LidarTools User Guide

Tool Description Civil3D BricsCAD
LIDARCONV Prompts for a selection of files then converts them to LAZ for maximum compression and compatibility with the tools below. For maximum speed and file integrity, this tool uses RapidLasso's LasZip for file conversions (with permission). ✔ ✔
LIDARLIST Creates a detailed report displayed in your default browser, ready to print. Includes point count, coordinate window, elevation min/max and optionally classifications and sub-counts. ✔ ✔
LIDARMAKE Create a LAZ file from Tin/Grid surfaces (classification 2 for ground). Includes a surface sampler that writes out points on an virtual grid (user supplies interval) draped onto the surface for reducing existing overly dense surfaces. ✔ ✔
LIDARPLOT Plots selected Lidar files as point objects in the drawing. Beware that AutoCAD tends to slow down significantly and/or become unresponsive or unstable with massive amounts of points. A separate session is highly recommended. ✔ ✔
LIDARPROJ Prompts for a selection of LAS/LAZ files, source and target system names. Then uses AutoCAD's projection engine to convert the points to the new system (including elevation scaling). New file (with target code appended to name) stored in LAZ format using RapidLasso's LasZip for maximum file integrity. ✔ v24+
LIDARTHIN Creates a reduced point copy of a dense file with various filters. Currently includes Distance (ignore points closer than specified to other points), Interval (useful for contours) and optional elevation min/max removal. Echoes percent reduction of each file at command prompt.

Important: The Distance Filtering method requires a list of kept points to be stored in memory, which can grow into a fair amount of memory on large files. Also this tool will become slower as qualifying points add up. Please allow time for processing.

 ✔ ✔
LIDARTILES Prompts for a file selection of LAS/LAZ files, then draws rectangles in model space representing the extents of those tiles. Label information includes file name, min/max elevation and total number of points. Optionally include classifications found and the number of points for each. ✔ ✔
LIDARTIN Prompts for a file selection of LAS/LAZ files, which classes to use (separate multiples with a comma), then a rectangular window for your area of interest. Any points in a file that fall outside the window are not included. Any files selected that fall outside the AOI are not even scanned for points (saved time). ✔ ✔

Manual Hookup Procedure

  1. Start the supported CAD application.
  2. Issue the NETLOAD command.
  3. Browse to the installed folder.
  4. Choose the appropriate DLL for your CAD version from the table below:
    CAD Version Module
    Civil3D 2025 LidarTools2025.dll
    Civil3D 2024 LidarTools2024.dll
    Civil3D 2023 LidarTools2023.dll
    Civil3D 2022 LidarTools2022.dll
    Civil3D 2021 LidarTools2021.dll
    Civil3D 2020 LidarTools2020.dll
    Civil3D 2019 LidarTools2019.dll
    Civil3D 2018 LidarTools2018.dll
    Civil3D 2017 LidarTools2017.dll
    Civil3D 2016 LidarTools2016.dll
    Civil3D 2015 LidarTools2015.dll
    BricsCAD v25 LidarToolsBC25.dll
    BricsCAD v24 LidarToolsBC24.dll
    BricsCAD v23 LidarToolsBC23.dll
    BricsCAD v22 LidarToolsBC22.dll
    BricsCAD v21 LidarToolsBC21.dll
    BricsCAD v20 LidarToolsBC20.dll
  5. Choose the [Open] button.

After the DLL is manually loaded, it will automatically load in subsequent sessions. You will only need to type the desired commands.

Ribbon Loading Procedure

  1. Start the supported CAD application.
  2. Issue the MENULOAD command (do not issue the MENU command).
  3. Choose the Browse button.
  4. Navigate to the installed folder and select the menu (CUIx file).
  5. Choose the Load button.

Civil3D 2015+ Trusted Locations

The new version of AutoCAD adds security which can cause add-ons to display 'load' alerts on each session. You should create a folder (like C:\CADSTUFF) to store any miscellaneous add-ons like these, the follow this procedure to suppress the alerts.

  1. Launch Civil3D.
  2. Issue the OPTIONS command.
  3. If you have multiple profiles, set your desired profile current.
    1. Click the [Profiles] tab.
    2. Select the profile from the list.
    3. Click the Set Current button.
  4. Click the [Files] tab.
  5. Click the + to the left of Trusted Locations.
  6. Click the Add button.
  7. Click the Browse button.
  8. Navigate to the application folder and click OK.
  9. If you receive an alert (about Read-Only), click Continue.
  10. Click OK to close the Options dialog.

Note: You may need to close and restart AutoCAD.