Rasters of the ten most common geomorphic landscape forms (geomorphons) were developed with 1-meter resolution for the Greater Raleigh, NC Area, based on 1-meter high-resolution lidar-derived digital elevation models representing the years 2013, 2015, and 2022. The ten geomorphons include the landscape forms representing peaks, ridges, shoulders, spurs, slopes, hollows, footslopes, valleys, pits, and flat areas. All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF image file format, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded.

As part of a collaborative study with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the U.S. Geological Survey developed a suite of high-resolution lidar-derived raster datasets for the Greater Raleigh Area, North Carolina, using repeat lidar data from the years 2013, 2015, and 2022. These datasets include raster representations of digital elevation models (DEMs), DEM of difference, the ten most common geomorphons (i.e. geomorphologic feature), lidar point density, and positive topographic openness. Raster footprints vary by year based on extent of lidar data collection. All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded. These metrics have been developed to pair with field geomorphic assessments for use in the development of a model that can remotely predict streambank erosion potential along streams in the Greater Raleigh, NC Area, however, they have the potential to be used in numerous applications.

Lidar bare earth point density rasters were developed from lidar surveys from 2013, 2015, and 2022 for the Greater Raleigh, NC Area, with 1 meter resolution. These rasters were developed to assess the spatial accuracy of other lidar-derived metrics within this data release based on density and location of lidar points. All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded.

Rasters of positive openness and positive openness difference in the Greater Raleigh, NC Area based on 1-meter high-resolution lidar-derived digital elevation models (DEMs). This dataset contains positive openness rasters for 2013, 2015, and 2022 and one positive openness difference raster. The positive openness difference raster represents the difference in positive openness values between the years 2015 and 2022. The 2015 and 2022 positive openness rasters were selected for differencing because of the superior quality level (QL2) of base lidar data used to develop the positive openness rasters compared with the poorer quality level (QL3) of base lidar data used to develop the 2013 positive openness raster. Positive openness uses a line-of-sight approach to measure the surrounding sixteen zenith angles viewed above the landscape surface out to a specified distance. The raster cell value represents the average of all sixteen angles. A positive openness value of 90 degrees indicates a flat surface. Positive openness values less than 90 degrees indicate varying degrees of concavity; positive openness values greater than 90 degrees indicate varying degrees of convexity. Positive openness was calculated with the Relief Visualization Toolbox v 2.2.1 (https://www.zrc-sazu.si/en/rvt) with the search radius set to 18 meters (approximately 60 feet). All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded.

Rasters of positive openness and positive openness difference in the Greater Raleigh, NC Area based on 1-meter high-resolution lidar-derived digital elevation models (DEMs). This dataset contains positive openness rasters for 2013, 2015, and 2022 and one positive openness difference raster. The positive openness difference raster represents the difference in positive openness values between the years 2015 and 2022. The 2015 and 2022 positive openness rasters were selected for differencing because of the superior quality level (QL2) of base lidar data used to develop the positive openness rasters compared with the poorer quality level (QL3) of base lidar data used to develop the 2013 positive openness raster. Positive openness uses a line-of-sight approach to measure the surrounding sixteen zenith angles viewed above the landscape surface out to a specified distance. The raster cell value represents the average of all sixteen angles. A positive openness value of 90 degrees indicates a flat surface. Positive openness values less than 90 degrees indicate varying degrees of concavity; positive openness values greater than 90 degrees indicate varying degrees of convexity. Positive openness was calculated with the Relief Visualization Toolbox v 2.2.1 (https://www.zrc-sazu.si/en/rvt) with the search radius set to 18 meters (approximately 60 feet). All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded.

As part of a collaborative study with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the U.S. Geological Survey developed a drainage network for the Greater Raleigh Area, North Carolina using the most recent available lidar data, representing the years 2015 and 2022. This dataset includes the delineated drainage network (drainage_network.zip) and rasters representing the breached and filled digital elevation model (raleigh_dem_fil.tif), the flow accumulation raster (raleigh_d8_fac.tif), and the flow direction raster (raleigh_d8_fdr.tif). Raster files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFFs, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded. The drainage network was delineated for all locations with an upstream drainage area greater than 0.075 square kilometers (approximately 18.5 acres) and represents perennial streams, ephemeral streams, ditches, stream buried in pipes, and artificial paths through water bodies. This dataset was developed for use in the development of a model that can remotely predict streambank erosion potential along streams in the Greater Raleigh, NC Area. However, the drainage network and supporting raster files have the potential to be used in numerous applications including watershed delineation.

As part of a collaborative study with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the U.S. Geological Survey developed a drainage network for the Greater Raleigh Area, North Carolina using the most recent available lidar data, representing the years 2015 and 2022. This dataset includes the delineated drainage network (drainage_network.zip) and rasters representing the breached and filled digital elevation model (raleigh_dem_fil.tif), the flow accumulation raster (raleigh_d8_fac.tif), and the flow direction raster (raleigh_d8_fdr.tif). Raster files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFFs, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded. The drainage network was delineated for all locations with an upstream drainage area greater than 0.075 square kilometers (approximately 18.5 acres) and represents perennial streams, ephemeral streams, ditches, stream buried in pipes, and artificial paths through water bodies. This dataset was developed for use in the development of a model that can remotely predict streambank erosion potential along streams in the Greater Raleigh, NC Area. However, the drainage network and supporting raster files have the potential to be used in numerous applications including watershed delineation.

Digital elevation models (DEMs) were developed from lidar surveys from 2013, 2015, and 2022 for the Greater Raleigh, NC Area, with 1-meter resolution. A DEM of difference raster was also developed to represent change in elevation from 2015 to 2022. The 2015 and 2022 DEMs were selected for differencing because of the superior quality level (QL2) of base lidar data used to develop the DEMs compared with the poorer quality level (QL3) of base lidar data used to develop the 2013 DEM. The DEMs were developed to use as inputs to generate a suite of geomorphic metrics for use in a machine learning model to predict streambank erosion hotspots. All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded.

Digital elevation models (DEMs) were developed from lidar surveys from 2013, 2015, and 2022 for the Greater Raleigh, NC Area, with 1-meter resolution. A DEM of difference raster was also developed to represent change in elevation from 2015 to 2022. The 2015 and 2022 DEMs were selected for differencing because of the superior quality level (QL2) of base lidar data used to develop the DEMs compared with the poorer quality level (QL3) of base lidar data used to develop the 2013 DEM. The DEMs were developed to use as inputs to generate a suite of geomorphic metrics for use in a machine learning model to predict streambank erosion hotspots. All files are available as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, meaning they are formatted to work on the cloud or can be directly downloaded.

For these three statewide datasets of North Carolina, information was extracted and post processed from lidar derived digital elevation models (DEMs) at 10 ft. and 30ft. resolution. Datasets are currently used for the project SPARROW Modeling for North Carolina Watersheds, but have the potential to be used in numerous applications. Slope area index (SAI), the ten most common geomorphons (i.e. geomorphologic feature), and topographic openness are included in this data release and should be utilized based on user needs.