U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

CLICKCLICK: : The USGS The USGS Center for LIDAR Information Center for LIDAR Information Coordination and KnowledgeCoordination and KnowledgeJordan MenigJordan MenigSAIC, contractor to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth SAIC, contractor to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Sioux Falls, Resources Observation and Science Center, Sioux Falls, SD. SD.

Work performed under USGS contract 03CRCN0001.Work performed under USGS contract 03CRCN0001.

CLICK: BackgroundCLICK: Background

In February 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey launched the In February 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey launched the Center for LIDAR Information Coordination & Knowledge Center for LIDAR Information Coordination & Knowledge (CLICK).(CLICK).

Virtual center, but housed at EROS.Virtual center, but housed at EROS. CLICK fills a niche that no one has “taken the lead” on, public CLICK fills a niche that no one has “taken the lead” on, public

or private.or private. Need has been expressed by universities and other Need has been expressed by universities and other

agencies.agencies. Take advantage of existing LIDAR data and information for Take advantage of existing LIDAR data and information for

scientific (non-mapping) research needs nationwide.scientific (non-mapping) research needs nationwide.

CLICK: MissionCLICK: Mission

CLICK’sCLICK’s mission is to facilitate data access, mission is to facilitate data access, coordinate user requirements, and promote coordinate user requirements, and promote education about the use of LIDAR data (both education about the use of LIDAR data (both "raw" and classified full return point clouds) "raw" and classified full return point clouds) for scientific needs.for scientific needs.

The Need for Source DataThe Need for Source Data

Depending on the system, recording method, and Depending on the system, recording method, and cover type, between 20 and 90 percent of the raw cover type, between 20 and 90 percent of the raw source data could be filtered out to generate a source data could be filtered out to generate a bare earth DEM.bare earth DEM.

Large amounts of discarded data can be used for Large amounts of discarded data can be used for other purposes.other purposes.

““Data Dumpster Diving”Data Dumpster Diving”

The Need for CoordinationThe Need for Coordination

Because of the high cost of collecting LIDAR, Because of the high cost of collecting LIDAR, many programs and applications that could many programs and applications that could benefit cannot afford it.benefit cannot afford it.

Interested parties need a place to find out if Interested parties need a place to find out if LIDAR data is publicly available.LIDAR data is publicly available.

CLICK would like to acquire data to make CLICK would like to acquire data to make accessible to the public for further research accessible to the public for further research opportunities.opportunities.

CLICK: Good for ScienceCLICK: Good for Science

LIDAR data has not been widely used by scientists LIDAR data has not been widely used by scientists and managers because of its cost and difficulty of and managers because of its cost and difficulty of access, and a lack of awareness about available access, and a lack of awareness about available data and acquisition opportunities. data and acquisition opportunities. CLICK is designed to foster more use of LIDAR data and CLICK is designed to foster more use of LIDAR data and

to raise awareness of LIDAR's availability and to raise awareness of LIDAR's availability and applications.applications.

Limited amount of LIDAR-related resources Limited amount of LIDAR-related resources for those who are interested in incorporating for those who are interested in incorporating data into science.data into science.

Web portalWeb portal Allows LIDAR users to ask and answer questions, Allows LIDAR users to ask and answer questions,

and coordinate with others who are looking for data and coordinate with others who are looking for data or have data available to share.or have data available to share.

Identify scientists, cartographers, and geographers Identify scientists, cartographers, and geographers who could help with someone’s LIDAR needs.who could help with someone’s LIDAR needs.

Downloadable raw point cloud data.Downloadable raw point cloud data. Provide information on where data exists, including Provide information on where data exists, including

metadata.metadata.

http://lidar.cr.usgs.govhttp://lidar.cr.usgs.gov

The The CLICKCLICK virtual center Web portal is broken into virtual center Web portal is broken into three parts:three parts:

1. Information1. Information

2. Coordination2. Coordination

3. Knowledge3. Knowledge

CLICK: StructureCLICK: Structure

InformationInformation – (Data Viewer) – (Data Viewer) Provides access to download available raw point Provides access to download available raw point

cloud data.cloud data. Data currently distributed in ASCII X, Y, Z and Data currently distributed in ASCII X, Y, Z and

LAS file formats.LAS file formats. Seamless and Google Earth viewers.Seamless and Google Earth viewers. NASA EAARL Google Earth viewerNASA EAARL Google Earth viewer.

EExperimentalxperimental AAdvanceddvanced AAirborneirborne RResearchesearch LLIDARIDAR

CLICK: StructureCLICK: Structure

Seamless Data ViewerSeamless Data Viewer

Google Earth Data ViewerGoogle Earth Data Viewer

USGS - NASA EAARLUSGS - NASA EAARL

USGS - NASA EAARL Data SetsUSGS - NASA EAARL Data Sets

CoordinationCoordination – (Bulletin Board) – (Bulletin Board) Heart of the virtual center.Heart of the virtual center. Place for users from ALL disciplines to ask and Place for users from ALL disciplines to ask and

answer LIDAR-related questions.answer LIDAR-related questions. We do request that users register in order to ask We do request that users register in order to ask

and answer questions.and answer questions. Has become a great place for users in the LIDAR Has become a great place for users in the LIDAR

community to communicate.community to communicate.

CLICK: StructureCLICK: Structure

KnowledgeKnowledge – – (Websites / References)(Websites / References) Dynamic list of LIDAR-related Web pages, along

with a growing list of peer-reviewed articles. Users may also submit their own LIDAR-related

web pages or peer-reviewed journal articles if they do not see it on the list.

CLICK: StructureCLICK: Structure

National Digital Elevation ProgramNational Digital Elevation Program

BLMFEMA NASA

NGA

NOAANRCS

USFS

USGS

USACE

NSGIC

A consortium of agencies coordinating the collection and A consortium of agencies coordinating the collection and application of high-resolution, high-accuracy elevation application of high-resolution, high-accuracy elevation datadata

www.ndep.gov

CLICK together with NDEPCLICK together with NDEP

Active participant in monthly National Digital Active participant in monthly National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP) meetings.Elevation Program (NDEP) meetings.

Representatives from USGS, FEMA, NRCS, USACE, Representatives from USGS, FEMA, NRCS, USACE, NOAA, NGA, BLM, and more….NOAA, NGA, BLM, and more….

NDEP has become a major source of LIDAR tracking NDEP has become a major source of LIDAR tracking information nationwide through metadata information nationwide through metadata submissions or leads from NDEP members.submissions or leads from NDEP members.

CLICK TidbitsCLICK Tidbits

Currently have 548 members from 43 different Currently have 548 members from 43 different countries.countries.

Official TerraSolid Support Forum.Official TerraSolid Support Forum. Official Applied Imagery Support Forum (QT Official Applied Imagery Support Forum (QT

Modeler)Modeler) Highlighted and on front cover of the June 2006 Highlighted and on front cover of the June 2006

edition of PE&RS.edition of PE&RS.

Current NED DevelopmentCurrent NED Development

Multi-resolution (nested layers)Multi-resolution (nested layers) 1-arc-second (30 meters)1-arc-second (30 meters) 1/3-arc-second (10 meters)1/3-arc-second (10 meters) 1/9-arc-second (3 meters)1/9-arc-second (3 meters)

High resolution, “non-standard” source dataHigh resolution, “non-standard” source data Lidar (grids, TINs, or points)Lidar (grids, TINs, or points) Photogrammetric (mass points and breaklines)Photogrammetric (mass points and breaklines) Cartographic (contours and hydrography)Cartographic (contours and hydrography) IFSAR (grids)IFSAR (grids)

3 meters or better (4%)

10 meters or better (71%)

30 meters (25%)

Source Data Resolution

June 2007 release: over 75% 10-meter DEM source or betterJune 2007 release: over 75% 10-meter DEM source or better

(June 2000 release: 17% 10-meter DEM source)(June 2000 release: 17% 10-meter DEM source)

NED Source DataNED Source Data

Multi-resolution NED: West VirginiaMulti-resolution NED: West Virginia

1-arc-second (30 meters) 1/3-arc-second (10 meters) 1/9-arc-second (3 meters)

Multi-resolution NED: LA (lidar source)Multi-resolution NED: LA (lidar source)

1-arc-second (30 meters) 1/3-arc-second (10 meters) 1/9-arc-second (3 meters)

Questions?Questions?

jmenig@usgs.govjmenig@usgs.gov

CLICK email: lidar@usgs.govCLICK email: lidar@usgs.gov