Project Summary Sheet

Project: High Accuracy Elevation Data Collection Project

Web Sites: http://sofia.usgs.gov

Location (Subregions & Counties): Greater Everglades

Funding (Source): USGS Place-Based Studies, Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative (CESI)

Principal Investigator(s): Greg Desmond, 703/648-4728, gdesmond@usgs.gov

Project Personnel: Ed Cyran, Gordon Shupe, Chuck Henkle (contractor), Vince Caruso, Bob Glover

Supporting Organizations: Everglades National Park, South Florida Water Management District

Associated / Linked Projects: Vegetative Resistance to Flow, TIME, ATLSS, other agencies and projects that require accurate elevation data.

Overview & Status: Modeling of sheet flow and water surface levels in the Florida Everglades is very sensitive to changes in elevation due to its expansive and extremely low relief terrain. This project is applying state-of-the-art technology to perform a regional topographic survey that meets a vertical accuracy specification of 15 centimeters (6 inches).

Needs & Products: The topographic surveys are being performed using differential global positioning system (GPS) technology, and a USGS developed helicopter-based instrument known as the Airborne Height Finder (AHF). In some areas, the surveying is accomplished using airboats. The primary products being developed by this project are Digital Elevation Models (DEM’s) that define the topography of the Everglades.

Application to Everglades Restoration: The project supports the restoration and resource management efforts by providing critical data for the parameterization of numerical hydrologic and ecological models. Water resources and land management decisions will rely heavily on the results of these simulation models. It is imperative to derive and use the most accurate elevation data available for the models to produce meaningful results.