Business Planning Project: High Resolution Elevation Data

Presentation to Elevation Stakeholders

Rich Grady, President AppGeoApril 2013

Nevada Geographic Information Society

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Agenda

• Who are we?

• Why are we here?

• Discussion

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Who are we?

• Nevada Geographic Information Society

• Applied Geographics, Inc. (AppGeo)

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Nevada Geographic Information Society

• NGIS is 23 years old, with members from many parts of the state, and both public and private sector representation

• http://www.ngis.org/ • Non-Profit organization with Officers:

– President: Moni Fox, GISP (Washoe County)– Vice President: Lisa Desautels (Graphic Imaging Services, Inc.)– Treasurer: Gary Johnson, GISP (University of Nevada, Reno)– Secretary: Karin Hagan (Kleinfelder)– Past President: Matt Krok, GISP (City of Henderson)– Board Officers:

• Steve Mesa (National Geospatial Intelligence Agency)• Karla Chavez (City of North Las Vegas)• Mark O'Brien (Bureau of Land Management)• Adam Johnson (Gnomon, Inc.)• Eric Schmidt, GISP (Douglas Co., NV)• Don Harper (US Fish & Wildlife)

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AppGeo background…

• Focus on State & Local Government customers

• Over 600 GIS/Spatial-IT projects since 1991, in 35 states plus DC and USVI

• GIS professionals focused on delivering results Project Managers & Consultants

Application Developers (.NET, C#, VB.NET, Web Services, HTML)

GIS Application Developers (ESRI, Open Source, Google)

Database Specialists (Oracle, SQL Server, MS-Access, PostgreSQL)

GIS Analysts (Data development, Map production, Geoanalytics)

Systems Support (Windows, Cloud-based System Integration)

Strategic Planning

Data Services

System Inte-

gration

App Develop-

ment

Support Services

Under Contract to NGIS on the Business Planning Project

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Why are we here?

• To provide an overview of the NGIS Business Planning project for High Resolution “Enhanced Elevation” Data

• To provide a brief overview of LiDAR basics as an acquisition method for enhanced elevation

• To review and discuss NGIS On-line Survey Results

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What is the NGIS Business Planning Project?

• Two parallel tracks:– Geospatial Parcels Data Business Plan – Enhanced Elevation Data Business Plan

• Funding courtesy of a Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP) grant from the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)

• Part of a national Fifty States Initiative catalyzed by the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

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What is the NGIS Business Planning Project?

• Oversight and project assistance provided by the Nevada Geographic Information Society (NGIS)

• Contractor support from AppGeo• Timeline (Autumn 2012-2013)

– Data Gathering– Plan Development– Presentation of Findings and Recommendations

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR 101: Acquiring Enhanced Elevation Data

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Description

• Light Detection and Ranging– Before LiDAR: RaDAR

– Efficient

– Cost Effective for Enhanced Elev.

– Accurate Direct Measurements

– Multiple Platforms

– Multiple Applications

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Basics

• A pulse of light energy is emitted and the precise time is recorded.

• The reflection of that pulse is detected and the precise time is recorded.

• Knowing the speed of light, the range can be determined.

• Knowing the position & attitude of the sensor, the XYZ coordinate of the target can be calculated.

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process Chart

Aircraft-mountedlaser transmitter

and sensorequipment

calibrated to recordreflected returns

Laser beam isemitted in short

pulses at groundsurfaces andobjects, whichreflect the light

pulses back to theaircraft

The reflectedpulses are

recorded uponreturn to aircraft-mounted sensors,measuring elapsedtime and intensity

Raw pulse data isdownloaded and

processed bycomputer to

producegeographicallyregistered data

points (a.k.a. thepoint cloud) andintensity values

Production ofvarious productsfrom data points

and signal intensity

Features andobjects (e.g. trees

and buildings)

Digital elevationmodels (DEMs)

and contours

Bare earth terrain

LiDAR Process Chart

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process Steps for a Project

• Planning• Calibration• Acquisition• Pre-processing• Post Processing• Product Generation• Data, Distribution, and Archival Management

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Preferred Capture Conditions

• Leaf Off• Cloud free• Fog Free• Flood Free• Snow Free• Night or Day

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Platforms

• Mobile

• Terrestrial

• Airborne

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Components

• Global Positioning System• Inertial Measurement Unit• Laser Scanner

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process for Acquiring Enhanced Elevation

• Airborne platform variables

Roll Pitch Yaw

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process for Acquiring Enhanced Elevation

• LiDAR Output– Points, Many points

– Returns, Many Returns

– Returns per Pulse

– First, Interim, Last

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process for Acquiring Enhanced Elevation

• LiDAR Output– Many points

– Many Returns

– First, Interim, Last

– Point Cloud

– Classified Point Cloud

– e.g. ASPRS Classes

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Products

• LiDAR Output– Intensity Image

– Breaklines

– Contours

– Elevation Model (Bare Earth)

– Other Output

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Products

• Intensity Image– Monochrome

– Illumination level of the returns are recorded

– Raster product

– GeoTiff

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process for Acquiring Enhanced Elevation

• Breaklines– Feature marking a

change in the smoothness or continuity of a surface

• An abrupt change in elevation

• Stream, ridge, road, building

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Feature Delineation

• Contours

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NGIS Business Planning Comparison of Resolution

• Bare Earth Elevation Model (100,50,25,5 feet)

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Products

• Surface Models

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Products

• Slope and Aspect

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Products

• Hillshade

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NGIS Business Planning National Enhanced Elevation Assessment (NEEA)

• Functional Uses and Activities• Mapping confined urban channels vs natural streams• In the creation of seamless topo/bathy products• Integration into the National Elevation Dataset• Derivation of stream channel characteristics• Mapping and monitoring coastal hazards• Identify small hydrologic features (ditches, tile drain)• Mapping fish habitat• Characterizing wildlife habitat• Identification of canopy gaps• Flood inundation modeling• Derivative hydrologic profiling• Disaster response• Fire science• High-resolution floodplain mapping• Characterization of canopy structure• Defining drainage basins• Jokulhaup monitoring• Fault-rupture mapping• Monitoring sea level rise• Natural Hazards• Identifying landslide-prone areas• Creating topographic maps• Glacier changes• Carbon sequestration assessments• Homeland security scenarios

• Delineation of canopy surface and forest metrics• Determination of watershed characteristics• Delineation of building structures• Characterization of urban settings• Monitoring long-term shoreline change• Mapping land cover and land use• Measuring earthquake deformation• Delineation of volcanic structure• Monitoring volcano hazards• Urban mapping• Powerline mapping• Hydrologic Modeling• Bare earth products• Monitoring debris flows• Wave height surveys• Sedimentation into rivers• Monitoring geomorphic processes• Identification of ponding areas• Mapping wetland drainage• Creation of synthetic drainage networks• Identifying culverts• Transportation mapping• 3-D visualization of buildings• Volume visualization• Identifying bird habitats

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NGIS Business Planning LiDAR Process for Acquiring Enhanced Elevation

• Resolution and Accuracy– Nominal Point Spacing

– Horizontal Accuracy

– Vertical Accuracy

– Anticipated Contour Equivalent

– Elevation Model Cell Size

– Intensity Image Cell Size

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NGIS Business Planning Enhanced Elevation Quality Levels (e.g. USGS QL1-5)

Quality Levels

Elevation Source

Horizontal Resolution Terms Vertical Accuracy Terms

Point Density

Nominal Pulse

SpacingDEM Post Spacing

RMSEz in Open

Terrain *

Equivalent Contour Accuracy

QL 1 LiDAR 8 pts/m2 0.35 m 1/27 arc-sec (~1 m) 9.25 cm 1-ft

QL 2 LiDAR 2 pts/m2 0.7 m 1/27 arc-sec (~1 m) 9.25 cm 1-ft

QL 3 LiDAR 1 – 0.25 pts/m2 1 – 2 m 1/9 arc-sec

(~3 m) ≤18.5 cm 2-ft

QL 4 Imagery 1 – 0.04 pts/m2 1 – 5 m 1/3 arc-sec

(~10 m)46.3 cm –

139 cm 5 – 15 ft

QL 5 IFSAR 0.04 pts/m2 5 m 1/3 arc-sec

(~10 m)92.7 cm –

185 cm 10 – 20 ft

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NGIS Business Planning Questions Before We Look at Elevation Survey Results

• Is anyone still wondering what we are talking about and why we are here?

• Can anyone describe a situation in their jurisdiction where they wish they could have had enhanced elevation data (i.e. better then what they had available)?

• Can anyone describe a situation where they did have enhanced elevation data, and how it positively made a difference?

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NGIS Elevation Survey Results

• 78 Reponses – 58 in-state– 19 out of state

Elevation Product

Private Sector

State Gov’t Local Gov’t

LiDAR or Derived Products

Aware or Use It

Aware, Not Using

Use It

DEM Reliant Use It Use It

DTM Use It Aware or Reliant

Use It

Contour Lines Use It Reliant Use It

Hydro Breaklines

Unaware Aware, Not Using

Aware, Not Using

Hillshades / Shaded Reliefs

Use It Use It Use It

Slope/Aspect Use It Use It Use It

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Respondent Breakdown

• 25 - Private Business• 21 - State Government• 14 - Local Government• 10 - Federal Government• 3 - Regional Entity• 2 - Education Institution• 1 - No-Profit • 1 - Other

77 Total Respondents

32.9%

27.6%

18.4%

13.2%

3.9%2.6% 1.3% 1.3%

Private Sector State GovernmentLocal Government Federal GovernmentRegional Entity Education InstitutionNon-Profit Other

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Elevation Data Overview

• 97% of Respondent Use Elevation Data– 80% use it because it is already available– 43% have an essential need for the data and are

willing to pay for it.• 52% of Respondent’s are being underserved by

their elevation data– 64% need more resolution– 49% need more current data– 51% have data coverage issues

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Elevation Data Sharing

• 60% of private sector respondents do not share elevation products that have been paid for – Mineral Exploration Data Provides Competitive

Advantage. • 80% of State or Local government respondents

either do not share or are unsure about sharing contracted elevation products– Bandwidth Issues, Liability Concerns, Contract

Restrictions, Narrow Areas of Focus

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NGIS Business Planning Questions for Discussion on Enhanced Elevation

• What does the State of Nevada need for enhanced elevation data?

• Why do we need it?• Are there any substitutes that are good

enough?• How many people still rely primarily on

USGS contours or digital elevation models (DEMs)?

• Are the capabilities to take advantage of enhanced elevation data out there in the counties and local governments?

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NGIS Business Planning Questions for Discussion on Enhanced Elev. (Cont’d)

• What role should the private sector play?• What role should the federal gov’t play?• What role should the state play?

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NGIS Business Planning Discussion Notes on Enhanced Elevation

• DISCUSSION NOTES

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Quick Summary

• Business Planning is happening for:– Geospatial Parcel Data– High Resolution Elevation Data

• The NGIS on-line surveys captured preliminary input on current practices and impressions

• Interviews and outreach underway to learn what can work in Nevada for statewide data sets

• Business Plans will be written this summer• Your input is valuable

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NGIS Business Planning

Thank You!

Rich Gradyrgrady@appgeo.com