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The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting the Economy of Massachusetts

Fact Sheet 2025-3044
National Geospatial Program
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253044

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Introduction 

Massachusetts extends from the mountains of the Appalachian system in the west of the State to the sandy beaches and rocky shorelines of the Atlantic coast in the east. Inland topographic data support a wide range of important activities, including geologic mapping, transportation planning, forest and wildlife management, quantifying ecological services, water supply protection, commonwealth-wide infrastructure planning, local site planning, and flood-plain management. Nearshore bathymetry can be used to support coastal portions of the Commonwealth by addressing the combined threats of ocean warming, strong storm surge, and rising sea levels. The maintenance and (or) expansion of Massachusetts ports (for instance, Boston, New Bedford) and Cape Cod sediment management depends upon the accurate mapping of bathymetry and the frequent influx of sediment and redeposition. Critical applications that address the broad range of requirements 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 (USGS) 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 Massachusetts. The status of available and in-progress 3DEP baseline lidar data in Massachusetts is shown in figure 1. 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 (https://www.usgs.gov/3dep/lidarspec) or newer requirements. The National Enhanced Elevation Assessment identified user requirements and conservatively estimated that availability of lidar data would result in at least $1.23 million in new benefits annually to Massachusetts. The top 10 Massachusetts business uses for 3D elevation data, which are based on the estimated annual conservative benefits of 3DEP, are shown in table 2.

Suggested Citation

Walters, D., 2025, The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting the economy of Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2025–3044, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253044.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Status of 3DEP in Massachusetts
  • Flood Risk Management
  • Natural Resources Conservation
  • Agriculture and Precision Farming
  • Coastal Zone Management
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting the economy of Massachusetts
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2025-3044
DOI 10.3133/fs20253044
Publication Date November 14, 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 Massachusetts
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details