BLAST
BLAST consists of two highly efficient, batch-scriptable, multicore command-line tools. They can also be run via a native GUI (laslook) and are available as toolboxes (QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, FME, Erdas). BLAST is the ultimate speed-up to utilize unique “streaming TIN” technology to seamlessly triangulate billions of points for subsequent rasterization into a DEM with blast2dem or extraction of elevation contours with blast2iso. BLAST is part of the LAStools Software Suite. Please see a (scientific) video at the bottom of this page that explains the “Streaming TIN” technology that is used to Delaunay triangulate so many points using little main memory.
blast2iso
It is almost identical to las2iso except that it can extract elevation contours from much larger inputs. While las2iso operates in-core and is limited to a maximum of around 20 million points, blast2iso utilizes unique “streaming TIN” technology and can seamlessly process up to 2 billion points. This tool is part of the BLAST extension of LAStools. For more details, see the README file.
blast2dem
It is almost identical to las2dem except that it can process much larger inputs. While las2dem operates in-core and is limited to a maximum of around 20 million points, blast2dem utilizes unique “streaming TIN” technology and can seamlessly process up to 2 billion points. This tool is part of the BLAST extension of LAStools. For more details, see the README file.