Recent versions of QGIS include the ability to integrate a package named LAStools, which processes Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data. LIDAR data is stored as a point cloud in the LAS format which stores x, y, z laser returns; however, this format isn't good for most GIS map visualizations. In this recipe, we'll convert a LAS point cloud file to a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) in GeoTIFF format used in other examples throughout this book. The DEM can then be used as a raster layer in QGIS.
If your QGIS installation isn't already configured for LAStools, you'll need to do so. You can find instructions for Windows in the official QGIS documentation here:
https://docs.qgis.org/testing/en/docs/training_manual/forestry/basic_lidar.html
For OSX, you must use Wine. Instructions for configuring LAStools and Wine for OSX can be found here:
https://rapidlasso.com/2014/10/04/using-lastools-on-mac-os-x-with-wine/
Once you have LAStools configured in OSX and...