Introduction to Airborne LiDAR Data Processing

Introduction to Airborne LiDAR Data Processing Using CloudCompare and QGIS
Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Format: Online
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
                Register here                  
Instructor: Saeid Parsian, University of Lethbridge / i4Geo
Workshop Description
Interested in working with LiDAR data but not sure where to start?
Join us for a free, hands-on online workshop introducing airborne LiDAR data processing using CloudCompare and QGIS, two freely available and open-source software packages.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a powerful remote sensing technology used to create highly detailed 3D representations of the Earth's surface and vegetation. It has applications across environmental science, forestry, hydrology, infrastructure mapping, natural hazard assessment, and many other fields.
Using publicly available airborne LiDAR datasets, participants will work through a practical workflow for exploring, visualizing, and processing LiDAR point clouds and creating useful geospatial products.
What You’ll Learn
During the workshop, participants will learn how to:
  • Explore and visualize 3D LiDAR point clouds
  • Work with and process airborne LiDAR data in CloudCompare
  • Generate Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs)
  • Estimate snow depth using snow-on and snow-off LiDAR data
  • Create Canopy Height Models (CHMs)
  • Explore forest structure, including canopy cover and individual tree locations
  • Bring LiDAR-derived products into QGIS for further analysis and visualization
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is open to students, researchers, faculty, professionals, and anyone interested in LiDAR, GIS, remote sensing, or environmental applications. No specialized LiDAR software is required.
The workshop will use free and open-source software and publicly available data, making the workflows accessible to participants beyond the workshop.
Participation is free, but registration is required.