LiDAR Relief Visualization
A free, open-source QGIS toolkit with 31 Processing algorithms for archaeological LiDAR visualization and terrain analysis. Reveal subtle earthworks, prepare point clouds, compare surveys, combine LiDAR with satellite imagery, validate anomalies in the field, and produce reproducible research outputs.
LiDAR Relief Visualization is a free and open-source archaeological terrain-analysis toolkit for QGIS and part of the Dig:Tools ecosystem.
Its 31 Processing algorithms help archaeologists, heritage professionals, and landscape researchers examine digital elevation models and LiDAR point clouds for subtle features such as ditches, banks, mounds, hollow ways, scarps, platforms, quarrying, and disturbed ground.
Core tools include multi-directional hillshade, SLRM, Sky-View Factor, anisotropic Sky-View Factor, positive and negative openness, Local Dominance, MSTP, e4MSTP, Terrain Ruggedness Index, slope, VAT, Simple Red Relief, PCA composites, visualization blending, and batch processing with landscape presets.
Extended workflows support LAS/LAZ ground filtering, PDAL processing, multi-temporal DEM comparison, LiDAR and Sentinel-2 fusion, Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF export, interactive web maps, QField survey packages, reproducible visualization recipes, PDF reporting, and optional ONNX-based feature detection.
Core terrain tools work with libraries supplied by QGIS. Specialized capabilities use clearly identified optional packages and remain isolated, so missing optional dependencies do not prevent the plugin from loading.
The plugin supports QGIS 3 and QGIS 4 and is tested through automated numerical, packaging, clean-runtime, and desktop-loader checks. It supports transparent, reproducible research without subscription fees or proprietary lock-in.
Visualizations and automated detections are interpretive aids rather than archaeological classifications. Assess potential features using complementary evidence and, where appropriate, field validation.
New to the plugin? Run "Visualisation Contact Sheet" to compare techniques on your own DEM in seconds, then open any algorithm and press Help for the full user guide. The guide also ships inside the plugin folder as USER_GUIDE.md, and is online at https://github.com/dig-tools/lidar-relief-qgis-plugin/blob/main/lidar_relief/USER_GUIDE.md