Airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) can provide high-quality topographic information over large areas. Lidar is an active remote sensing technology that employs laser ranging in near-infrared and green spectral wavelengths to provide three-dimensional (3D) point information for objects, including Earth’s surface, vegetation, and infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program (NGP) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) seeks to systematically acquire airborne topographic lidar for the conterminous U.S. (conus), Hawaii, and the U.S. territories. A series of field accuracy assessment surveys, using conventional surveying methods (i.e. total station and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)) along with ground based lidar (GBL), were conducted at test sites in Northeastern Illinois (NEIL) to evaluate the 3D absolute and relative accuracy of airborne lidar acquired for 3DEP.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists conducted field data collection efforts between October 25th and 31st, 2020 at several sites in eastern Iowa using high accuracy surveying technologies. The work was initiated as an effort to validate commercially acquired topographic light detection and ranging (lidar) data that was collected between December 7th, 2019 and November 19th, 2020 using wide area mapping lidar systems for the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The goal was to compare and validate the airborne lidar data to topographic, structural, and infrastructural data collected through more traditional means (e.g., Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) surveying). Evaluating these data will provide valuable information on the performance of wide area topographic lidar mapping capabilities that are becoming more widely used in 3DEP. The airborne lidar was collected to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) High Resolution Elevation Enterprise Program and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Iowa Flood Plain Program, in addition to the 3DEP mission. The data contained within this particular release are comprised of conventional survey (i.e. total station and GNSS) and ground based lidar data.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists conducted field data collection efforts between October 25th and 31st, 2020 at several sites in eastern Iowa using high accuracy surveying technologies. The work was initiated as an effort to validate commercially acquired topographic light detection and ranging (lidar) data that was collected between December 7th, 2019 and November 19th, 2020 using wide area mapping lidar systems for the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The goal was to compare and validate the airborne lidar data to topographic, structural, and infrastructural data collected through more traditional means (e.g., Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) surveying). Evaluating these data will provide valuable information on the performance of wide area topographic lidar mapping capabilities that are becoming more widely used in 3DEP. The airborne lidar was collected to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) High Resolution Elevation Enterprise Program and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Iowa Flood Plain Program, in addition to the 3DEP mission. The data contained within this particular release are comprised of conventional survey (i.e. total station and GNSS) and ground based lidar data.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists conducted field data collection efforts during the time periods of April 25 - 26, 2017, October 24 - 28, 2017, and July 25 - 26, 2018, using a combination of surveying technologies to map and validate topography, structures, and other features at five sites in central South Dakota. The five sites included the Chamberlain Explorers Athletic Complex and the Chamberlain High School in Chamberlain, SD, Hanson Lake State Public Shooting Area near Corsica, SD, the State Capital Grounds in Pierre, SD, and Platte Creek State Recreation Area near Platte, SD. The work was initiated as an effort to evaluate airborne Geiger-Mode and Single Photon light detection and ranging (lidar) data that were collected over parts of central South Dakota. Both Single Photon and Geiger-Mode lidar offer the promise of being able to map areas at high altitudes, thus requiring less time than traditional airborne lidar collections, while acquiring higher point densities. Real Time Kinematic Global Navigational Satellite System (RTK-GNSS), total station, and ground-based lidar (GBL) data were collected to evaluate data collected by the Geiger-Mode and Single Photon systems.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists conducted field data collection efforts during the time periods of April 25 - 26, 2017, October 24 - 28, 2017, and July 25 - 26, 2018, using a combination of surveying technologies to map and validate topography, structures, and other features at five sites in central South Dakota. The five sites included the Chamberlain Explorers Athletic Complex and the Chamberlain High School in Chamberlain, SD, Hanson Lake State Public Shooting Area near Corsica, SD, the State Capital Grounds in Pierre, SD, and Platte Creek State Recreation Area near Platte, SD. The work was initiated as an effort to evaluate airborne Geiger-Mode and Single Photon light detection and ranging (lidar) data that were collected over parts of central South Dakota. Both Single Photon and Geiger-Mode lidar offer the promise of being able to map areas at high altitudes, thus requiring less time than traditional airborne lidar collections, while acquiring higher point densities. Real Time Kinematic Global Navigational Satellite System (RTK-GNSS), total station, and ground-based lidar (GBL) data were collected to evaluate data collected by the Geiger-Mode and Single Photon systems.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists conducted field data collection efforts during the week of September 25 – 29, 2017, using a combination of conventional surveying technologies, for a large stretch of the Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The work was initiated as an effort to validate commercially acquired topobathymetric light detection and ranging (lidar) data. The goal was to compare the airborne lidar data to topographic and bathymetric data collected through more traditional means (e.g. waded Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (RTK-GNSS) surveys). The validated topobathymetric lidar data will be used for hydrologic modeling, assessment and restoration of aquatic habitat, sediment transport modeling, and to assess inland bathymetry mapping capabilities for inclusion in the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP).

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists conducted field data collection efforts between August 17th and 28th, 2020 over a large stretch of the Niobrara River in Nebraska using high accuracy surveying technologies. The work was initiated as an effort to validate commercially acquired topobathymetric light detection and ranging (lidar) data. The goal was to compare and validate the airborne lidar data to topographic, bathymetric, structural, and infrastructural data collected through more traditional means (e.g. Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) surveying). The airborne topobathymetric lidar data will be used for characterization of endangered species aquatic habitat, improving the understanding of fluvial geomorphic features, sediment transport modeling, and 2D/3D hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. The impacts of the spring 2019 flood and resulting Spencer Dam failure will be further assessed and monitored using the lidar data along with testing inland topobathymetric lidar mapping capabilities for inclusion in the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP).

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.

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.

Aeromagnetic data were collected along flight lines by instruments in an aircraft that recorded magnetic-field values and locations. This dataset presents latitude, longitude, altitude, and magnetic-field values.