Tips for using Microstation and Terrascan for LIDAR QC

Open Microstation and read in the empty_3D example design file. This is laid out for the QC procedure. Make sure you always use a 3D design file for LIDAR data else you will not be able to profile the data. To start TerraScan, goto Utilities > MDL applications and select TSCAN (and TMODEL if surfaces are to be generated).

Load in LAS data

To load in the LAS data you can select Read Points from the TerraScan File menu. Select the LAS files to read in and click Add. Then click Done. On the next dialog pop-up, do not apply WGS84 or any transforms. The only thing you should need to change is the Flightline Numbering to "increase by file". The points should be displayed in view 1.

Changing display properties

From the TerraScan menu select View > Display mode. This is the main dialog for changing how the data looks. EG you can view data by intensity, echo, flight line, class etc. If the display contrast looks odd, select colours and autofit, then apply the changes. Speed should always be normal, unless you want to view the flight directions, in which case select colour by flightline and speed as slow. Zoom functions are on the toolbar on the bottom of the view windows.