USGS Fact Sheet 2014–3051: Hydrologic Enforcement of Lidar DEMs

Hydrologic Enforcement of Lidar DEMs

By Sandra K. Poppenga, Bruce B. Worstell, Jeffrey J. Danielson, John C. Brock, Gayla A. Evans, and H. Karl Heidemann

Abstract

Hydrologic-enforcement (hydro-enforcement) of light detection and ranging (lidar)-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) modifies the elevations of artificial impediments (such as road fills or railroad grades) to simulate how man-made drainage structures such as culverts or bridges allow continuous downslope flow. Lidar-derived DEMs contain an extremely high level of topographic detail; thus, hydro-enforced lidar-derived DEMs are essential to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for complex modeling of riverine flow. The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) is integrating hydro-enforced lidar-derived DEMs (land elevation) and lidar-derived bathymetry (water depth) to enhance storm surge modeling in vulnerable coastal zones.

First posted July 17, 2014

Report PDF (3.81 MB)

For additional information contact:
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
U.S. Geological Survey
47914 252nd Street
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57198
http://eros.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Poppenga, S.K., Worstell, B.B., Danielson, J.J., Brock, J.C., Evans, G.A., and Heidemann, H.K., 2014, Hydrologic enforcement of lidar DEMs: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2014–3051, 4 p., https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20143051.

ISSN 2327-6932 (online)

Contents

Hydrologic Lidar DEMs

Hydro-Enforced Lidar DEMs

Hydro-Enforced Topobathymetric DEMs

Hydro-Enforced Topobathymetric DEMs for the Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED)

References Cited