Software Fostering a community-driven and sustainable HELIOS++ scientific software
NEWS
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Press release:
The successful proposal of our new project has been featured in Heidelberg University's News Room

OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this project is to elevate HELIOS++, our laser scanning simulation software, to a professional level of software development and quality and to establish sustainable institutional structures. This will be achieved by integrating the Scientific Software Center (SSC) at Heidelberg University into the development process, while fostering a larger, decentralized user and developer community.
In this project, we will focus on improvements in software architecture, quality assurance, reproducibility, usability, interoperability, and active community building.
This will benefit a large number of current and future users who integrate HELIOS++ as an important module in their research and data analysis processes.
BACKGROUND
HELIOS++ is a versatile open-source scientific software for virtual laser scanning (VLS). It enables researchers and professionals to simulate point cloud data, replicating what a laser scanner would capture. This software has various practical applications in the field of geospatial research and beyond:
- Data Acquisition Planning: Researchers can use HELIOS++ to plan data acquisition strategies and evaluate the feasibility of their scanning projects.
- Teaching: HELIOS++ serves as an educational tool, helping students and professionals better grasp the concepts of laser scanning.
- Sensitivity Analyses: By simulating different scenarios, researchers can conduct sensitivity analysis to assess how variations impact the outcomes of laser scanning.
- Machine Learning Data: HELIOS++ is valuable for generating training datasets for supervised machine learning algorithms, as is the research focus of VirtuaLearn3D.
- Algorithm and Sensor Development: Researchers and developers can employ HELIOS++ to test and refine novel algorithms and sensor technologies without the need for costly physical equipment.
KEY FEATURES
HELIOS++ as a scientific software:
- Open Source: HELIOS++ is an open-source project hosted on GitHub, fostering transparency, collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge with the scientific community
- Modular Architecture: The modular structure provides researchers with the flexibility to adapt and customize the different components of laser scanning (survey, platform, scanner scene) as needed for their research purpose
- Command Line and Python Interface: HELIOS++ can be used as a command line tool or with the Python bindings pyhelios
- Comprehensive Documentation: HELIOS++ has an extensive documentation in the form of a Wiki and a gallery of examples.

OUR PROJECT PARTNER
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Table
FUNDING
Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)
- Project number: 528521476
- Call: „Research Software – Quality Assured and Re-usable
- Duration: 2024-2027

CONNECT
PROJECT PARTNERS
Dr. Dominic Kempf
Team Heidelberg University
Bernhard Höfle
Hannah Weiser
HELIOS++ Developer Board
Bernhard Höfle
Hannah Weiser
Alberto Esmorís Pena (Catallactical S.L., ES)
Lukas Winiwarter (University of Innsbruck, AT)