That's very nice!

I started doing something similar when the Welsh LiDAR data was released ( details in https://theretiredengineer.wordpress.com/category/lidar/ ). I had written some code to manipulate PLY files when I was trying to create 3D models of standing stones using photogrammetry. It was then fairly easy to modify that code to create PLY models using the LiDAR data. However I found two problems for the area that I was interested in ( parts of south west Wales )

  1. The LiDAR data coverage was a bit patchy
  2. There were gaps in the data files which resulted in holes in the model

There was nothing I could do about #1 but it should be fairly easy to fix #2. The other option would be to use a GIS of some sort to process the data.

Pretty cool. Is there a way a non coder like me could stick in a postcode and get out a 3d file to take for printing?

Finding Digital Surface Models by area (if they exist for the relevant region) on the UK government website isn't too difficult https://environment.data.gov.uk/ds/survey/index.jsp#/survey

The creator uploaded the convert-to-3D program, so once you've found the files it should be possible to turn them into 3D files provide you're comfortable running stuff from the command line and following his advice on parameters. https://github.com/andrewgodwin/lidartile

I haven't tried it yet though - it's on the to do list!

Thanks! Seems very doable...

That is very cool. I could see lots of people would want one of those on their wall.