GLBKitGLBKit

LAZ Model Viewer

Open and inspect laz files directly in your browser. No installation.
Compressed laszip LiDAR point clouds in the browser.

Drop your LAZ file here

Upload a LAZ file or ZIP package to inspect your compressed LiDAR point cloud.

LAZZIP

Why Developers Choose GLBKit for LAZ

GLBKit decompresses laszip-compressed LAZ files in the browser and streams the point cloud to the GPU. It is useful for inspecting compressed LiDAR datasets without downloading desktop GIS software.

Browser Based LAZ

Open compressed LAZ files directly in your browser without installing software.

Local File Processing

Decompress and process compatible LAZ files locally on your device.

Fast Decompression

Stream laszip-compressed LiDAR to the GPU without a server.

Large-Scale LiDAR

Inspect compressed LiDAR datasets without downloading desktop GIS software.

Lossless LAZ Fields

Preserve intensity, classification, RGB, and GPS time from the source LAS.

No Server Upload

Inspect LAZ files without uploading them to a remote server.

About this format

LAZ is the lossless compressed variant of LAS, defined by Martin Isenburg in the laszip library. It typically reduces file size by 4-10x with no data loss, making it the preferred format for distributing large LiDAR datasets. GLBKit renders .laz files in the browser so you can inspect compressed LiDAR surveys without unpacking or uploading them.

What is a .laz file?

.laz is a lossless compressed LAS file. It uses the laszip library to compress the point records while preserving all of the LAS metadata, classification, and RGB fields.

LAZ is the standard distribution format for open LiDAR datasets, government surveys, and large forestry or corridor mapping projects.

  • Lossless compressed LAS format
  • Typically 4-10x smaller than uncompressed LAS
  • Preserves all metadata, classification, and RGB
  • Standard for open LiDAR datasets and large surveys

Common uses for LAZ files

LAZ is the format you download when you get a public LiDAR dataset. It is the standard for open data portals and large-scale survey distribution.

  • Open LiDAR datasets (USGS, national mapping agencies, OpenTopography)
  • Large airborne and terrestrial surveys
  • Forestry, corridor, and infrastructure mapping
  • Distribution format for compressed survey data

How GLBKit renders .laz files

GLBKit decompresses the .laz file in the browser and renders the point cloud with WebGL. The decompression is fast, and no data is uploaded.

  • Drop a .laz file to start
  • Orbit, pan, and zoom with mouse, touch, or pen
  • RGB color and intensity preserved
  • No upload, no signup, fully local processing

GLBKit capabilities for .laz

GLBKit renders LAZ point clouds with the same fidelity as LAS. You can inspect geometry, color, and intensity, but you cannot run classification or filtering in the viewer.

  • Point cloud rendering with RGB and intensity
  • Efficient LAZ decompression in the browser
  • Inspect compressed LiDAR surveys
  • Process files locally in the browser

Who uses GLBKit for .laz files

If you download LiDAR from an open data portal, you are downloading LAZ. GLBKit is the fastest way to inspect it.

  • Surveyors and geomatics engineers
  • Foresters and ecologists
  • GIS analysts working with open LiDAR data
  • Researchers using public LiDAR datasets

Open your .laz file now

Drop a .laz file into the viewer. Inspect compressed LiDAR surveys in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about opening compressed LAZ LiDAR files in the browser.

LAZ is the laszip-compressed variant of LAS. It shrinks LAS files to roughly 10 to 25 percent of their original size without losing any data.
Yes. Drop the .laz into GLBKit's LAZ viewer and it decompresses and renders it locally in your browser.
Yes. LAZ is lossless. It preserves intensity, classification, RGB, and GPS time from the source LAS.
No. LAZ is decompressed and rendered locally in your browser.
LAS is uncompressed. LAZ is the laszip-compressed variant of LAS, with the same schema and point fields.
LAZ is common for distributing large LiDAR datasets where download size matters, such as national LiDAR archives.