Assignment 00

Basic setup and knowledge for the course

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• Python packages we will most likely use
• How to install the C++ libraries CGAL and GDAL?
  • Windows
  • macOS
• Useful software for the course
• You are expected to know how the console (also called shell or terminal) works

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Python packages we will most likely use

We strongly recommend that you use virtual environments; mandatory it is not, but it’s the right way to work with Python and packages.

• Python 3.8+
• laspy (read/write of LAS/LAZ files)
  • install to read LAZ if possible:
  • pip install laszip
  • pip install laspy
  • test it with a LAZ file, eg AHN3
• numpy
• pyproj (to convert CRS)
• rasterio (GDAL bindings for Python)
• scipy (different data structures and algorithms)
• startinpy [>= v0.9.0] (Delaunay triangulator)

All of these can be installed easily with pip, just follow these instructions. pip should already be installed on your system if you have installed Python.

For Windows, download the proper binaries first if pip doesn’t work directly.

If pip is not accessible from your command-prompt/shell/terminal, read this guide.

How to install the C++ libraries CGAL and GDAL?

Windows

The simplest way to use CGAL (library to perform geometric operations in 2D, 3D, and even nD), GDAL (library to read/write all the vector/raster formats in GIS), or others (eg GEOS), under Windows is… to install Linux!?

Installing all the above is possible directly under Windows, but it is often a massive pain, so we recommend you use WSL–Windows Subsystem for Linux, that is you install a Linux environment “inside” your Windows (Win10 or Win11), and use this.

It works, and you can even use CLion (the Windows version) and use the compiler/libraries/debugger from WSL.

=> Just follow this tutorial

macOS

1. install Homebrew
2. install CGAL v5.0+ with brew install cgal
3. install GDAL with brew install gdal

Useful software for the course

• QGIS: it has a rudimentary 3D viewer that could be useful and all of GDAL is available
• MeshLab: open source system for processing and editing 3D triangular meshes
• GDAL utilities: to process rasters (included with QGIS)
• CloudCompare: to view/edit/process point clouds
• Blender and BlenderGIS: to view DTM and render them beautifully

You are expected to know how the console (also called shell or terminal) works

This means you are comfortable with how files and directories are structured, how to navigate directories, how to create files/directories, etc. If this is not the case, then watch these 2 videos:

Basics of the console for macOS (or Linux), are here and here and also there.

If you use Windows, this is a nice overview.