The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting New Mexico’s Economy

Fact Sheet 2025-3014
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Introduction 

Federal, State, Tribal, and local entities managing lands in New Mexico have concerns about wildfire risk, wildlife habitat, and flood risk. Land managers in urban areas along the Rio Grande corridor and in the State’s rural northwest and southeast also have concerns about existing and developing roads, buildings, and other infrastructure. Federal, State, Tribal, and local organizations actively manage and monitor New Mexico’s water resources. Critical applications that meet the State’s management needs depend on light detection and ranging (lidar) data that provide a highly detailed three-dimensional (3D) model of the Earth’s surface and aboveground features. The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is managed by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with Federal, State, Tribal, U.S. territorial, and local agencies to acquire consistent lidar coverage at quality level 2 or better to meet the many needs of the Nation and New Mexico. The status of available and in-progress 3DEP baseline lidar data in New Mexico is shown. 3DEP baseline lidar data include quality level 2 or better, 1-meter or better digital elevation models, and lidar point clouds, and must meet the Lidar Base Specification version 1.2 or newer requirements. The National Enhanced Elevation Assessment identified user requirements and conservatively estimated that availability of lidar data would result in at least $9.32 million in new benefits annually to the State.

Suggested Citation

Lydic, C., 2025, The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting New Mexico’s economy: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2025–3014, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253014.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting New Mexico’s Economy
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2025-3014
DOI 10.3133/fs20253014
Publication Date May 16, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) National Geospatial Program
Description 2 p.
Country United States
State New Mexico
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details