https://github.com/trailblaze-software/blaze
Tool for rapid and interactive generation of vegetation, topology and relief maps from LIDAR point cloud data. Primarily for nav-sport (rogaining, orienteering and adventure racing) mapping
https://github.com/trailblaze-software/blaze
Last synced: 4 months ago
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Tool for rapid and interactive generation of vegetation, topology and relief maps from LIDAR point cloud data. Primarily for nav-sport (rogaining, orienteering and adventure racing) mapping
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/trailblaze-software/blaze
- Owner: Trailblaze-Software
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2024-02-05T10:32:17.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-16T12:37:40.000Z (5 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-16T20:12:16.469Z (5 months ago)
- Language: QML
- Homepage: https://trailblaze-software.github.io/Blaze/
- Size: 24.3 MB
- Stars: 2
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 1
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
BLAZE
A LIDAR mapping tool for processing point cloud data
---
NOTE: This repository is currently a work in progress and subject to significant change.
## Overview
**Blaze** is a LIDAR mapping tool designed for processing, analyzing, and visualizing point cloud data from LAS/LAZ files. Built with modern C++20, Blaze provides both command-line (`blaze-cli`) and graphical interfaces (`Blaze` and eventually `Blaze3D`).
Blaze is free and open-source, however if you generate maps using Blaze, we would appreciate a simple acknowledgement and link to [https://trailblaze-software.github.io/Blaze](https://trailblaze-software.github.io/Blaze).
If you run into any problems, please [submit an issue](https://github.com/Trailblaze-Software/Blaze/issues) and we will get back to you. Alternately, feel free to fix it yourself and submit a pull request :)
## Documentation
Full documentation, including installation guides, usage examples, and API reference, is available at:
**[https://Trailblaze-Software.github.io/Blaze/](https://Trailblaze-Software.github.io/Blaze/)**
* **[Installation Guide](https://trailblaze-software.github.io/Blaze/latest/installation/)**
* **[Quick Start Guide](https://trailblaze-software.github.io/Blaze/latest/usage/)**
* **[Developers Reference (C++ API)](https://trailblaze-software.github.io/Blaze/latest/reference/)**
### Local Development
To preview the documentation locally with live-reloading:
```bash
./scripts/serve-docs.sh
```
This will start a local server at `http://127.0.0.1:8000`.
## Installation
Download pre-built binaries from the [GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/Trailblaze-Software/Blaze/releases).
## Building from source
### Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
#### Prerequisites
Install the required dependencies:
- CMake (build system)
- GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library)
- OpenCV (Computer Vision library)
- Qt6 (GUI framework)
- OpenMP (parallel processing)
which on Ubuntu can all be installed with the script
```bash
./scripts/install-ubuntu-deps.sh
```
#### Building from Source
1. **Configure the build:**
```bash
cmake -B build
```
2. **Compile:**
```bash
cmake --build build --config Release -j$(nproc)
```
Or use the provided build script:
```bash
./scripts/linux-build.sh
```
3. **Install (optional):**
```bash
sudo cmake --install build
```
The following executables will be available in the `build` directory:
- `blaze-cli` - Command-line interface
- `Blaze` - Desktop GUI application (WIP)
- `Blaze3D` - 3D visualization application (very WIP)
### Windows
#### Prerequisites
**Option 1: Using vcpkg (Recommended)**
Blaze uses vcpkg for dependency management on Windows. The build system will automatically fetch, configure, and build dependencies but this can take several hours.
**Option 2: Manual Installation**
Install dependencies using Chocolatey:
```powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process
.\scripts\install-deps-windows.ps1
```
This script installs:
- CMake
- Git
- GDAL
- OpenCV
**Note:** You may need to run PowerShell as Administrator.
#### Building from Source
1. **Configure the build:**
```cmd
cmake -B build
```
For CLI-only build (without GUI):
```cmd
cmake -B build -DBLAZE_CLI_ONLY=ON
```
To disable vcpkg and use system packages:
```cmd
cmake -B build -DBLAZE_USE_VCPKG=OFF
```
2. **Compile:**
```cmd
cmake --build build --config Release --parallel
```
3. **Install (optional):**
```cmd
cmake --install build --config Release
```
The executables will be available in the `build` directory:
- `blaze-cli.exe` - Command-line interface
- `Blaze.exe` - Desktop GUI application
- `Blaze3D.exe` - 3D visualization application
#### Windows Installer
A Windows installer (NSIS) can be created using CPack:
```cmd
cd build
cpack -C Release -G NSIS
```
## Usage
### Command-Line Interface
Process a LAS/LAZ file:
```bash
./blaze-cli configs/config.json filename.las
```
Or with a single file:
```bash
./blaze-cli filename.laz
```
### GUI Applications
Launch the desktop GUI:
```bash
./Blaze
```
## Building
### Build Options
- `BLAZE_CLI_ONLY`: Build only the command-line tool (default: `OFF`)
- `BLAZE_USE_PDAL`: Use PDAL for LAS I/O (default: `OFF`)
- `BLAZE_USE_VCPKG`: Use vcpkg for dependency management on Windows (default: `ON`)
## Requirements
- **CMake**: 3.20 or higher
- **C++ Compiler**: Supporting C++20 standard
- **GDAL**: Geospatial Data Abstraction Library
- **OpenCV**: 4.x or higher
- **Qt6**: Required for GUI applications (Widgets, Concurrent, Core, Svg, OpenGL)
- **OpenMP**: For parallel processing
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests. All contributors retain copywrite to their code but agree to it being licensed under the GPLv3 license.
## License
Blaze is licensed under the GPLv3 License. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details. You can pretty much do whatever you like with it, however any distributed modifications must remain open-source.
This project uses third-party libraries that are subject to their own licenses. See [THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.md](THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.md) for complete license information for all dependencies.
---