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The abstract is below, and a full version of the paper is available here.

ABSTRACT:

Point cloud data, representing an extremely dense set of data points with known positions, has traditionally been the purview of commercial applications like laser scanners and photogrammetry software.  However, the application of point cloud data in Earth science is growing, with applications using current space-based lidars being among the best examples. More point cloud data requirements are expected to arise for future NASA missions as well.  Thus, understanding the implications of point cloud data and related services for storage, dissemination, and computation in cloud-based environments has been identified as a key emerging need by NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project. This document is intended to supply basic information about the options available to providers, managers and consumers of geospatial point cloud data.

For this review, the members of the ESDIS Standards Coordination Office (ESOESCO) assessed the current landscape of both existing and emerging point cloud data formats, content organization schemes, and services. We performed a qualitative assessment of the current best practices and use of point cloud data. This review did not attempt a quantitative assessment or trade study as we were not in a position to derive any type of performance metrics (though results were noted where they are available in the referenced literature).  As cloud-based data storage (with Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure as leading examples) is becoming more prevalent for ongoing and future satellite missions, we also looked at the ramifications of point cloud data formats in a cloud environment and the types of services that will impact their access and manipulation. In conclusion, this review provides an understanding of the current suite of point cloud data formats, and guidance on the factors that data producers should take into account when bringing their point cloud data into the cloud. It is also meant to serve as a foundation for further investigations and assessments of point cloud formats.Authors:

AUTHORS:

Siri Jodha S. Khalsa (Univ. Colorado, Boulder, CIRES/NSIDC)

Edward M. Armstrong (NASA JPL PO.DAAC / Caltech

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Jennifer Hewson (NASA ESDIS / SSAI

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Joseph Koch (NASA ASDC DAAC / BAH)

Shannon Leslie (NASA NSIDC DAAC / Univ. Colorado, Boulder, CIRES)

Stephen Olding (NASA ESDIS / SSAI)

Allan Doyle (Retired)