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Kylidar Add-in

Kylidar is an ArcGIS Pro add-in for finding, downloading, and converting Kentucky From Above LiDAR point-cloud tiles to .las, optionally folding the result straight into a LAS dataset -- without leaving ArcGIS Pro.

It adds a dockable Kylidar pane with tools to define an area of interest on the map, preview how many tiles match it, choose an output mode, and run a search-download-convert pipeline backed by a STAC API and PDAL.

Features

  • Area of interest tools: draw a point, line, or polygon on the map, select existing features, or browse for a shapefile/geodatabase feature class on disk, and use its (combined) geometry. Every draw/select action also saves a persistent, editable Map Notes feature, so you have a record of what you drew and can reuse or edit it later.
  • Search Catalog preview: see how many tiles match your AOI and phase selection before running anything.
  • Three output modes: download the raw COPC/LAZ tiles as-is, convert to .las while keeping the raw tiles, or convert and discard the raw tiles -- each tile becomes its own .las file (there's no merge-into-one-file step).
  • Optional clip to area of interest: crop each tile to the AOI (plus an optional buffer) during conversion, instead of always keeping every tile in full.
  • zLAS compression (on by default, can be turned off): compress converted .las output to Esri's own zLAS format via the Convert LAS geoprocessing tool (needs the 3D Analyst extension).
  • Concurrent, adaptive processing: tiles download and convert in parallel, throttled by CPU count and live memory pressure so a large run doesn't starve the rest of the system.
  • Export Script: write a stand-alone Python, Jupyter notebook, PowerShell, or shell download/convert kit for the current AOI's tiles, to run later or on another machine without ArcGIS Pro.
  • Live progress log in the pane itself as tiles are found, fetched, and converted, with a cancel button and per-step timing.
  • Add to LAS dataset: fold the output .las file(s) straight into a new or existing .lasd (created without computing statistics, for speed), and add it to the map.
  • Hydro-enforced breaklines: optionally download the Phase 2/3 breaklines inside the AOI, clip and reproject them to EPSG:3089, and add them to the LAS dataset as a surface constraint.
  • Feedback and Help, always available at the top of the pane: report a bug or request a feature (on GitHub, or directly, no account needed), or jump straight to this documentation site.

Where to start

  • Installation -- build and deploy the add-in in ArcGIS Pro, or grab a pre-built download
  • Getting Started -- your first run, end to end
  • Area of Interest -- every way to define an AOI
  • Output & Running -- phases, output modes, clipping, LAS dataset options, Export Script, and the run/cancel/progress workflow

Point clouds only, not raster

Kylidar is scoped to LiDAR point-cloud (COPC/LAS) data. For imagery, DEM, or other raster products from Kentucky From Above, see the companion kyfromabove-stac-addin.