Data
Lidar (Bathymetric and Topographic)
About the Data
Lidar is a remote sensing technology used to collect topographic data. Lidar sensors are typically mounted on aircraft and measure the time it takes for an emitted laser pulse to strike an object below and return it to the receiver. The resulting data product is a dense "cloud" of georeferenced elevation points that can be used to model the Earth’s surface and its features. Similarly, bathymetric lidar can be used to model the seafloor in areas with sufficiently clear water.
Through partnerships, the NOAA Coastal Services Center has gathered significant coastal coverage for the lower 48 states and Hawaii.
Data Standards
Contemporary terrestrial lidar systems can capture more than 150,000 points every second with absolute accuracies on the order of 3 to 4 inches. Lidar data are typically tested to determine their positional and vertical accuracy. The accuracy tests are consistent with the NSSDA (National Standards for Spatial Data Accuracy) and an important aspect of each data set, since a major advantage of the data is its accuracy.
For Additional Information
Lidar information: www.csc.noaa.gov/elevation/
Other Resources: www.csc.noaa.gov/topobathy
Other Data Sources: The U.S. Geological Survey – http://lidar.cr.usgs.gov/
