Thursday, July 19, 2012

NOAA Collaborates with USGS, NPS to Evaluate New LIDAR Technology

This week, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) began a project with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) to evaluate the capabilities of a next generation USGS topographic-bathymetric Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system that delivers enhanced, high-resolution mapping of coastal environments. The first goal of the evaluation is to assess the bathymetric mapping performance of the new LiDAR system for a number of NOAA and USGS programs. The second goal is to calibrate the system, so that sea floor reflectance maps can be generated along with bathymetry to produce benthic habitat maps to support ecosystem-based management. For more information, contact Chris Parrish.