High-resolution Lidar data (average first-return point density of 10 points m2 and 2-4 cm vertical accuracy) were obtained by NCALM for 121 km2 of the Christina River Basin Critical Zone Observatory (CRB-CZO) during both leaf-off (April 2010) and leaf-on (July 2010; see dataset CRB-10-Jul) periods. Data acquisition, ground-truthing, vegetation surveys and processing were funded and coordinated by NSF Award EAR-0922307 (PI. Qinghua Guo) to collect similar data at all six CZOs for a variety of cross-site analyses, including calibration of algorithms to extract vegetation characteristics from the LIDAR point cloud data. The CRB-CZO is particularly interested in using this LIDAR dataset for high-resolution analyses of stream channel and floodplain geomorphology.

High-resolution Lidar data were obtained by NCALM for 253 km2 of the Luquillo Critical Zone Observaotry (LCZO) in the Rio Mameyes, Rio Blanco watersheds and coastal zones, Puerto Rico. Due to weather, the data were collected over two campaigns in July 2010 and May 2011, covering the entire survey area. Data acquisition, ground-truthing, vegetation surveys and processing were founded and coordinated by NSF Award EAR-0922307 (PI. Qinghua Guo) to collect similar data at all six CZOs for a variety of cross-site analyses, including calibration of algorithms to extract vegetation characteristics from the Lidar point cloud data.

This dataset was collected using the Optech Aquarius ALTM, a hybrid laser mapping system which collects simultaneous land and shallow water-depth measurements using a beam wavelength of 532 nm. This dataset was collected by NCALM for PI Dr. Praveen Kumar, University of Illinois. Clear Creek is part of the Intensively Managed Landscapes (ILM) Critical Zone Observatory (CZO). The requested survey area consisted of two rectangles - called East and West - enclosing approximately 204 square kilometers along with their associated watercourse corridors. The West rectangle is located 35 km NW of Iowa City, Iowa and the East rectangle is located 10 km NW of the same city. This survey was performed with 2 different LiDAR systems: 1) Optech Gemini Airborne Laser Terrain Mapper (ALTM) (available here) which is an infrared laser mapping sensor and 2) Optech Aquarius ALTM (this dataset) which is a hybrid laser mapping system as it collects simultaneous land and shallow water-depth measurements. It operates in the green spectrum, thus enabling it to penetrate water. These LiDAR mapping systems along with an Optech 12-bit full waveform digitizer were mounted consecutively in a twin-engine Piper PA- 31-350 Navajo Chieftain (Tail Number N154WW). Full waveform files are available via this link.

The National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) conducted a lidar survey of the Calhoun Critical Zone Observatory (CCZO) area on February 26, 2016. The survey was funded by NSF award EAR-1339015; the Calhoun CZO is funded by NSF award EAR-1331846 (P.I. Daniel deB. Richter). Note: Lidar and DEM data have been adjusted by -0.098 meters to adjust for systematic vertical bias determined by analysis of 1251 ground check points collected at the Spartanburg airfield using a vehicle-mounted GPS antenna and receiver.

Data were collected in collaboration between the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) project and the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory (CZO), both funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The dataset contains 1 m Digital Surface Models (first-stop), Digital Terrain Models (bare-earth), and 10 points/m2 LAS-formated point cloud tiles. The DSMs and DTMs are available in GeoTIFF format with associated shaded relief models. The Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is a ground-surface elevation dataset better suited for derived layers such as slope angle, aspect, and contours. Accessory layers consist of index map layers for point cloud tiles, DEM extent, and flight lines. Other LiDAR DSMs, DTMs, and point cloud data available in this series include snow-off data for 2010. Together, the LiDAR Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and point cloud data will be of interest to land managers, scientists, and others for study of topography, snow, ecosystems and environmental change. The Boulder Creek CZO will be using the LiDAR data to further their mission of focusing on how water, atmosphere, ecosystems, & soils interact and shape the Earth's surface. The "Critical Zone" lies between rock and sky. It is essential to life - including human food production - and helps drive Earth's carbon cycle, climate change, stream runoff, and water quality.Read the FGDC-compliant metadata files that are available for each dataset (in .html, .txt, and .xml formats). These files provide numerous details that may be of interest. Also included are flight lines, survey reports, reference materials, and DEM extent shapefiles.IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to weather and equipment failures the snow-on surveys were flown during 2 different time periods in May, between which there were substantial snow accumulations. Do not combine data from May 5/9, 2010 and May 20/21, 2010.

These lidar data were collected on October 12 to November 9, 2006 by Watershed Sciences Incorporated for the Puget Sound Lidar Consortium, with funding from the US Bureau of Reclamation. The survey areas cover eastern portions of the the Methow River and Wenatchee River in Washington State. The study areas total ~360 square kilometers. These lidar were acquired for all the areas identified for the purpose of stream channel assessment and potential stream restoration design.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists completed a multidisciplinary data collection effort during the week of October 21-25, 2019, using new technologies to map and validate bathymetry over a large stretch of the non-tidal Potomac River. The work was initiated as an effort to validate commercially-acquired topobathymetric light detection and ranging (lidar) data funded through a partnership between the USGS and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). The goal was to compare airborne lidar data to bathymetric data collected through more traditional means (boat-based sonar, wading Real Time Kinematic Global Navigational Satellite System (RTK-GNSS) surveys) and through unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In addition to accurately measuring river bottom elevations with GNSS and sonar, remote sensing imagery was collected with optical, multispectral, thermal, and ground-based lidar (GBL) sensors to test new technologies. The bathymetric lidar data, once delivered, will be used for hydrodynamic and water supply risk modeling, aquatic habitat assessments, and to test inland bathymetry mapping capabilities for inclusion in the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The data contained within this particular release are comprised of conventional survey (i.e. total station and GNSS) and GBL data.

This lidar dataset was collected as part of an NCALM Seed grant for Conor McMahon at the University of California, Santa Barbara. This dataset was collected to provide riparian vegetation mapping, classification, and measure historic drought response on the San Pedro river. The study area is located east of Sierra Vista, Arizona and covers approximately 81.5 km2.