National Lidar Dataset (United States)

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Currently, the best source for nationwide LiDAR availability from public sources is the United States Interagency Elevation Inventory (USIEI). [1] The USIEI is a collaborative effort of NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey, with contributions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service. The inventory displays high-accuracy topographic and bathymetric data for the US, and it is intended to be a comprehensive, nationwide listing of known high-accuracy topographic data, including lidar. The inventory is updated semi-annually. Note, however, that getting access to the data is often less than straightforward in the current implementation.

History: In the United States, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) was the lead agency coordinating efforts across multiple agencies towards a National LIDAR Dataset. The first meeting, a National LIDAR Initiative Strategy Meeting, was held at USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia in February 2007. In May 2008 a second meeting [2] was held, co-sponsored by USGS, NASA, and the Association of American State Geologists. In 2009, several sessions at the annual American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing meeting were devoted to this initiative.

The USGS website remains a central source for information about the national initiative, and it includes presentation materials from the various meetings about the subject. This site also discusses how the USGS incorporates LIDAR data into the National Elevation Dataset. In addition to USGS and NASA, numerous government agencies have indicated their interest in such a project, including National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, and NRCS. [2]

While there is consensus at a federal level supporting the creation of a National LIDAR Dataset, key aspects remain unresolved, including funding, data specifications, and the delineation of agency roles and responsibilities. [2] While these issues are pending, the following states are among those moving forward with their own statewide LIDAR datasets:

StateDataset StatusSource
AlaskaPartial Alaska DGGS Elevation Portal
ConnecticutComplete (med-res) CT Lidar 10' DEM; see also this news
DelawareComplete Delaware Spatial Data Framework
FloridaPartial LiDAR and Digital Elevation Data - Florida Disaster
IdahoPartial Idaho LiDAR Consortium
IllinoisPartial Illinois Height Modernization (ILHMP): LiDAR Data
IndianaCompleted Indiana Spatial Data Portal
IowaComplete IA GeoTree Lidar Mapping Project
KansasPartial Kansas GIS/DASC
KentuckyPartial Metadata, Grid and 5ft DEMs [ dead link ]
Louisiana~Complete Louisiana Atlas
Maryland Partial MD iMap, MD DNR LiDAR, or NOAA
MassachusettsPartial - Boston area onlyAvailable for purchase from MassGIS
MinnesotaComplete MN Lidar Status
New HampshirePartial GRANIT/Coastal data
New JerseyPartial NJ Lidar Status
New YorkPartial NYS Lidar Coverage, or NYS Orthos
North CarolinaComplete NC Floodmapping Program
NCDOT Elevation Data
North DakotaPartial ND LIDAR Dissemination Mapservice
OhioComplete Ohio Statewide Imagery Program
OregonPartial Oregon Lidar Consortium
PennsylvaniaComplete PAMAP Program LiDAR
South CarolinaPartial SC Lidar Consortium
TennesseePartial GIS Data
TexasPartial Elevation – Lidar - Texas Geographic Information Office
UtahPartial UT Lidar datasets
VermontPartial VCGI
VirginiaPartial Virginia GIS Clearinghouse Apps & Maps - VGIN
Washington Washington Lidar Portal
West VirginiaPartial WV Elevation and LIDAR Download Tool
WisconsinIn progress WI: 14 counties
WyomingIn progress Wyoming Statewide LIDAR Effort

Regardless of the degree of state coordination, some counties choose to handle (and control) high-resolution LiDAR acquisition and distribution on their own. Such counties include:

References

  1. "United States Interagency Elevation Inventory".
  2. 1 2 3 Jason Stoker; David Harding; Jay Parrish (September 2008). "The Need for a National Lidar Dataset" (PDF). Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-02-24.