Calculate cut and fill volumes faster with the improved LP360 Volumes Ribbon, using LiDAR point clouds for accurate stockpile and terrain volumetrics.
If you work with stockpiles, cut and fill, site grading, or terrain change, you already know the goal: get a clean, repeatable volume answer without fighting your workflow. One of the latest LP360 updates delivers exactly that with the new and improved Volumes Ribbon in the Volumes tab, built to streamline volumetric analysis from start to finish.
To help you get up to speed quickly, we created a short walkthrough video titled “How to Easily Calculate Volumetrics with LiDAR in LP360.” This video is designed to be a practical, click-by-click overview to help you use the Volumetrics Ribbon.
License note: Volumetric tools require LP360 Geospatial Standard and above, LP360 Drone, or LP360 Land Standard.
What the Volumes Ribbon is built to do
The Volumes Ribbon is a dedicated set of tools for volumetric analysis using LiDAR point clouds. It’s designed for common real world workflows like:
- Stockpile volumes
- Cut and fill volumes
- Terrain and surface comparisons
- Fast volume checks for mining, construction, and land development
Instead of jumping between menus or piecing together a process, the Volumes Ribbon gathers the key commands and settings into one place so you can define your area, set your analysis rules, run the calculation, and manage outputs with fewer steps.
The core of the update: the Compute Volumes dialog
The centerpiece of the Volumes tab is the Compute Volumes dialog, introduced in LP360 version 2025.2. This is where the workflow really tightens up.
With the Compute Volumes dialog you can:
- Define the basic settings for the Volumetric Analysis Point Cloud Task
- Run volume calculations on your active LAS and selected feature layers
- Automatically set Output Volume Units based on the unit system of the active LAS layer
- Choose where results go using the Volumes Layer dropdown
You can append results to an existing feature layer or create a new one. In practice, this makes it much easier to keep projects organized, especially when you are running multiple piles or multiple phases of the same site.
Bringing in your areas of interest: Import Area Features
The Import Area Features command has also been improved to keep you focused and reduce mistakes.
Enhancements include:
- The Add Files dialog now shows only the Features tab
- Imports are restricted to 3D polygons so the geometry is compatible with volumetric analysis tasks
This matters because volume results are only as reliable as the boundary you give them. Restricting imports to the right feature types helps avoid those frustrating “why didn’t it run” moments.
Dialing in the analysis: Volumetric Analysis Properties
Once you have your area defined, LP360 gives you clear property pages to control the surfaces being compared and what outputs you want to generate.
Key property pages include:
Hull Property Page
Defines the upper surface boundary using LAS points, polygon vertices, or a constant elevation.
Base Property Page
Sets the lower surface for comparison.
Volume Property Page
Controls output location and attributes like total volume, cut, fill, and surface statistics.
Cut and Fill Image Page
Lets you generate a visual cut and fill output for quick review and reporting.
LAS Output Page
Controls optional LAS file outputs, when you need them for downstream workflows.
This combination gives you both precision and flexibility, whether you are calculating a simple stockpile or validating a more complex earthwork surface.
Need a fast answer: the Digitized Input macro
Sometimes you do not need a fully customized setup. You just need a quick volume check.
The Volumetric Analysis, Digitized Input macro is built for that. It lets you:
- Digitize a polygon directly on the map
- Run a predefined volumetric analysis using typical settings
- Generate output shapefiles and cut and fill images with minimal setup
For many users, this becomes the fastest way to sanity check volumes before running a more formal report.
Best practices for consistent results
A few habits will keep your volumetrics workflow smooth and repeatable:
- Confirm the Active LAS Layer before you run Compute Volumes
- Verify your project coordinate system and units early, especially when mixing datasets
- Use the Volumes Layer dropdown intentionally, append when you want a running record, create new layers when you want clean separation between scenarios
Quick troubleshooting tips
If something does not look right, these are the first places to check:
- Volumes tab missing: Confirm your license includes volumetric tools
- Output files not appearing or misnamed: Review the Volume Property Page settings and ensure Add to Map is selected
- Digitized Input macro not behaving as expected: Confirm the Project Path is set and your polygon is properly digitized
Wrap up
The updated Volumes Ribbon in LP360 makes volumetric analysis faster to set up, easier to manage, and more consistent across projects. Pair it with the video walkthrough, and you will be calculating cut and fill and stockpile volumes with a workflow that feels purpose built.