Postojna Lidar workshop – AF Wizard Installation Tutorial

We will use an elaborate stack of libraries, mostly in Python – go through this tutorial slowly and carefuly. We will first install a Python environement manager (Miniconda), which will host or bring together three programs/libraires: Opals, LAStools and AF Wizard.

What is Miniconda ?

Miniconda is a minimal Python distribution designed to let you create lightweight, isolated environments using the Conda package manager. Unlike Anaconda, which includes a wide range of preinstalled packages, Miniconda gives you a clean slate, letting you install only the packages you need.

Installation

⚠️ Important: Avoid using folders with spaces in their names (e.g., use MyFolder instead of My folder).

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Download Miniconda:
- Go to the official Miniconda download page:
  👉 https://docs.conda.io/en/latest/miniconda.html
- Choose the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) and architecture (normally 64-bit).
Run the Installer:
- On Windows, double-click the .exe file.
- On macOS or Linux, run the .sh file from the terminal:
```
bash Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-x86_64.sh
```
Follow the Setup Wizard:
- Choose the install location (no spaces in folder names).
- Register Miniconda as the default Python if you prefer (may be useful).

How to Run Conda

After installation:

Open the Anaconda Prompt (on Windows) or a terminal (on macOS/Linux). In Windows, it’s listed among Programs, under Anaconda.
Test if Conda is installed correctly:
```
conda --version
```

* Install Mamba

Optional but recommended: Mamba is a faster alternative to Conda for managing environments and packages.

conda install -n base -c conda-forge mamba

* Install Helios (for the workshop)

Helios or Heidelberg LiDAR Operations Simulator is used for simulation of terrestrial, mobile and airborne laser scanning surveys.

conda install -c conda-forge helios

Conda 101 tutorial

Everything you do should be inside a dedicated environment, i.e. a digital container which comprises required Python libraries.

Creating a Conda Environment
```
conda create -n myenv
```
Activate your environment
```
conda activate myenv
```
List previously created environments
```
conda env list
```
or
```
conda info --envs
```

Summary of Useful Conda Commands

Command	Description
`conda create -n myenv`	Create a new environment
`conda activate myenv`	Activate an environment
`conda deactivate`	Deactivate the current environment
`conda env list`	List all environments
`conda install package-name`	Install a package
`conda remove --name myenv --all`	Delete an environment completely
`conda update conda`	Update Conda itself

… we’re not finished yet

AF Wizard & the rest of the stack

AF Wizard (Adaptive Filtering Wizard) is a Python/Jupyter-based tool designed to assist with ground‑point filtering workflows in LiDAR data processing. It allows interactive, spatially adaptive filtering through existing algorithms (PDAL, OPALS, LAStools) directly within Jupyter notebooks and map-based UIs.

repository: https://github.com/ssciwr/afwizard

Requirements for AF Wizard

AF Wizard depends on a few external tools that are not bundled with the program. To use it effectively, you need to install:

1. OPALS

OPALS (Orientation and Processing of Airborne Laser Scanning data) is a comprehensive software framework for processing and analyzing large volumes of LiDAR data.

Official OPALS page:
https://opals.geo.tuwien.ac.at/html/stable/usr_install.html
To download OPALS, you must create a user account on their platform.

Download link:
https://opals.geo.tuwien.ac.at/html/stable/php_download_overview.html

⚠️ Note: The download size is very large (~1.4 GB). Make sure you have sufficient disk space and bandwidth before starting.

2. LAStools

LAStools is a widely used and efficient toolbox for processing LiDAR data in LAS/LAZ format. It includes tools for filtering, classification, tiling, conversion, and much more.

Download LAStools from the official site:
https://rapidlasso.de/downloads/

You have the option to choose between:

A command-line version (script-friendly).
A version with a graphical user interface (GUI) if you prefer visual interactions :).

💡 LAStools is very popular in both academic and commercial lidar workflows. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with its tools and structure before integrating it into AF Wizard workflows.

3. Af Wizard

Once all requirements are installed, we can finally install AF Wizard:

We will install it in the specific environement / container for our workshop:

conda create -n my_postojna_docker
conda activate my_postojna_docker
conda install -c conda-forge afwizard

Summary

Tool	Purpose	Link
AF Wizard	Lidar point filtering/classification (advanced)	https://github.com/ssciwr/afwizard
OPALS	A helper library for Lidar data processing	https://opals.geo.tuwien.ac.at/html/stable/usr_install.html
LAStools	Widely used Lidar data toolbox (conversion, filtering…)	https://rapidlasso.de/downloads/