro. When a new mosaic dataset is created, it is stored as an empty container in the file geodatabase with default properties. This dataset can be enhanced by adding a LAS dataset using the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool, which creates a mosaic dataset with a boundary, footprint, and LAS dataset layer. This enhancement enables the efficient handling and visualization of complex LAS datasets. This article describes the workflow to create and export footprints of a LAS dataset in ArcGIS Pro.

Procedure

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro project.
2. Create an empty mosaic dataset in the file geodatabase. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Create a mosaic dataset for instructions.
3. Add the LAS dataset to the newly created 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 2 from the drop-down list.
4. For Raster Type, configure the following settings.
1. From the drop-down list, select LAS.
2. Click the Properties button to open the Raster Type Properties dialog box.
3. Click the LAS tab and specify a preferred pixel size for Pixel Size. In this example, the pixel size is 50.
4. Click OK.
5. For Input Data, select File from the drop-down list. Click the Browse button and navigate to the LAS datasets.
6. Click Run.

4. Export the footprints generated in Step 3 using the Export Features tool.
   1. On the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
   2. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click Export Features (Conversion Tools).
   3. In the Export Features pane, for Input Features, select Footprint from the drop-down list.
   4. For Output Feature Class, specify a name and location for the output feature layer.
   5. Click Run.

The image below shows the exported footprints of the LAS dataset in ArcGIS Pro.