On March 22, 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) recommended 20 proposals in 13 states to receive its Lidar Partnership Awards. Inflation Reduction Act funding authorized by section 21002 supported the awards through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Projects include data acquisition for areas in California with unprecedented high-severity wildfires, Louisiana coastal areas impacted by major hurricanes, and major Texas watersheds to support floodplain mapping and management.
Aircraft using sensors to detect pulsed laser beam reflections collect lidar, short for light detection and ranging. The reflections create a “point cloud” representing the three-dimensional (3D) positions of objects on Earth’s surface.
The projects awarded funding in this action will increase the 89% national coverage area of 3D Elevation Program (“3DEP”) data reached at the end of last year. 3DEP will provide the first-ever national baseline of consistent high-resolution topographic elevation data. Accurate data are essential to support flood-risk management, precision agriculture, infrastructure projects, natural resources management, and to help communities cope with natural hazards such as floods and landslides.