3001 LiDAR Services

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• 3001 LiDAR Services
• VGIN Presentation December 2007

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3001 LiDAR History

• Co-developed one of the first commercial
  topographic LiDAR sensors deployed in 1997
• Developed and continually upgraded proprietary
  LiDAR processing software, ELVIS, to fill
  industry void
• Helped pioneer the application of LiDAR for
  floodplain mapping with work in the Everglades
  and in Southern Louisiana
• Helped pioneer the use of LiDAR for large scale
  topographic mapping programs on Louisianas
  Statewide LiDAR program

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3001 LiDAR Sensors

• We offer the two most advanced LiDAR sensors on
  the market
• Optech ALTM Gemini with Multipulse
• 167 kHz pulse rate
• Leica ALS50 Phase II with Multipulse
• 150 kHz pulse rate
• Both ideal for large scale mapping
• Advances save the customer money
• Higher pulse rate and Multipulse technology
  allows higher collection altitude and less flight
  lines, equaling lower cost while still meeting
  FEMA standards and customer specifications

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3001 Resources

• 3 LiDAR Sensors
• Optech ALTM Gemini with Multipulse
• Leica ALS50 Phase II with Multipulse
• Leica ALS40
• 5 Digital Cameras
• 2 Z/I DMCs (frame)
• 3 Leica ADS40 Phase IIs (push-broom)
• 9 Aircraft
• 7 Twin-Engine Cessnas
• 2 LearJets

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3001 LiDAR Experience

• 10 years of LiDAR project and RD experience
• Nationwide projects
• From Alaska to Florida
• Customers include states, counties, cities, U.S.
  Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Navy, FEMA, and the
  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
• We estimate our LiDAR past performance to
  encompass more than 150,000 square miles
• Recently awarded 5-year contract by the Federal
  government to provide worldwide operations and
  maintenance of the JALBTCX CHARTS system
  bathymetric LiDAR mapping and hyperspectral
  imaging

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Processing Where It Counts

• There is typically little variation in raw LiDAR
  datasets given vendors follow standard collection
  protocol
• The real finesse with LiDAR is in processing
• Boresighting
• Filtering
• Manual editing
• 3001 developed ELVIS to give us abilities not
  available in COTS software

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ELVIS

• The result the most robust LiDAR editing
  environment in the industry that allows the
  analyst to customize every aspect of the
  processing
• Your product is not the result of a standard
  filter/edit setting it is a unique, customized
  throughput that provides an elevation model that
  truly represents your terrain

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Meeting Federal Standards

• FEMAs Guidelines and Specifications for Flood
  Hazard Mapping Partners is accepted by most as
  the national standard for elevation data
• Our data are certified to meet FEMA vertical
  accuracy specifications for 2 contours (RMSEz
  18.5 cm / Accuracyz 36.3 cm) at a nominal post
  spacing of 3 m
• Accuracy has two definitions with LiDAR
• Accuracy identifying the elevation (Z) at a
  particular XY position
• Accuracy depicting the true topography of the
  Earth

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Two Definitions of Accuracy

• Accuracy identifying the elevation (Z) at a
  particular XY position (Vertical Accuracy)
• Predominantly influenced by post-processing,
  editing, and ground control surveying
• Post-processing/boresighting ensures trajectory
  consistency across the dataset
• Accurate filtering and editing ensures only the
  points that reflect off the ground are identified
  as such and remain in the bare-earth dataset
• A well planned and executed ground control survey
  can mean the difference between certifiable data
  and just a pretty picture
• 2 GPS base stations for coincident positioning
  and triangulation operated during airborne data
  collection, not to exceed 35 km from aircraft at
  all times
• Land cover checkpoint surveys to verify
  positioning in the predominant land cover of the
  project area(s) conducted post-airborne
  operations, minimum of 5 land cover classes,
  minimum 40 points per class

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Two Definitions of Accuracy

• Accuracy depicting the true topography of the
  Earth (Model Accuracy)
• Largely dependent on the data collection
  methodology, point density, post-processing, and
  quality of the data filtering and editing
• Successful flight planning ensures consistent
  point spacing across the dataset and quality data
  with which to work
• Higher point density means more detail but is
  it necessary?
• Diligent post-processing ensures consistency
  across the dataset
• Accurate editing ensures ground points remain in
  the bare-earth dataset
• Your dataset should meet both definitions for
  accuracy

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Example Flight
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Accuracy and the Sensor

• What is contingent upon the LiDAR sensor?
• Flight/data collection parameters
• The sensor (and aircraft) dictates your operating
  altitude, pulse rate, flight line spacing, air
  speed, etc.

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Data Density

• 1 m LiDAR product provides 25x more surface
  detail than a 5 m LiDAR product but also requires
  much more storage
• Next slide illustrates the difference in detail
  between 5 m and 1 m LiDAR models

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5 m Bare-Earth LiDAR Model
5 m Bare-Earth LiDAR Terrain Model
1 m Bare-Earth LiDAR Terrain Model
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3001 Data

• LiDAR products include
• Elevation models (terrain and surface) ranging
  from 5 m to sub-meter
• Breaklines
• 2 contours
• We certify our LiDAR data to meet FEMA 2 contour
  specifications
• 100 of our data is better than 15 cm RMSEz
• Well exceeding FEMA standard (18.5 cm RMSEz)
• 70 of our data is better than 9 cm RMSEz
• 2D and 3D breaklines developed
• 2D collection and draping, and
• Most hydrographic features can be enforced in
  this manner
• 3D LiDAR-grammetry where needed
• Best used for bridge aprons, edge of pavement,
  and building
• Breaklines collected without supporting imagery
  are limited by LiDAR post spacing and horizontal
  accuracy (/- 0.5 m)

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Quality Management is Key
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LiDAR in Real Life

• Redefining flood plains

Q3 Flood Plain
LIDAR Flood Plain
Additional homes in the flood plain
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LiDAR in Real Life

• Emergency response routing and evacuation
  According to State officials, 10 lives were saved
  in Louisiana by having 3001 LiDAR maps during the
  Katrina response

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LiDAR in Real Life

• Forest metrics

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LiDAR in Real Life

• River morphology

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Contact Information

• Tom Bertke
• Area Director
• Fairfax, VA
• Office 703.385.3001, ext. 1902
• Mobile [phone]

• Carter Christopher
• Area Director
• Fairfax, VA
• Office 703.385.3001, ext. 0199
• Mobile [phone]