Update LAS reference to R15

Status of this revision: Published in Lidar Base Specification 2020 rev. A

Background: 

The reference to the LAS specification is outdated and needs to be changed to the most recent version. 

Current references to R-13 that will be updated to R-15: 

Collection Requirements

• The intensity values recorded in the LAS files shall be normalized to 16 bit, as required by the LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011).

Data Processing and Handling

ASPRS LAS File Format

• All point deliverables shall be in LAS format, version 1.4-R13, using Point Data Record Format 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. Data producers are encouraged to review the LAS specification version 1.4–R13 in detail (ASPRS, 2011).

Full Waveform

• LAS deliverables, including waveform data, shall use external auxiliary files with the extension .wdp to store waveform packet data. See LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011).

Time of Global Positioning System Data

• GPS data shall be recorded as Adjusted GPS Time (Standard [satellite] GPS time minus 1*10^9) at a precision sufficient to allow unique timestamps for each pulse.

Well-Known Text

• ALL entries shall be tagged as “Superseded”—EXCEPT for the single valid entry to be used. See LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011) for further details.

File and Point Source Identification

• The file source ID for tiled LAS files shall be set to '0' (see LAS specification version 1.4–R13 [ASPRS, 2011]).

Use of the LAS Withheld Bit Flag

• Outliers, blunders, geometrically unreliable points near the extreme edge of the swath, and any other points the data producer deems unusable are to be identified using the withheld bit flag, as defined in LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011).

Point Classification

• If it is necessary to identify overage points in overlap areas, the overage points shall be identified using the overlap bit flag as defined in LAS Specification Version 1.2-R13 (ASPRS, 2011).

• Model key points, if calculated, shall be identified using the key point bit flag as defined in LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011). Model key points may, in addition, be identified using class 8 at the discretion of the data producer.

Deliverables

Classified Point Data

• If collected, waveform data in external auxiliary files with the extension .wdp. See LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011) for additional information.

• Intensity values, normalized to 16-bit. See LAS specification version 1.4–R13 (ASPRS, 2011) for additional information.

References

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sens­ing (ASPRS), 2011, LAS specification (ver. 1.4–R13, July 2013): Bethesda, Md., American Society for Photogram­metry and Remote Sensing, 27 p. [Also available at http://www.asprs.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/LAS_1_4_r13.pdf.]