# LASzip

Canonical: https://gisforweb.com/tools/laszip/

Lossless LAZ compression library and CLI for LiDAR point clouds, the de facto LAS standard.

LASzip is a compression library and command-line tool that converts LAS LiDAR files to LAZ, a lossless compressed format that typically shrinks files to 7-20% of their original size while preserving every bit. Applications can read points directly from the compressed form, so large surveys do not have to be expanded on disk first. Developed by Martin Isenburg for LAStools and maintained by rapidlasso GmbH, LASzip follows the LAZ 1.4 specification and is the LAZ engine behind tools such as PDAL.

## Details

- Type: cli

- Categories: data-processing

- Open source: Yes

- Pricing model: open-source

- License: Apache-2.0

- Platforms: linux, macos, windows

## Features

- Lossless LAS to LAZ compression

- Bit-identical decompression round-trips

- Direct reads from compressed LAZ files

- laszip command-line tool included

- LAZ specification 1.4 point formats

- Windows, Linux, and macOS builds

## Project sources

- Website: https://laszip.org/

- Repository: https://github.com/LASzip/LASzip

Directory descriptions are summaries. Verify current capabilities and terms with the project sources.