ltool

Documentation: https://nikolaos-siomos.github.io/ltool/

ltool is a layer detection tool based on the Wavelet Covariance Transform (WCT) for lidar profile analysis.

It provides:

A programmatic Python API (get_layers)
A standalone CLI (ltool_standalone) for local processing
An SCC/server CLI (ltool_scc) for server-side processing using an .ini configuration
Export of retrieved layers to NetCDF and generation of diagnostic plots

Installation

From PyPI:

pip install ltool

For development:

pip install -e .

Quick start

Python API

from ltool.__ltool__ import get_layers

layer_obj = get_layers(
    height=height,
    sig=sig,
    sig_err=sig_err,
    method="optimized_prm",
)

print(layer_obj.layers)

Export and plots:

layer_obj.export_to_netcdf(dir_out="/path/to/output", save_netcdf=True)
layer_obj.visualize(dir_out="/path/to/output", save_plots=True)

Standalone CLI

Run on a directory of NetCDF files:

ltool_standalone \
  --input_path /absolute/path/to/data \
  --method optimized_prm \
  --save_plots \
  --save_netcdf

SCC/server CLI

ltool_scc \
  --measurement_id 123456 \
  --config_file /absolute/path/to/ltool.ini

Layer detection methods

The --method option controls how bases/tops are selected. Choices:

height_based
wct_based
snr_based
prm_based
optimized_wct
optimized_snr
optimized_prm (default)

See docs/methods/pairing.md for the full explanation.

Documentation (MkDocs)

Serve docs locally:

mkdocs serve

Build static site:

mkdocs build

Project layout

Recommended structure:

.
├── pyproject.toml
├── src/
│   └── ltool/
├── examples/
├── docs/
├── mkdocs.yml
└── .gitlab-ci.yml

Release (PyPI)

Build:

rm -rf dist build *.egg-info
python -m build

Upload:

python -m twine upload dist/*

License

This project is licensed under the terms of the GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.

Contact

Maintainer: Nikolaos Siomos
LMU
Email: nikolaos.siomos@lmu.de

Release files for ltool 2.0.6

For a detailed explanation of source distributions (sdists) and built distributions (wheels), please see the package formats documentation.

Source distribution (sdist)

Source distribution for ltool 2.0.6
File	Size	Uploaded
ltool-2.0.6.tar.gz	47.2 kB	Aug 17, 2026	Details

Built distribution (wheel)

Table of built distributions (wheels) for ltool 2.0.6
File	Interpreter	ABI	Platform	Reset
ltool-2.0.6-py3-none-any.whl 56.8 kB Aug 17, 2026	Python 3	none	any	Details

Total release size: 104.0 kB

Release files / ltool-2.0.6.tar.gz

Download URL	ltool-2.0.6.tar.gz
Size	47.2 kB
Tags	Source
SHA-256 checksum How to use checksums	`1ea80a7040d831db0819041eca2f2526e7ed26bdf8a8c42c20b91664ad824fbe`
BLAKE2b-256 checksum How to use checksums	`121116bace2cabff78243aab3694754688ded144d52b2d1d46f6d7438f450210`
Upload date	Aug 17, 2026
Uploaded using Trusted Publishing? What is trusted publishing?	No
Uploaded via	`twine/6.2.0 CPython/3.12.8`

Release files / ltool-2.0.6-py3-none-any.whl

Download URL	ltool-2.0.6-py3-none-any.whl
Size	56.8 kB
Tags	Python 3
SHA-256 checksum How to use checksums	`fdf0a5f8a8f41906fb0348af750698f2ed2cd4c0d3e92fba6a24019e26ddc8ff`
BLAKE2b-256 checksum How to use checksums	`a0d24e5a173d025b507d7b6374425532ef7ef8ea37b0388f8d0e0b9e5d5f5df5`
Upload date	Aug 17, 2026
Uploaded using Trusted Publishing? What is trusted publishing?	No
Uploaded via	`twine/6.2.0 CPython/3.12.8`